I'm Questioning Power/Torque of Gas vs Diesel

The V10 alert applies to the 20,000 lb. Class A motorhome not a 9,000 lb. Class B, that would move along very well.

Thanks 2oldman, BudJ and NewBera;
Good info that's helping me out...especially the V-10 alert. And yes engine heating/stress was one of my key concerns. Don't want to get any "chug, chug, chugging" while heading up a mountain pass.

I'm no expert and don't really have the desire to become one. I just wanted a comfortable way to travel. In 2007 I bought a 32' Class A that was gas powered. It had the V-10 Tritan or Titan or something. I truly hated that thing. It would slow down on every little hill. I didn't keep it long and gave up on RVing. In 2013 I decided to give it another try and purchased an Era (Sprinter). Of course, it has a diesel. I have absolutely no idea of how many horses or how much torque it has. I don't care. It drives beautifully. It climbs hills with seemingly little effort. It has great acceleration. The view is wonderful. I would rather drive that Era down the highway than any other vehicle I have owned. I've had a few disappointments with the coach. I've been told I should have expected that. The last 5,000 miles have been trouble free. I now have 20,000 miles on it, mostly interstate at 70 mph because our sons live in the southeast and we live in the southwest. It has maintained 18.4 mpg from day one. I have no doubt the mileage would be better if I drove on more 55mph roads. I intend to do more of that this year. It climbs our mountains without effort. I have also towed our Suzuki GV. It pulled the Suzuki easily.

Hi sumac123,

Many guys do not understand hp/torque/rpm and/or gas vs diesel. You may or may not be one of them.

I'll use the latest Sprinter (188 hp) vs Chevrolet Express van (325 hp).

The work an engine will do is measured in horsepower Not torque, period. This is true whether it is a gas, 2 stroke, 4 stroke, diesel, rotary, electric..... To determine the horsepower, torque and rpm are measured then multiplied and divided by 5252.

In a drag race a Chevrolet Express van will leave a Sprinter in dust. Going up a mountain the Express Van even if the same weight as the Sprinter will leave the Sprinter behind because of the Very Significant Horsepower advantage.

But wait, there is one exception. IF the nountain road is very long And a significant 'enough' grade, the Sprinter will pass the Chevrolet. How can that be? The Express Van does not have the cooling system to allow 325 hp or even 188 hp to be used Indefinitely. The Express Van will have to slow down so that it does overheat. Could it have enough cooling system to pass the Sprinter? Sure, but it always comes down to the advantages vs disadvantages of doing so. There just are not that many mountain roads that long with a significant enough grade. The Express van can cruise all day at 85 mph with a normal operating temperature even going up hill. But if the grade up becomes significant enough, the Express will eventually need to slow down.

Me, I don't want a Sprinter after weighing the advantages vs disadvantages, but I would buy one if: I had to commute every day going up an interstate needing to slow down. I've driven my B in all of the US states west of the Mississippi and some of them east of the Mississippi maybe 500 hours or more. I have had to slow down and lost maybe a Total of 30 minutes on a couple of interstates.

Hope this helps.

Bud

A class B is small enough that it just isn't going to be make or break whether you have a diesel or gas. Either one will pull you over the hills just fine especially the model years your looking at.

This post may have relevance: gas v diesel tow vehicle 2007