Enough Horsepower?
Engine options on a 24' Winnebago or Itasca are the Ford V8 350, at 255 HP and the diesel 3.0 L, 188 HP engine. Any suggestions about the choices?
Forum Discussion
Mich F wrote:
carringb wrote:
OFDPOS wrote:
The Ford Eng 5.4L which would be somewhere along the line of a 330 CI depending who you ask apparently.
350 is the chassis i'm pretty sure. As in Ford E350, since that compares closely with the Sprinter unlike the E450.
I believe he was referring to the 5.4L Ford being the same as calling it a 330 CI engine ;)
Yep ;)carringb wrote:
OFDPOS wrote:
The Ford Eng 5.4L which would be somewhere along the line of a 330 CI depending who you ask apparently.
350 is the chassis i'm pretty sure. As in Ford E350, since that compares closely with the Sprinter unlike the E450.
I believe he was referring to the 5.4L Ford being the same as calling it a 330 CI engine ;)- I think you should drive each one, and try out on some hills. I have nothing against the V10, but we have the 3.0L MB turbodiesel and like it. Lotsa folk have the 2.7L V5 and say its great.
OFDPOS wrote:
The Ford Eng 5.4L which would be somewhere along the line of a 330 CI depending who you ask apparently.
350 is the chassis i'm pretty sure. As in Ford E350, since that compares closely with the Sprinter unlike the E450.PurpleHayes wrote:
Engine options on a 24' Winnebago or Itasca are the Ford V8 350, at 255 HP and the diesel 3.0 L, 188 HP engine. Any suggestions about the choices?
The Ford Eng 5.4L which would be somewhere along the line of a 330 CI depending who you ask apparently.- The other thing I like about the Sprinter based motor homes vs. the E350/450 ones is that the Sprinter does not have that huge doghouse for the engine protruding into the cabin. The Sprinter has better driving comfort (at least to me) and more legroom. It's one of the few vehicles I have driven in which I do not have to put the seat all the way back to accommodate my legs (36" inseam). The improved fuel economy is a nice bonus but certainly will never offset the higher purchase price but I don't care - I bought the one that fit me best.
PurpleHayes wrote:
Engine options on a 24' Winnebago or Itasca are the Ford V8 350, at 255 HP and the diesel 3.0 L, 188 HP engine. Any suggestions about the choices?
Have you driven them? Try that first before making book comparisons.- I can give an anecdotal account. My F-150 is the last year of the 5.4 V-8. The vehicle is about 7000, and can move a 7000 pound trailer slowly, but surely. If that relatively little engine can move that much stuff up and down hills, it can move a 9000-10,000 pound coach decently.
Of course, the V-10 is a lot better, but the V-8 is not too bad.
As for the V-6 with the Sprinter, it isn't bad either. - The majority of the MB diesels work well with no problems. Some (too many!) owners have drawn the "short straw" and seem to have repeated problems with spotty solutions, spending a small fortune in the process. Power-wise, I find it perfectly acceptable. You won't be zooming around drivers going under the speed limit on 2-lane roads, and on 6% grades about 45 mph might be the best you can do. About half the time in this situation I'm stuck behind a slower semi, anyway. Having done a lot of mountain driving I think the biggest drawback is the pathetic engine braking provided by the small diesel engine. I often tow a ~2500 lb. car and frankly notice no difference in the pulling power. Fuel mileage with the car is about 1 mpg lower. I have the pre-DEF V6 engine, rated at about 145 HP.
