Flat tow behind GM

[richard5933]

I've read dozens of threads on this, but there doesn't seem to be a good answer.

Is there a safe way to flat tow a small car behind a GM bus? We have a 4108 with the 8V71 and 4-speed. Plan would be to pull the smallest car we can find that can be flat towed, possibly an older VW bug or other vintage Japanese import. Trying to find out if it's possible without damaging the bus or endangering us or others on the road.

If someone has their bus set up to do this properly, a few photos would be great.

[chessie4905]

For flat towing, make sure  hitch has attachment to the front side of engine attachment to body of coach. That way, stress is not applied to engine cradle, other than the attachment point below rear bumper. Since you are only flat towing, there is little weight on back of cradle. Many GMC's have flat towed with no issues. If you need to have front or rear wheels off the ground, then you will need to use a toter.
Our former 4104 flat towed or used a toter over 100,000 miles with no issues. Our current 4905 flat towed a car over 60,000 miles with no issues with former owner. He used a Remco lube pump on the car he used. The 4104 towed a Chevette diesel, Olds Ciera diesel with lube pump(car too heavy, effected stopping distance some ), and finally a  GEO metro.
Make sure the strut braces to bulkhead attachment points and below rear bumper are unboltable, in case you need to remove engine oil pan or cradle or whatever. Use grade 8 bolts.

[luvrbus]

Mark Diva had a nice hitch setup on his 4106 with photos posted here lol but I forgot his screen name .I have seen the hitches well designed and some not so good but the all seem to work.Like Chessie said design it for removal, some of the hitches are a real PITA to remove when it takes a 1/2 day to remove one to remove the oil pan or engine     

[Paso One]

Hi Richard I welded brackets on the motor mounts and ran old cradle hangers from the mount to the hitch on the back. here is a couple of pictures.

[dtcerrato]

We've been towing with our 4104 for lots of years. Since 79 - six different flat tows, the heaviest a full size truck with camper shell & almost 7,000 lbs. The heaviest tow was a conventional trailer weight close to 10,000 lbs. No issues whatsoever except it made the bus a real slow turtle. Like Chessie said, got to go to the engine bulkhead to get the strain off the engine cradle. The rear of the 4104 showed no signs of sagging due to heavy tounge weight.

[luvrbus]

You really need to go beyond the bulkhead,the bulk heads on GM 4106 and beyond are not much to attach to,some reinforce the bulk head for hitches,that is about impossible to do with the engine in place   

[chessie4905]

The bulkhead area where the rear axle strut rods and front of engine cradle attaches. This area also connects to the big channels that the air bags are attached to higher up.

[luvrbus]

That would work but attaching to the bulk head as I have saw some is not good,I have seen those where people just used longer bolts on the engine mounts at the bulk head to   attach the hitch too