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RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> Motor Vehicles and Their Mechanical Parts -> Motorhome Horsepower
Post Info TOPIC: Motorhome Horsepower
Trabuco


RV-Dreams Family Member

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Motorhome Horsepower
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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 appreciatedaww   



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Ken

2005 Monaco Diplomat 400 ISL Cummins

2012 Honda CRV AWD

2008 Harley Ultra Classic

 

 
Bill Adams


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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.

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Bill Adams
Roz


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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.



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Ethel & Charles Henry, Itasca Horizon DP/Honda Element Toad
Traveling with our furry-snouted, four-legged children.

"Each of us must take part in making this a better world for all people."
Trabuco


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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.

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Ken

2005 Monaco Diplomat 400 ISL Cummins

2012 Honda CRV AWD

2008 Harley Ultra Classic

 

 
bjoyce


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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.

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Bill Joyce,
40' 2004 Dutch Star DP towing an AWD 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid
Journal at http://www.sacnoth.com
Full-timing since July 2003
FOSJ


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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!



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Joan & Steve
'14 Entegra Anthem
 '08 HD Streetglide, 2014 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited 4x4

www.FOSJ-Steve.blogspot.com
Roz


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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!



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Ethel & Charles Henry, Itasca Horizon DP/Honda Element Toad
Traveling with our furry-snouted, four-legged children.

"Each of us must take part in making this a better world for all people."
bjoyce


RV-Dreams Family Member

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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.

 



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Bill Joyce,
40' 2004 Dutch Star DP towing an AWD 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid
Journal at http://www.sacnoth.com
Full-timing since July 2003
Roz


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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.



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Ethel & Charles Henry, Itasca Horizon DP/Honda Element Toad
Traveling with our furry-snouted, four-legged children.

"Each of us must take part in making this a better world for all people."
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