Help me understand something. If a DP has 300hp and a 6 speed transmission will it out pull a Gas A with 362hp and a 5 speed tranny if both were pulling the same amount of weight? I asked this because I just attended the Kansas City RV show over the weekend and this was what I was told. They also said if you get a gasser much over 34’ it really struggles when towing a toad.

What are the torque ratings of the two engines?At what rpm do they reach rated HP & Torque?What are the rear diff. gear ratings of the two rigs?What are the transmission gear ratings of the two?What are the weights of the two rigs?What size tires are on the two rigs?What elevation is pulling 'test' performed?Answer those questions and a better understanding of what each rig is capable of.Generic..apples to apples------diesel wins

That is because it ain't about horsepower, it is about torque.Horsepower (to make it simple) is defined as torque times engine RPM times a conversion factor constant. Since diesels typically do not turn over anyplace as close to as fast as gassers, the torque you'll get out of a given horsepower diesel is going to be greater than what you'll get out of a gasser of the same horsepower. To see how this works, imagine an engine that puts out 100 ft lbs of torque. A gasser might do this at 6,000 rpm, and a diesel might do this at 3,000 rpm. Both will get you up a hill in the same time, but the diesel is going to be rated at 1/2 the horsepower of the gasser.To be sure, there are other factors in there, as pointed out above, but they START from here, and each of those others is smaller in effect than this.

Yes a DP will out tow a gasser if everything were equal. However the Ford V10 with a 37' pulls plenty for me, of course I'm not trying to tow my brick house. And I don't have extra cost and maintenence cost a DP brings with it.

Best thing is just accept that and go with it. Exactly correct...NO!!....but close enough you wont have to worry over it.

I'm not sure about this "out pulling?"Our first motorhome was a 36', 26,000 lbs, 275 HP V10, towing a TJ wrangler.A major grade on an interstate would have her in second gear, 4700 rpm plus, struggling to maintain 40.I took het over Teton pass (unhitched the jeep) and she managed 25 mph in first gear. Over 5000 rpm for 30 minutes, foot on the floor the whole way.IMHO, she did good. Very good.But she was noisy (under all conditions, even cruising) and she likes to rev.I did chip her, and that helped a lot as far as minimizing downshifts and keeping the rpm under more control.Our knight (33,000 lbs, 360 HP, 1050 ft lbs, pulling the same jeep) is just so much smoother and quieter. Steep grades still slow her down, though rarely to 45, and she does shift down to 4rth, or sometimes even 3rd climbing a steep hill.But the noise is all "way back there"The feel is completely different than a gasser. The air ride is wonderful.Fords F53 V10 chassis is wonderful for what it is, and it is all many need or want or are able to pay for.As for me and mine, we'll take a diesel rear engine pusher.

DP vs Gas on Pulling | Good Sam Community

naturist
Nomad
Jan 21, 2014
That is because it ain't about horsepower, it is about torque.

Horsepower (to make it simple) is defined as torque times engine RPM times a conversion factor constant. Since diesels typically do not turn over anyplace as close to as fast as gassers, the torque you'll get out of a given horsepower diesel is going to be greater than what you'll get out of a gasser of the same horsepower. To see how this works, imagine an engine that puts out 100 ft lbs of torque. A gasser might do this at 6,000 rpm, and a diesel might do this at 3,000 rpm. Both will get you up a hill in the same time, but the diesel is going to be rated at 1/2 the horsepower of the gasser.

To be sure, there are other factors in there, as pointed out above, but they START from here, and each of those others is smaller in effect than this.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Jan 21, 2014
What are the torque ratings of the two engines?

At what rpm do they reach rated HP & Torque?

What are the rear diff. gear ratings of the two rigs?

What are the transmission gear ratings of the two?

What are the weights of the two rigs?

What size tires are on the two rigs?

What elevation is pulling 'test' performed?

Answer those questions and a better understanding of what each rig is capable of.

Generic..apples to apples------diesel wins

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