Towing a Bus
12-04-2012, 07:26 PM
#21
Iowa Farmer
12-04-2012, 10:34 PM
#22
So iv been making extra money by scrapping as alot of people have lately. I don't steal from abandoned lots, i don't strip electrical wire from power poles. I get most of my metal from a property management company that cleans out foreclosed homes. Sometimes ill pay a person some money to haul away a dead car or two.
I currently work as a bus driver and i have had offered to me one of our old 35 ft city buses. The bus weighs right around the 12,000lb mark. It doesn't run so it would need to be towed to the scrap yard. I can run the brakes via an air compressor, but the only thing i have to tow it with is my 2007 F-150 screw with the 5.4 and factory towing package. It would be towed 4 wheels down with a heavy strap or chain.
In the past i have towed many things with this truck. I have a 29 ft travel trailer that is rated at 7,900lbs. I once rented a bobcat skid steer loader that was said to have weighed about 9,000lbs on a trailer that prolly weighed about 3,000lbs with no issues. And that was up some pretty hilly terrain in northern Montana.
This bus would have to travel about 35-40 miles behind the truck to get it to the scrappers. My biggest worry is the jerking that would be brought on by the slack in the rope/chain. Getting started would be nice and smooth and once it was rolling im sure that the bus would just kinda float behind it without issue. If it came to a point where slack was presented to the strap/chain, once it became taught it would give a tug on the truck and i would be worried about this effect on the transmission.
Im aware that many people are gonna wanna pipe up and just shout at me that im a damn fool that will end up destroying my truck or end up in a fiery heap somewhere. However, after owning my truck for about 3 years now, im pretty confidant that i could do this. I believe that automakers try and cover their butts somewhat when it comes to towing capacities, but to what end? What im looking for is some constructive conversation on the subject, and maybe things that im overlooking.
I currently work as a bus driver and i have had offered to me one of our old 35 ft city buses. The bus weighs right around the 12,000lb mark. It doesn't run so it would need to be towed to the scrap yard. I can run the brakes via an air compressor, but the only thing i have to tow it with is my 2007 F-150 screw with the 5.4 and factory towing package. It would be towed 4 wheels down with a heavy strap or chain.
In the past i have towed many things with this truck. I have a 29 ft travel trailer that is rated at 7,900lbs. I once rented a bobcat skid steer loader that was said to have weighed about 9,000lbs on a trailer that prolly weighed about 3,000lbs with no issues. And that was up some pretty hilly terrain in northern Montana.
This bus would have to travel about 35-40 miles behind the truck to get it to the scrappers. My biggest worry is the jerking that would be brought on by the slack in the rope/chain. Getting started would be nice and smooth and once it was rolling im sure that the bus would just kinda float behind it without issue. If it came to a point where slack was presented to the strap/chain, once it became taught it would give a tug on the truck and i would be worried about this effect on the transmission.
Im aware that many people are gonna wanna pipe up and just shout at me that im a damn fool that will end up destroying my truck or end up in a fiery heap somewhere. However, after owning my truck for about 3 years now, im pretty confidant that i could do this. I believe that automakers try and cover their butts somewhat when it comes to towing capacities, but to what end? What im looking for is some constructive conversation on the subject, and maybe things that im overlooking.
Like hunt said- I won't say much else- I like this forum. This is one of those items on Darwin's checklist.
12-05-2012, 12:57 PM
#23
Senior Member
good idea
If your are only towing the bus a couple miles i would say go for it. But going 30-40 miles even with a solid tow bar i would'nt want to tow it, your just asking fr trouble with the cops or DOT. If it was me i would rent one of those 2 stroke Stihl cut off saws with a fiber blade and cut the bus in half and put a piece of it an your car trailer, so your not over loaded. Also cutting a bus in half would be pretty fun
12-05-2012, 02:27 PM
#24
Senior Member
Thread Starter
So originally the city was going to strip every usable part off of it before they let it go, e.i. the tranny, motor for spare parts, window glass, seats and basically every other thing that would come off with a wrench and that was how it was gonna be so light. After doing all of that, they figured it would weigh about 12k. Well they decided to be lazy and just want it gone as-is. As-is the bus weighs 26k and there's no way id even think about that. With it weighing that much i can afford to pay to have it moved. I found an outfit that will move it for $160 an hour and somebody that might be interested in the tires for $200 so if i can get it for free, i should make about $1,300 on the deal.
I appreciate the many concerns and was glad that we could have the good natured banter. Ill admit that even i had my reservations, and my post was very preliminary thinking. I just wish that i could hold onto this thing till prices were what they were earlier in the year. Could make quite a bit of money at the right time.
I appreciate the many concerns and was glad that we could have the good natured banter. Ill admit that even i had my reservations, and my post was very preliminary thinking. I just wish that i could hold onto this thing till prices were what they were earlier in the year. Could make quite a bit of money at the right time.
12-05-2012, 02:46 PM
#25
Senior Member
Originally Posted by imafordboi69
So originally the city was going to strip every usable part off of it before they let it go, e.i. the tranny, motor for spare parts, window glass, seats and basically every other thing that would come off with a wrench and that was how it was gonna be so light. After doing all of that, they figured it would weigh about 12k. Well they decided to be lazy and just want it gone as-is. As-is the bus weighs 26k and there's no way id even think about that. With it weighing that much i can afford to pay to have it moved. I found an outfit that will move it for $160 an hour and somebody that might be interested in the tires for $200 so if i can get it for free, i should make about $1,300 on the deal.
I appreciate the many concerns and was glad that we could have the good natured banter. Ill admit that even i had my reservations, and my post was very preliminary thinking. I just wish that i could hold onto this thing till prices were what they were earlier in the year. Could make quite a bit of money at the right time.
I appreciate the many concerns and was glad that we could have the good natured banter. Ill admit that even i had my reservations, and my post was very preliminary thinking. I just wish that i could hold onto this thing till prices were what they were earlier in the year. Could make quite a bit of money at the right time.
12-05-2012, 06:43 PM
#26
Senior Member
This has nothing to do with this post except for the fact that it involves a bus. Back in the 60's there was a greyhound bus that wouldn't start at our local bus stop. My buddy pulls up behind him with a 56 ford fairlane, 292 v8 auto trans. and tells the driver he will push start him. Well long story short, he did it. Of course he only had to move him a few feet to start the bus. I know this doesn't mean anything to this post; just thought you guys might enjoy it.
Go Ford
Go Ford
12-06-2012, 03:24 PM
#27
Senior Member
This has nothing to do with this post except for the fact that it involves a bus. Back in the 60's there was a greyhound bus that wouldn't start at our local bus stop. My buddy pulls up behind him with a 56 ford fairlane, 292 v8 auto trans. and tells the driver he will push start him. Well long story short, he did it. Of course he only had to move him a few feet to start the bus. I know this doesn't mean anything to this post; just thought you guys might enjoy it.
Go Ford
Go Ford