Diesel engine power
Is a 300hp diesel sufficient for a 36/37 foot motor home? Will a 300hp lug down on hills?
Forum Discussion
I have a factory engine horsepower rating of only 225 HP at 3,600 RPM with my 97 460" V8 in my Bounder. It will slow to about 45 on a 6% grade in second gear at 4,000 RPM in second gear.
My buddies 350 HP 40' DP that is about 26,000 pounds does not do as well on the mountain grades. It is much heavier than my RV, by about 9,000 pounds.
When I took my motorhome to Sequoia National Park, I can remember doing about 45 up the hill, and taking the curves at a slightly slower speed, I could pick up speed even climbing the hill. With the DP, I was not able to get above about 35 MPH, because it would not stay in 4th gear without bogging down, and it would redline in 3rd gear around 38 MPH, so I was stuck going slower in the DP.
Fred.
My buddies 350 HP 40' DP that is about 26,000 pounds does not do as well on the mountain grades. It is much heavier than my RV, by about 9,000 pounds.
When I took my motorhome to Sequoia National Park, I can remember doing about 45 up the hill, and taking the curves at a slightly slower speed, I could pick up speed even climbing the hill. With the DP, I was not able to get above about 35 MPH, because it would not stay in 4th gear without bogging down, and it would redline in 3rd gear around 38 MPH, so I was stuck going slower in the DP.
Fred.
