The journey begins...

[Crazy]

Last picture is the first flat. Tire had three nails in it.

 

[Crazy]

Going into New Mexico and Amarillo. Then Texas Hwy 287.

 

[Crazy]

My first pictures of the bus.

 

[Crazy]

More pictures.

 

[The-Breeze]

So happy your making progress.

 

[Crazy]

So happy your making progress.

LOL, not too sure about that. I am home without my bus. I still need to go back and get my bus.

 

[The-Breeze]

Sorry...didn't realize the pictures were back when you realized that it wouldn't pull the toad. I thought you had just decided to see how far you could get before you parked it.

 

[Crazy]

I was too zonked to retrieve the pictures and post them. Just got around to it.

 

[joetx-SKO]

...and the journey bogs down. The bus is having a hard time pulling the Ex and I am still in Texas where it is relatively flat.

New to the bus world...but I just bought a '91 GMC 4 window short bus with the 350/400 trans. Going to do a camper for me and the wife....I'm familiar with one ton SBC trucks and I what they can do, and I had hoped I could use this bus as a camper, but still pull a U-Haul type trailer with a an old '55 chevy or ford behind it. I thought it would do it, but after reading your post, I'm confused. Why wouldn't your bus pull your load? And will my bus pull my load???? Thanks, Joe.

 

[milkmania]

New to the bus world...but I just bought a '91 GMC 4 window short bus with the 350/400 trans. Going to do a camper for me and the wife....I'm familiar with one ton SBC trucks and I what they can do, and I had hoped I could use this bus as a camper, but still pull a U-Haul type trailer with a an old '55 chevy or ford behind it. I thought it would do it, but after reading your post, I'm confused. Why wouldn't your bus pull your load? And will my bus pull my load???? Thanks, Joe.

I rented a 10' uhaul (3/4 ton frame) with 5.7 a few weeks to pull a 3/4 ton 4x4 suburban and car hauler.... barely knew it was back there.... but, the uhaul was empty

 

[joetx-SKO]

Like I said, I've had and used a lot of different SBC ton trucks and have done a lot of work with them. Just took it for granted that this '91 bus would act the same as my chevy trucks. I've been using my 2012 Dodge 3500 cummins to pull my old cars with, just thought it would be more fun using an old bus from time to time.... Guess I'll have to wait and hook up a trailer to is to see what it will do...Joe.

 

[Crazy]

Like I said, I've had and used a lot of different SBC ton trucks and have done a lot of work with them. Just took it for granted that this '91 bus would act the same as my chevy trucks. I've been using my 2012 Dodge 3500 cummins to pull my old cars with, just thought it would be more fun using an old bus from time to time.... Guess I'll have to wait and hook up a trailer to is to see what it will do...Joe.

Let's go through this. Your Dodge has a lockup converter. My bus does not. Your old cars weigh 3-4000 pounds. My Excursion weighs at least 9000 without all the extra crap I took and my trailer weighs at least 2500 pounds. The GVW of the bus is 23,000 and weighs 16,100 pounds. So I am weighing in at over 27,000 pounds with the Ex on the trailer behind the bus. I could have just pressed on and ignored the temp gauge and dealt with whatever happened in the middle of nowhere. I cross over 7,000 feet at least twice on the way home. My decision was based on caution and nothing else. My bus probably never had more than a couple thousand pounds of students in it. It is in excellent condition, so why ruin it. Every time I hit a small hill, the temp would climb from 180* to over 210*, then the fan clutch would kick on and the temp went down. All this while on the flats of Texas.

I don't know if you are aware of the wonderful split radiator that International uses but I feel it is inadequate for heavy duty use. When I change the trans and radiator to a larger one, I should be able to tow a house without problems.

 

[joetx-SKO]

Ok. Thanks for the explanation. Just don't know enough about the different buses . Just wondered why you had problems with it. Thanks, Joe.

 

[Crazy]

As far as know, a Turbo 400 has a non-lockup converter. You might want to use a 4L80-E.

 

[Crazy]

Let's go through this. Your Dodge has a lockup converter. My bus does not. Your old cars weigh 3-4000 pounds. My Excursion weighs at least 9000 without all the extra crap I took and my trailer weighs at least 2500 pounds. The GVW of the bus is 23,000 and weighs 16,100 pounds. So I am weighing in at over 27,000 pounds with the Ex on the trailer behind the bus. I could have just pressed on and ignored the temp gauge and dealt with whatever happened in the middle of nowhere. I cross over 7,000 feet at least twice on the way home. My decision was based on caution and nothing else. My bus probably never had more than a couple thousand pounds of students in it. It is in excellent condition, so why ruin it. Every time I hit a small hill, the temp would climb from 180* to over 210*, then the fan clutch would kick on and the temp went down. All this while on the flats of Texas.

I don't know if you are aware of the wonderful split radiator that International uses but I feel it is inadequate for heavy duty use. When I change the trans and radiator to a larger one, I should be able to tow a house without problems.

Not sure if I sounded snotty in my post. I was not trying too.

 

[Crazy]

And the journey resumes. I fly back to Texas to pick up my tiny weenie bus this week. I hope the A/C won't let me down.

 

[The-Breeze]

This story is seeming more & more backasswards to me. Isn't the bus the thing that moves & not you moving back & forth to it.

You got a great story started and haven't even really taken your bus on the road much to speak of.

At least you can say it gets great gas mileage.

Don't hit me mister I'll be good !!!!!!

 

[M1031A1]

Sounds like day in my life....

 

[The-Breeze]

How many free miles has she accumulated so far

Maybe you can get enough to get a free bus to travel out to see her every now & then.

(I'm done....naw this story is too much fun)

 

[Crazy]

Well here I sit at the airport waiting to check my bag. They have free wifi here so I guess I'll do some surfing. I hope I can get a few hours sleep on the plane. No direct flights to Amarillo so I change planes in Dallas. I hope this trip goes nice and smooth. I have only put about 300 miles on the bus. This time I won't be pulling the trailer with the Excursion. My hope is the engine temp stays normal.