Bus as tow truck?

[stonestatue]

How feasible would it be to cut off the back of a school bus (except the frame) and put on a flat bed, or possibly a rollback, and use it as a tow truck, or as a general car hauler? I've had this idea to do such a conversion and possibly set up a side wrecker business or maybe just use the converted bus to haul my own car(s). Maybe something like this:
http://www.hjnews.com/blogs/kari_on/?p=1591

[Accordion]

Buses have been used for many purposes after they have been retired. I have never been in the towing business. Although I am fairly sure that you could haul a car or truck on a bus frame, I don't think that the bus would be maneuverable enough to act as a tow truck.

Also, it would take a whole lot of work to get a bus to this stage.

I am sure that you will get a bunch of responses and ideas from the skoolie family here.

I am not trying to discourage you. If you have a dream, then make it so.

It sure does look cool, though.

[bansil]

must be my military back ground....that thing would just "look" right with a missle platform on the back

[Accordion]

Originally Posted by bansil

must be my military back ground....that thing would just "look" right with a missle platform on the back

That is funny. I am a veteran as well.

In Switzerland, such a vehicle would be sanctioned. I heard of stories of some of those people having military tanks in their garages.

[travelinwithus]

My first bus was a car hauler. I had a 1976 Chevy Skoolie that the body was cut of after the 6th window I think and then a flat bed with dove tail was put on. I used it to haul my stock car when I used to race 1/2 mile dirt track.

[crazycal]

Originally Posted by stonestatue

How feasible would it be to cut off the back of a school bus (except the frame) and put on a flat bed, or possibly a rollback, and use it as a tow truck, or as a general car hauler? I've had this idea to do such a conversion and possibly set up a side wrecker business or maybe just use the converted bus to haul my own car(s). Maybe something like this:
http://www.hjnews.com/blogs/kari_on/?p=1591

I think you answered your own question with your link.

[pickup_bus_project]

hello everyone! I'm turning a bus into something special. half camper have really big unnecessary truck bed with a hitch so I can also haul a trailer. The only thing I really need help with is..., how on earth do i put insurance on my contraption?

[PNW_Steve]

To the previous posters :

Thank you for your service!

As to using a bus as a tow truck, someone posted a picture here a while back of a bus turned towards truck. I it was an old style. I think that they called it a "cable rig"?

We have also seen folks make flatbeds. Haven't seen a rollback though.

Good luck.

[CincinnatiNKYBuses]

It's been done. I don't have a photo on hand, but there is a towing company in rural Indiana that turned a first-gen Blue Bird Vision into a tow truck. They cut off most of the body past the front doors and installed all the necessary towing equipment on the back. Seemed to be working pretty well for them given how often I saw it out and about.

[EastCoastCB]

They had this at the bus yard in Douglasville Ga where I got my lifted shorty.

[DrakeFrst]

It can be done definitely, i saw it as well and you can see a nice photo here above me but it is kinda hard to do so you have to ask if it is worth the effort for you?

[WIbluebird]

If it's a rollback it would take some work as those require a PTO and hydraulic pump to power the bed. Defenitely doable though, I'm sure the frame rails and everything else lines up ok. Not sure what type of gearing would be necessary.

[gizmoq]

I wanted to do an enclosed roll-back for my transporter, but found it cost & weight prohibitive. So I just installed a flatbed, 6Klb single axle inside the garage, and had RaceRamps cut ramps for my back door. - 1/3 the weight, 1/5 the cost. As a secondary benefit, when the car is out... we have a 16' master bedroom suite.

[banman]

Originally Posted by gizmoq

I wanted to do an enclosed roll-back for my transporter, but found it cost & weight prohibitive. So I just installed a flatbed, 6Klb single axle inside the garage, and had RaceRamps cut ramps for my back door. - 1/3 the weight, 1/5 the cost. As a secondary benefit, when the car is out... we have a 16' master bedroom suite.

If you don't mind -- what was the cost of the RaceRamps?
Do you have a build thread you could post the link to?