The Definitive Torque vs. Horsepower post
Year after year, I keep seeing the same old debates about torque vs. horsepower. Everyone seems to have a general idea that we are referring to power, but most don't really understand the relationshi...
Forum Discussion
Denny & Jami wrote:
pnichols you hit on something I have known for years, it's all about the gears and I will also add tire size.
You're right on with that tire size issue.
That's why I have over-stock-diameter tires on my Class C motorhome: Too "make taller" it's overall engine-to-drive-wheel down-gearing coming for the most part from it's 4.56 rear differential gear ratio. The extra drive axle torque I can make happen by rev'ing it's V10 engine higher into it's horsepower curve with the smaller stock tires is not needed for our travels since we have a small light-weight motorhome built for over-kill on Ford's heavy duty ton-and-a-half E450 chassis ... so I trade some pulling power for the improved gas mileage I get with lower cruising engine RPM.
Proper gearing combined with proper horsepower delivery at speed is what it's all about. However, sometimes one's ears must be able to take the higher RPM engine sound needed at times in the mountains if one has a gas engine. In our motorhome I have passed many diesel trucks going up grades where their diesel engines were just thumping along but my V10 was winding at 4500 RPM or higher - but the V10 is built for it.
