260 hp?

The 5.9 while not a power house is ok but the limiting factor is which transmission you are getting. 2500 is good but cannot handle more torque/power. Six speed will keep engine in better power range on grades. Another concern is the VP44 fuel injection pump. Cummins had a lot of bad pumps and the electronics are prone to failure from over heating.

You'll never win a race to the top of a mountain, but as stated, it has plenty of power for the weight. Keep in mind, if your intention is to buy it and add power mods, it may be maxed out if it has the Allison 2500 and you'll be exceeding the Allison torque/HP rating.

On flat land you'll be running along with everyone else and maybe even getting better mileage than most.

I once owned a 98' Newmar with a 5.9 and a whopping 210 HP, The coach did just fine. If I had 260 HP back then with my 4 speed Allison, I would hace been one happy camper.

I have a 99 275hp 5.9 ISB pushing approx 20,000 lbs (4,500 more when towing), does just fine. Have climbed many hills w toad (Mammoth Mtn, Death Valley, Silverton, etc). I wouldn't worry at all about the 260 hp version on a 18k lb coach.
BTW- I have the less desirable 4 speed MT643 trans, still performs fine.

We have a 34' Newmar Ventana LE with the 340 HP 5.9 liter Cummins engine, and the 6 speed 2500 series Allison transmission. I love the combination. The transmission is the smoothest shifting of the 5 Allison's I have had, and I can climb hills as well as our 41' Revolution with the 400 hp 9 liter CAT engine. In my opinion, one reason it does well on hills is that it is governed at 2800 rpm instead of 2400.

Regading the 260 hp, we had a 36' Monaco back in the 90's with the 230 5.9 liter Cummins, and lived in it for over 2 years. We were very happy with the performance of that coach. The weight on that was about what you quote for the Expedition you are looking at.

Ed Headington

5.9 Cummins with the Allison trans is one of the best combos ever made. You can bolt on some parts to add some hp, but you probably will not need to.

Your rig weighs 18,400 pounds. A full size pickup with a 7,000 pound trailer weighs around 14,000 pounds. Not that different, especially with the right gear ratios in the MH.

wolfe10 wrote:
Transmission also makes a difference.

Is it the Allison 3000?

Good catch Brett! My 95 Bounder had the Allison 6 speed.

A 2001 Expedition is more than likely going to have a 5 speed Allison which will be the limiting factor. It will not be a powerhouse but it will get you there. May also want to look at the front suspension as some of the Expeditions in that era came with a leaf spring front suspension which rode rather harsh. Friends had one and towed a jeep no problems and would have kept it if it wasn't for the front suspension. They loved the floor plan.

Transmission also makes a difference.

Is it the Allison 3000?

Two Jayhawks wrote:
Great engine. My 95 was very similar to the 2001 you are describing except mine was rated @ 230 HP. With a tow I was likely about 23,000 lbs. My current coach has 450 HP & w/tow is 45,000 lbs. Frankly my power to weight ratio is no different today than what I had 20+ years ago.

i have heard a 1% ratio is good before. We aren't going to be full timers and loading this thing up and max GVWR is 23000 so i'd be at a 1.13% ratio.