Towing Question! T444E/Allison 2000

KevinDarcy11 · 04-07-2019, 06:11 PM

Hey everyone!

My wife and I are about to take off on an epic trip from VT to MT and couldn't be more excited. We have 3 vehicles to bring and only 2 people so obvious problem... What do you guys think about towing a Toyota 4Runner (4400-4800 lbs.) on a T444E and Allison 2000? Good? Doable? Gonna ruin the roadtrip? Lol. Any help is appreciated!!!

Johnny Mullet · 04-07-2019, 06:35 PM

I don't think you will have any issues towing that.

EastCoastCB · 04-07-2019, 06:37 PM

Go on and tow it, that combo can handle it.

KevinDarcy11 · 04-07-2019, 09:56 PM

Right on! Thanks guys!!! Any ideas on how go actually put a tow package on? Hahahah this is all totally new to me so just kinda flying by the seat of my pants here hahah

Sleddgracer · 04-07-2019, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinDarcy11

Right on! Thanks guys!!! Any ideas on how go actually put a tow package on? Hahahah this is all totally new to me so just kinda flying by the seat of my pants here hahah

best to get the hitch, at least, done by a certified welder - in case of an accident, if your hitch hasn't been done by someone with a valid ticket, it could create liability and other legal problems

KevinDarcy11 · 04-07-2019, 10:15 PM

Thanks Sledd!!! Really, really good to know.

o1marc · 04-07-2019, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinDarcy11

Right on! Thanks guys!!! Any ideas on how go actually put a tow package on? Hahahah this is all totally new to me so just kinda flying by the seat of my pants here hahah

I cut a hole in the bumper, slid a $25 receiver in and welded to the bumper and the frame cross member.

KevinDarcy11 · 04-07-2019, 10:40 PM

Nice Marc!!! How much weight can you tow with that thing?
I just wanna make sure I don't blow my engine/screw my transmission. Gonna be a big trip and we wanna get to MT with our home in one piece hahahah.

o1marc · 04-07-2019, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinDarcy11

Nice Marc!!! How much weight can you tow with that thing?
I just wanna make sure I don't blow my engine/screw my transmission. Gonna be a big trip and we wanna get to MT with our home in one piece hahahah.

With the hitch tied into the frame 4 places it can handle more than I would ever care to tow.

Keep in mind once it's rolling they don't weigh as much.
Others have said your drive train is stout enough to handle your 4Runner. I tow my 79 Chevy G30 window van on a trailer behind my F-150, scary. Towing anything behind the G30 was unnoticeable. The bus can handle twice that easy.

ermracing · 04-08-2019, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinDarcy11

Right on! Thanks guys!!! Any ideas on how go actually put a tow package on? Hahahah this is all totally new to me so just kinda flying by the seat of my pants here hahah

We went with an adjustable hitch and bolted it to the frame with some pretty stout bolts.

WARGEAR · 04-08-2019, 08:11 AM

You can tow that without issues. Do you have towing experience is my question. Understand the length of your vehicle and trailer, the increased braking time and distance, as well as increased acceleration times. Watch transmission temps on hills and don’t drag/ride your brakes going down them. Have the hitch installed by someone who knows what to do. But most importantly drive safely and have fun on your trip! Good luck!

cadillackid · 04-08-2019, 09:06 AM

you can tow with that.. but it will likely run the engine temp up in the mountains.. so make sure your coolant is good, fan clutch is good and dont push it in the mountains..

the 444E is a wonderfully reliable engine but its not a huge torque monster and its radiator is adequete but not over-sized by any means.. so if the bus wants to slow down on the hills.. watch the temp gauge.. (or buy a scan gauge because International dashes are known to be flaky or inaccurate).. 215-220 is all the higher the temp should be for any extended length... the alarm goes off at usually 228-235. and thats too hot..

