Forum Discussion
4X4Dodger
Mar 22, 2016Explorer II
rjstractor wrote:4x4Dodger wrote:
On a horsepower or torque/per loaded-pound basis the new GAS engines are close to what a class 8 deisel tractor has...the new diesel pickups are actually higher if measured that way.
That's an odd statement. Big trucks have far less hp and torque per loaded pound than pickups. They are moving 100K+ pounds with around 500 hp and 2000 ft./lbs of torque. That's the equivalent of moving 20K combined with just 100 hp and 400 ft./lbs of torque. That's why the heavily loaded semis crawl up mountain passes at 20-25 mph.
First the maximum load for a tractor trailer in MOST states is 80k# very few states allow trucks to weigh more than that.
Second most class 8's have around 800-900 lb/ft of torque not 2000
Third many are 450 to 550 hp.
It's not an odd statement at all in fact it was my point: The current crop of diesel p/u's have more horsepower and torque on a per loaded pound basis than the class 8's.
The horsepower/torque race among the big three p/u makers is just so much marketing hype. Sooner or later it will have to give way to higher efficiency diesels/Gas engines with less HP but overall better performance. this is what has happened with the class 8 engine builders.
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