Concept Phase

[The Cleveland Kid]

Hello everyone, let me start off by introducing myself my name is Mike, but you can call me the Cleveland Kid. I’m in the concept phase of my idea for a bus RV conversion. And I feel overwhelmed at all the options out there and the information. The more I read the more questions I seem to come up with. So, I figured I would make an account and post my idea here so people could critique it. So here goes and please remember I’m very green in the skoolie subject, Like I’m not even a sapling. So here goes.
My Skoolie needs: I want a conversion I can spend a week in when me and the girlfriend travel something that can be driven 3000 round trips. I also want something that can pull a trailer with a track car so roughly 6,000 lbs I live about 4 hours away from a road course and would like to load up and go down for a weekend at the track.
My Idea: after doing some research the vehicle I have come up with is a “mid length bus” 30-53 Pax. International 3800 seem to be plentiful in my area and in my price range of 2500-5000ish for a decent example. I would like the T444e or a T466E from my understanding this is basically the same engine as a 7.3 power stroke from the same era. So parts should be plentiful. And the length with a car trailer in tow will keep me under all continental state’s legal maximum length.
My questions 1) will this vehicle work for what I want to do utility wise for towing a car or light duty truck.
2) if anyone has a vehicle of this style can they tell me the empty weight of it and what the GVWR of a vehicle this style is. I have done a lot of searching and can’t find a definitive rating.
3) what can I expect to get for fuel economy (every MPG counts) will it be that different from the larger bus and what will the economy be while loaded vs unloaded. I know it won’t get 44mpg like my TDI but I would like to get around 8 mpg or more if I baby it and change to a less aggressive rear end ratio.
4) are the 3800 series a good bus mechanically wise or is it a nightmare that I should keep away from at all costs. And is there a company that makes a better body compared to others
Those are my big questions in picking a bus. If anyone has an input or can point me in a better direction on a vehicle that would better suite our need please let me know. I should also add that I am mechanically inclined and can do all the work myself and I have the tools or have access to the tools. And I have a space to store and build the bus.

[Johnny Mullet]

The International 3800 is a very common bus chassis and pretty decent. The T444E (7.3L) is a very good engine especially in a mid-sized bus, but not very powerful. The DT466 would be better suited for towing. You want to be certain to avoid the AT545 Allison mated with either of these engines if you plan on towing a vehicle and doing lots of highway driving. The AT545 is not a bad tranny at all, but a no overdrive slushbox might have trouble towing all the time.

I have a mid-sized 96 International 3800 with the T444E and AT545. I have had no issues in the year I have owned it and driven it 2000 miles. My bus is a turd on the hills, but goes great on the flats and can cruise at 60 MPH at 2600 RPM. The bus will go faster, but I don't like pushing the RPM too high. I would feel totally confident flat towing a small car, but not towing a 6,000lb load behind it unless it was local. This is my experience.

A 1999-2003 T444E with a better trans would have more power than my bus and might be suited for your needs. Good luck!

[The Cleveland Kid]

Thank you Johnny, woud would a 99-03 bus have a different transmission or the same as an earlier bus? also what kind of MPG are you getting out of your bus.

[Johnny Mullet]

You would have to check to see what transmission is in whatever you are looking at. I think they used the AT545 up until around 2003, but not 100% sure. My bus gets 10 MPG whether tooling around locally or running on the highway.

You can find a T444E with anywhere from 175 to 230 HP depending on the year and other factors. The T444E will have a label on the passenger valve cover with the HP rating.......

[The Cleveland Kid]

Thanks, ill look into the transmissions. and 10mpg is great. from what i read it seems that you get the same MPG loaded or unloaded. i'll look the transmission. it's just good to know im heading in the right direction vehicle wise. oh i thumbed through your build thread and it looks good. atleast you have the geo metro for the great fuel economy.