Having a auction bus towed....

[Ceno]

Anyone have a bus towed from an auction or anywhere for that matter? Curious how much a tow would be. Its about an hour from the auction house to the location I have to store it. In these times its hard to tell if they are drivable an I'd like to be prepared if I got one an it needed a tow.

Thanks in advance.
Chris

 

[BeNimble]

$500 to $2,000 are the numbers I've been given by tow people.

 

[cadillackid]

for something an hour away.. go start it up and drive it.. if it doesnt feel safe then get it towed.. otherwise drive it home..

 

[o1marc]

I wouldn't buy a bus I couldn't immediately drive it 100 miles. That gives you an initial period of familiarization to your new ride. Usually not hard to tell if they are driveable. They will usually be freshly retired and were in service when put up for auction. Ask these questions when looking.

 

[Ceno]

Well I would attempt to drive it. I'm just curious how much if I needed a tow. I didnt have time to get educated enough before the auction. 6 busses all went for between $600-1000.

 

[o1marc]

Well I would attempt to drive it. I'm just curious how much if I needed a tow. I didnt have time to get educated enough before the auction. 6 busses all went for between $600-1000.

Go to the UserCP and fill out your profile with your location and bus info. Helps us help you. Was that the Colo. auction that auctioned too many buses to get good numbers on them?

 

[Ceno]

I dont have a bus yet. It was an auction in the Dc area. They were all 01 international re3000. 5 with dta360 and 1 02 with a dt444

 

[o1marc]

I dont have a bus yet. It was an auction in the Dc area. They were all 01 international re3000. 5 with dta360 and 1 02 with a dt444

DC area is why they went cheap, rust area.

 

[Ceno]

They were gov busses aside from some scratches on the bumpers that had rust they didn't look bad. Tough though with covid they dont let you see them in person first, all internet bidding.

 

[peteg59]

Try: https://www.uship.com

They trailered my bus from NC to NH. Costly buy cheaper than me flying down, getting a rental car, then trying to get temp tags, doing whatever repairs needed to make the 800 mile trip, etc.
And it gave me peace of mind that it would arrive safely.

 

[cadillackid]

if they were 2001's they werent DT360's that engine was discontinued after 1993.. maybe DT466? an RE usually got a DT466.. Most got MT643 or MD3060 trans.. although I ran across an RE amtran with a 545...


a DT444? if it was an 01 its a T-444E. if it is pre 94 then its a 7.3 IDI..

 

[Ceno]

Good info. Thank you. I decoded the vins and they came back as 5.9 I6 for the engine. An again I can't see them in person so I'm just going off the info I have.

 

[o1marc]

Good info. Thank you. I decoded the vins and they came back as 5.9 I6 for the engine. An again I can't see them in person so I'm just going off the info I have.

Likely has an AT545 behind it and something not worth pursuing from the DC area.

 

[cadillackid]

the VIN decoder shouldve given you a year.. maybe a cummins? I know the IH 5.9 went away after 1993...

 

[Ceno]

It did. 5 were 2001 1 was 2002

 

[Raykeu]

I just purchased a bus 3 weeks ago and i had it towed to my house. The bus was 96 miles away from my house. Cost $585.

 

[BamaBus]

Try: https://www.uship.com

They trailered my bus from NC to NH. Costly buy cheaper than me flying down, getting a rental car, then trying to get temp tags, doing whatever repairs needed to make the 800 mile trip, etc.
And it gave me peace of mind that it would arrive safely.

Would you care to tell how much?

I just purchased a bus 3 weeks ago and i had it towed to my house. The bus was 96 miles away from my house. Cost $585.

That seems cheap. Did they hook it or trailer it?

 

[Raykeu]

Tow

It arrived on a big tow truck with the front of the bus lifted. They removed the drive shaft which I had to reinstall myself. Also they removed the drain valve from the air tank as my bus has air brakes. Guess they hook up air supply from the tow truck to the bus that way. Thought that was a good price but i am sure that is different depending on location. I am in Texas

 

[cadillackid]

thats about average, $6 a mile for a local tow in the truck range.. if you buy a bus thats 35 feet or less you can go on the shipping boards and get a Landoll trailer tow for less than that per mile, esp if the hauler can get a backhaul freight..



several of us in the vintage bus clubs have done pretty well in this manner.. they generally can do a 40 footer this way though.



-Christopher

 

[peteg59]

Would you care to tell how much?

Right around $1,500. Money well spent, IMO.