Ic be200

[TomL]

I'm looking at a 2002 IC BE200 short bus with a VT365 diesel. What are the pros and cons of this model. Any idea what it will tow? My wife and I are thinking about converting it to an RV.

[PNW_Steve]

Welcome Tom,

Regarding your question:

The VT365 is not considered one of Navistar's best efforts. They have some weak points in the EGR and oil cooler. They can be upgraded to overcome the issues.

That said.... I didn't think that the VT365 came out until late 2003. I would expect a 2002 to have a T444e.

I would verify the year & drive train details. If it does have the T444e then I would start looking at transmission, suspension and, of course, condition.

[Johnny Mullet]

Welcome aboard! Steve is correct. Either the bus is newer or it has a different engine than the one you posted.

[cadillackid]

something isnt right here.. the BE series was released in 2005 and had the VT-365 engines.. i think the ymay have been 06 models.. they have small wheels and are a lighter duty chassis.. most of. them all had allison 1000 transmissions..



as already mentioned the VT-365 wasnt navistar's greatest.. however an oil cooler and EGR cooler update can make it pretty reliable. esp so in a short bus like a BE.. if your conversion is going to be really heavy (lots of water tanks and such) i would not use a BE.. its not going to have a high GVWR... many BE have niceties such as Air-conditioning, cruise, air ride rear, air seat, and sometimes wheelchair lifts.
-Christopher

[TomL]

Thanks everyone.

You're right. It's a 2007. From what I can gather, GVWR is 16k to 17.5k lbs, but I don't know what the bus weighs as it (bench seats). I want to pull a boat that weighs 3700lbs loaded, on the trailer, and the conversion will add weight. Do you think this model, IC BE200, would work for me?

Tom

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by TomL

Thanks everyone.

You're right. It's a 2007. From what I can gather, GVWR is 16k to 17.5k lbs, but I don't know what the bus weighs as it (bench seats). I want to pull a boat that weighs 3700lbs loaded, on the trailer, and the conversion will add weight. Do you think this model, IC BE200, would work for me?

Tom

Unless YOU are an ace mechanic with a masochistic side RUN away from this bus.

[TomL]

It has 4 wheels and a motor. What's so scary? (I believe you, but I'm curious about why I need to run from this particular bus.)

I see now that I would've used the collective expertise of this group better by asking the following:

I'd like a short bus that provides,
1. Pulls my 3700lb boat
2. Good fuel economy
3. Ok on rough roads when not pulling boat
4. Long term reliability
5. Maintainable
6. Can be found for $10k
7. Chicks dig it

What year, make, model would you recommend?

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by TomL

It has 4 wheels and a motor. What's so scary? (I believe you, but I'm curious about why I need to run from this particular bus.)

I see now that I would've used the collective expertise of this group better by asking the following:

I'd like a short bus that provides,
1. Pulls my 3700lb boat
2. Good fuel economy
3. Ok on rough roads when not pulling boat
4. Long term reliability
5. Maintainable
6. Can be found for $10k
7. Chicks dig it

What year, make, model would you recommend?

Any bus will pull your boat.
"Good" fuel economy would be 8-10 mpg.
As long as its not a lowered height special needs bus rough roads are ok.
Long term reliability is not something the VT365 is known for. Not at all.
Maintenance is not very much fun. Especially on newer stuff. VT365 isn't fun to work on according to the foreman at the local shop.
Chicks dig pretty much any bus. Call it your tiny house and get bonus points. Paint it a light teal/seafoam color and get even more bonus points.

Pretty much any pre-2004 bus is what I look for. Cummins, Cat, International. The "big three" in bus engines. Condition is important.
Transmission is a big one. Try like hell to avoid the 545 unless you're just doing stop and go and don't go highway speeds too often.
My current short bus cost me $1625. Why would ya spend ten grand on one with a VT365? THE worst engine put into any modern truck, bus, etc.

[Johnny Mullet]

I am a diesel mechanic and work on these engines quite often. If you maintain it and don't beat on it it might last a while, but they are notorious for bad head gaskets, EGR coolers, oil coolers, injectors, high pressure oil fittings, etc. Every 6.0L Powerstroke or International VT 365 that comes in my shop for engine related repairs has a minimum $1000.00 bill attached to that repair.

[cowlitzcoach]

There are a lot of short Type 'C' buses with the Cummins 6BT/ISB, the IHC T444E, the IHC DTA360, or the IHC DT466 for sale all the time that have prices well below $10K that are still really good buses.

I will echo what people have said about the VT365. I would add that the MaxxForce7 was just as bad or worse--changing the nomenclature of the engine did not make it a better engine.

The real advantage of the Type 'C' bus built on a medium duty truck chassis is they are much heavier duty than a Type 'A' built on a van cut-away chassis. No school bus built on a Ford, GM, or Dodge van cut-away chassis ever had a GVWR over 14,000 lbs. When the empty bus weighs well over 10,000 lbs it doesn't give you much net payload. Most Type 'C' buses don't weigh all that much more than a Type 'A' bus (depending on size and options Type 'C's weigh in as low as under 13,000 lbs) with GVWR ratings ranging from 18,000 lbs to well over 26,000 lbs. The net payload cand be 2x or 3x of what the net payload is on a Type 'A'.

Yes the parts and pieces cost more for a Type 'C' than a Type 'A'. But because all of the parts and pieces are much heavier duty the parts don't wear out nearly as fast.