-Christopher

KevinDarcy11 · 04-08-2019, 09:16 AM

Thanks Wargear! Not much towing experience, as in none hahaha. I pick up things quickly with driving and getting the bus out to VT from NJ on its maiden voyage thru snow and ice was quite the adventure (learned the brake protocol fast in the Adirondacks.) Do you think it's necessary to install an invisibrake? I really have no clue the things needed to make this set up work.

ermracing · 04-08-2019, 10:06 AM

Will you be flat towing, tow dolly or trailer? Any trailer over 2000lbs (I think that's the cut-off) will require brakes. For this you generally need a brake controller. A trailer with surge brakes may not require one, but I've never used one set up like that. We are going to get a proportional brake controller for our bus. They sense the deceleration of your bus and apply the brakes a similar amount on the trailer instead of just 'on' when the brake lights come on. I've also used sway controllers just to keep everything in check - well worth the money. https://www.walmart.com/ip/CURT-Sway...17200/17385938

WARGEAR · 04-08-2019, 10:20 AM

Where in Jerz did you get it from? The Adirondacks are beautiful aren’t they? I think. A quality hitch rated for more than you want to tow plus a sway controller will be sufficient. If you’re using a dolly it probably won’t have its own brakes, but a trailer will require its own electro-hydraulic brakes. That means more wiring in the harness for the lights going to the bus. And like cadillackid said the rad will be “adequate” but not great. Gonna have to watch those temps or install an auxiliary trans cooler

KevinDarcy11 · 04-08-2019, 10:24 AM

Man... I'm thinking when all is said and done it may just be a better idea to ship it for the time being. I really don't want to mess our engine up since we will be living in this full time. Thanks for that info Chris, the gauges are definitely spotty. My MPH/RPM gauges kind of work when they want to which then kick in all the other ones so definitely think I have a short somewhere.

Dave, if we do tow I was just planning to do a flat tow. It seems like the most straightforward since I haven't done much towing in my day. Do I still need all the assisted braking mechanisms if that's the case?

Again.... All this help is really appreciated. It's really nice to have a community of support here for a noob!!

KevinDarcy11 · 04-08-2019, 10:33 AM

Wargear, I picked the bus up in Asbury Park. The mountains out there really are beautiful. I wish I could of enjoyed them more but learning to drive the bus on the Turnpike and then the pucker factor in the mountains made it a bit stressful hahahah.

As far as the hitch is concerned I was thinking about this Reese one https://www.amazon.com/Reese-Towpowe.../dp/B000CQOIR8

If I understand correctly it's rated to tow 6000 lbs and the 4runner is between 4400-4800.

PNW_Steve · 04-08-2019, 10:36 AM

If the purpose is to relocate the car one time then I would not recommend spending the time and money to set up for flat towing. I would rent a tow dolly.

If you want to take the car with you when you go on the road with the bus then setting up for flat towing is (IMHO) the best way to go.

KevinDarcy11 · 04-08-2019, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by o1marc

With the hitch tied into the frame 4 places it can handle more than I would ever care to tow.

Keep in mind once it's rolling they don't weigh as much.
Others have said your drive train is stout enough to handle your 4Runner. I tow my 79 Chevy G30 window van on a trailer behind my F-150, scary. Towing anything behind the G30 was unnoticeable. The bus can handle twice that easy.

Thanks for the reassurance. I think we are just going to go ahead and pull the trigger. I have a few friends that are experienced welders so I'll see if they can help out hahah.

cadillackid · 04-08-2019, 11:22 AM

get yourself a Scangauge D or if you have an android / windows / iPad(iphone). you can get a Bluefire. that reads data from the diagnostic port and can display the gauges.. typically those gauges freeze.. so you notice your RPM and speed right away but it usually also freezes the temp/oil/volts. as well. ..

I run my triple 4 all over the country and it has served me very well... I got it with 144k and i have over 190k now. and other than a couple idler pulleys and a fan clutch the engine has been solid.. I did lose the infamous AT545 but swapped it for an allison. 1000 (cousin to the 2000 series).. and I just drive it... I dont rely on those crappy gauges.. I have a digital dash setup that works super and displays everything I need..

-Christopher

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