Is 330 HP enough for a 37-40' DP

pmallonee wrote:
Seeing a lot of early mid 2000 DP in the 37-40' range with 300-330 HP Cats or Cummings. Is this enough HP? The torque seems to be about 1000 lb/ ft on either. Is this enought? We plan to tow a Jeep Wrangler 4 down.

Any thoughts regarding Cats vs Cummings will also be appreciated.

Thanks,

pmallone,
Your torque specs are off a bit. CAT made various versions of it's 3126 Engine and, three versions of the C-7. a 300HP, a 330HP and, a 350HP version. ALL of them have 860 ft. lbs. of torque. There are mechanical differences in the CAT and Cummins engines but, one thing that many guys think of when picking either engine is, CAT does not allow for engine enhancement kits, like Cummins does. Banks engineering makes kits for the Cummins engines and, they work pretty darn well.

There is a "Chip" that can be put on some of the CAT engines and, I have read many mixed emotions of the results.

Now, the Cummins version of the 330HP engine does have more torque than the 330HP CAT. Below is a link to a chart for Cummins engines, hp and torque specs. The 330HP Cummins hovers at 1050 ft. lbs. of torque.

http://www.dwclutch.com/D&W/D&W%20Clutch%20&%20Brake%202/CUMMINS%20TORQUE.pdf


Now all this is of course if, you care about the differences between the two engine makers. There's lots of satisfied CAT engine drivers out here in RV land, including me. As has been stated, they'll all slow down on grades, some more, some less. It depends on the amount of weight they're pulling. A very large percentage of owners care more about the floor plans and how it suits them, the fact that the intended coach has a side radiator instead of a rear and more, before they worry about what engine it has. You just have to figure out your priority.
Scott