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04-07-2019, 06:11 PM
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#1
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Almost There
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Northern AZ
Posts: 78
Year: 2002
Engine: T444E/Allison 2000
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Towing Question! T444E/Allison 2000
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!!!
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04-07-2019, 06:35 PM
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#2
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Ashtabula, Ohio
Posts: 1,494
Year: 1996
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: International
Engine: T444E 7.3L
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I don't think you will have any issues towing that.
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04-07-2019, 06:37 PM
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#3
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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Go on and tow it, that combo can handle it.
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04-07-2019, 09:56 PM
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#4
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Almost There
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Northern AZ
Posts: 78
Year: 2002
Engine: T444E/Allison 2000
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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
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04-07-2019, 10:10 PM
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#5
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: south east BC, close to the Canadian/US border
Posts: 2,265
Year: 1975
Coachwork: Chevy
Chassis: 8 window
Engine: 454 LS7
Rated Cap: 24,500
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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
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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
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04-07-2019, 10:15 PM
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#6
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Almost There
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Northern AZ
Posts: 78
Year: 2002
Engine: T444E/Allison 2000
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Thanks Sledd!!! Really, really good to know.
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04-07-2019, 10:27 PM
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#7
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Dawsonville, Ga.
Posts: 10,482
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Genesis
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/3060
Rated Cap: 77
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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
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I cut a hole in the bumper, slid a $25 receiver in and welded to the bumper and the frame cross member.
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04-07-2019, 10:40 PM
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#8
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Almost There
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Northern AZ
Posts: 78
Year: 2002
Engine: T444E/Allison 2000
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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.
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04-07-2019, 10:45 PM
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#9
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Dawsonville, Ga.
Posts: 10,482
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Genesis
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/3060
Rated Cap: 77
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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.
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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.
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04-08-2019, 07:10 AM
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#10
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Claremont, NH
Posts: 482
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DT466E (195hp, 520tq)
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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
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We went with an adjustable hitch and bolted it to the frame with some pretty stout bolts.
__________________
Dave
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04-08-2019, 08:11 AM
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#11
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Skoolie
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Fingerlakes region NY
Posts: 204
Year: 1999
Coachwork: AmTran/Wolfington
Chassis: 3800
Engine: International DT466E 190HP variant
Rated Cap: 72 pax 29500 GVWR
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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!
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04-08-2019, 09:06 AM
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#12
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Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,835
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
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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
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04-08-2019, 09:16 AM
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#13
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Almost There
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Northern AZ
Posts: 78
Year: 2002
Engine: T444E/Allison 2000
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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.
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04-08-2019, 10:06 AM
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#14
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Claremont, NH
Posts: 482
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DT466E (195hp, 520tq)
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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
__________________
Dave
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04-08-2019, 10:20 AM
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#15
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Skoolie
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Fingerlakes region NY
Posts: 204
Year: 1999
Coachwork: AmTran/Wolfington
Chassis: 3800
Engine: International DT466E 190HP variant
Rated Cap: 72 pax 29500 GVWR
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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
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04-08-2019, 10:24 AM
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#16
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Almost There
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Northern AZ
Posts: 78
Year: 2002
Engine: T444E/Allison 2000
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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!!
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04-08-2019, 10:33 AM
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#17
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Almost There
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Northern AZ
Posts: 78
Year: 2002
Engine: T444E/Allison 2000
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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.
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04-08-2019, 10:36 AM
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#18
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Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 6,401
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE (A3RE)
Engine: Cummins ISC (8.3)
Rated Cap: 72
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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.
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04-08-2019, 10:59 AM
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#19
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Almost There
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Northern AZ
Posts: 78
Year: 2002
Engine: T444E/Allison 2000
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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.
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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.
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04-08-2019, 11:22 AM
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#20
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Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,835
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
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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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