Gas or DP

Bruce Brown wrote:

Gjac wrote:
One thing to keep in mind is a short gas MH with 362 HP and weights 16,000 lbs will have a higher HP/wt ratio than a 300 or 340 HP DP that is closer to 30,000 lbs. Gas MH's have the same engine whether it is 28 ft or 38 ft. DP's HP go up as the length and weight go up.

True, with possibly one *.

In the diesel world torque is the better number to look at. There is a big difference between a Cummins ISB rated at 300HP/600# torque and a Cummins ISC rated at 300HP/950 # torque. HP sells stuff, torque is what gets the work done.

Seeing as the new Ford V10 is rated at 320HP/460# torque and the lowest rated ISB today has 660# torque, it's something that needs to be considered.

With that said, I'd still lean towards a diesel, there are just too many other benefits other than the engine.

I would lean towards a DP if I wanted 40 ft MH but in the shorter sizes they are hard to find. Saw a nice winabago 32t with a 350 HP engine but it had no pass thru storage. The CC allures and Intrigues are nice but they are hard to find. I don't want to start a torque vs HP debate but from a pure performance stand point I don't think a MH that weighs 30,000 lbs with 300 HP will out perform a 15,000 lb MH that has 362 HP. The gas engine may sound like it is going to come apart at 4500 RPMs and the diesal is just chugging along at 1400 RPMs but that is all in the design. The increased torque may be better from a stand still but if each approaches a hill at 40 mpg I think the one with the highest HP/ WT ratio will be at the top sooner.