Caterpillar C4 38 foot RE

[Bon Voyage]

I've found a bus that has nearly everything I want except 1 thing - it has a Caterpillar C4 engine. I'd be fine with a C7 but a C4 I'm not so sure about. The owner says it gets up to 65 just fine...

I'd like to tow a car or minivan behind and if I go up mountain passes sure I'd have to go slow. Am I crazy even to consider it?

it's a 2007 model year Thomas built rear engine 38 feet long. On Caterpillar website says it the C4 has 142 bhp @ 2200rpm, that'd be a 2017 I think. What does everyone think?

[chev49]

i think it is the perkins 4 cy engine, which is also used in tractors, medium trucks, etc.

[Robin97396]

If the C4 has 142 bhp @ 2200rpm in a full size bus, you certainly are going to be going slow on hills especially with a toad.

You can also find a 5.9 in a full size bus, but it's not recommended.

[Brad_SwiftFur]

Get the VIN and see what engine it shows to have. I'd find it hard to believe a 4.4L engine would be enough to adequately power a bus up to 65 ... does the bus have a genset or auxiliary power system?

[WIbluebird]

I'm 90% sure that's a typo and that the bus actually has a C7.

Unless if it comes with an auxiliary generator, in which case a 4 cyl diesel makes sense.

[BlackJohn]

Well, I didn't know what a C4 was so when I searched it sounds pretty good for a 4cyl. Low hp but pretty awesome torque. If you weren't going to tow I'd say go for it. Mountain passes and a heavy rig? How many times will it do that before problems come. Depends also on how you would maintain it too.
It is a bit under-powered for what you may have in mind in my thinking.
Keep looking unless you drive it and fall in love with it.

John

[Bon Voyage]

I appreciate everyone's input. I pressed the guy a little more about the engine and it turns out it's a C7 with 250 horsepower. That C4 certainly didn't make sense since my minivan has twice the horsepower it has. He didn't really know what he was talking about.