2009 Chevy 4500 Aero Elite Shuttle Bus - will it tow my 31 ft (21k#) boat

[1jim]

Hope all had great weekend.

As I've been looking a 3/4 Ton trucks to tow my upgraded boat I ran across a 2009 Chevy 4500 shuttle bus.

It has a Duramax with 12 speed Allison transmission and rear end gear at 4:88.

Not only would I get a tow vehicle but have a bonus 16 passenger shuttle bus to have some fun with.

So tell me will this work?

I appreciate your experience and thoughts.

Best,
Jim

[PhilipE]

That size boat is above the towing rating of that bus most likely. With that boat weight your into CDL classes for a vehicle.

On that bus there should be a plaque or decal that gives tow rating. GVCW is the rating to look at. That is total combined vehicle and towed load.

BTW a 3/4 ton truck will never haul that boat legal.

[1jim]

Typo on boat weight, its approx. 12,000 lbs (fat fingers in my original description)....now that makes sense that a 3/4 T would work and this "Kodiak" shuttle buss.

BTW can you share where the CDL class starts?

Much Thanks

[PhilipE]

Think of CDL starting at 26k GVCW. Right now if the tow rig is titled as a motor home. You don't need to worry much about CDL rating. But there are a few states that require any vehicle with a trailer to scale. Motor home is not excluded. Myself I look in the next few years for this to change to. DOT is always looking for more wallets to rape. There are quite a few people in class A's that should have stayed in their car at the Holiday INN

31 foot boat. Thats means about a 40' bumper drag trailer. Unless you are on wide improved roads all the time. I see a lot of ditch time for that trailer combo.

[ennonne]

Internet says the C4500 with the Allison 1000 5/6 speed were limited to 26,000 GCWR. So you'd need the bus to be really light to be within that limit.