Now that we have finally made the decision on what type of vehicle to go with (diesel pusher) I need some help on engine size. We will be buying a used unit in the 38' to 40' length. I will be hauling a toad as well as a motorcycle.
I have driven a 400hp cummins and a 350hp cat. I did notice a difference in power from a standing start. For those of you that have either a 330hp of 350hp pusher do you have any problems with steep grades. I realize these things weigh 35,000lbs and will not drive like a sports car but I'm curious about taking one of these up a 10% grade. I realize torque is also a factor as well as being in the right RPM range.
Any feedback would be appreciated
Bill Adams said
04:17 PM Aug 28, 2011
If you have at least 1HP per 100 lbs you should have a good experience (35,000 lb. coach, at least 350 HP) more is better is you plan on a lot of hill climbing but what's your hurry? When you hit a 10% grade (not many of them around) you will do the same thing that you do on those long 5-7% grades. Gear down, keep the RPM up and enjoy the ride up the hill in the far right lane.
Roz said
08:55 PM Aug 28, 2011
We have a 40' DP on a Freightliner Chassis. We tow a car. We had a full fuel tank. The entrance to a campground atop a small mountain outside of Asheville, NC was the steepest grade we had pulled, and it was dirt with some rocks.
Our Cummins ISC with 350 never missed a beat or grunted.
Trabuco said
09:50 PM Aug 28, 2011
Bill & Roz - good info thanks. I couldn't imagine a mfg installing an engine that was not compatible with the vehicle. Like I said I've only put a few miles on one and I guess it just takes a bit to get comfortable with the power band.
bjoyce said
08:54 AM Aug 29, 2011
The 330 Cat (3126?) and 350 Cummins (ISC) will do the job since we have friends with those engines. In fact the 300HP Cummins ISC is what some friends have in a 2000 model year DP and it does fine. Don't let someone sell you one of those 300HP Mercedes engines that Freightliner used for a short time. Roz: We have been to that campground. It ranks up there in the worst entrance road, but you need to take the west entrance to Death Valley National Park sometime.
FOSJ said
09:11 AM Aug 29, 2011
We have an 05 Monaco with a 330 Cummins. In April we pulled an 18' trailer with 3 motorcycles from Orlando to Gatlinburg without issue. We estimated the combined weight of trailer and bikes to be 4000 lbs. On the interstate using the cruise control we did not notice any hesitation or drag, just an occassional downshift from 6th to 5th. In and out 441 and the back roads between Knoxville and Gatlinburg no problemo!
Roz said
09:35 AM Aug 29, 2011
Bill,
You are correct on the climb up the hill. Guess it seemed worse, as we were not anticapting it and met a large truck coming down the hill in one of the curves.
Have not made the trip to Death Valley, but am confident if the valley has that name the decent and climb back out ranks high.
Take care!
bjoyce said
10:15 AM Aug 29, 2011
Roz wrote:
Have not made the trip to Death Valley, but am confident if the valley has that name the decent and climb back out ranks high.
Take care!
The east and south entrances are not so bad for Death Valley, but the south entrance is a narrow road, as is the route in from Beatty, NV. Death Valley is so worthwhile, in winter.
BTW: We plan to be in Jacksonville for Thanksgiving.
Roz said
03:34 AM Aug 30, 2011
Would love to see you and Diane Turkey Weekend, but we will be in Louisville, KY. If that changes, possibly we can pull the wishbone together.
Now that we have finally made the decision on what type of vehicle to go with (diesel pusher) I need some help on engine size. We will be buying a used unit in the 38' to 40' length. I will be hauling a toad as well as a motorcycle.
I have driven a 400hp cummins and a 350hp cat. I did notice a difference in power from a standing start. For those of you that have either a 330hp of 350hp pusher do you have any problems with steep grades. I realize these things weigh 35,000lbs and will not drive like a sports car but I'm curious about taking one of these up a 10% grade. I realize torque is also a factor as well as being in the right RPM range.
Any feedback would be appreciated
We have a 40' DP on a Freightliner Chassis. We tow a car. We had a full fuel tank. The entrance to a campground atop a small mountain outside of Asheville, NC was the steepest grade we had pulled, and it was dirt with some rocks.
Our Cummins ISC with 350 never missed a beat or grunted.
Roz: We have been to that campground. It ranks up there in the worst entrance road, but you need to take the west entrance to Death Valley National Park sometime.
We have an 05 Monaco with a 330 Cummins. In April we pulled an 18' trailer with 3 motorcycles from Orlando to Gatlinburg without issue. We estimated the combined weight of trailer and bikes to be 4000 lbs. On the interstate using the cruise control we did not notice any hesitation or drag, just an occassional downshift from 6th to 5th. In and out 441 and the back roads between Knoxville and Gatlinburg no problemo!
Bill,
You are correct on the climb up the hill. Guess it seemed worse, as we were not anticapting it and met a large truck coming down the hill in one of the curves.
Have not made the trip to Death Valley, but am confident if the valley has that name the decent and climb back out ranks high.
Take care!
The east and south entrances are not so bad for Death Valley, but the south entrance is a narrow road, as is the route in from Beatty, NV. Death Valley is so worthwhile, in winter.
BTW: We plan to be in Jacksonville for Thanksgiving.
Would love to see you and Diane Turkey Weekend, but we will be in Louisville, KY. If that changes, possibly we can pull the wishbone together.