Are large gas motor Rv's underpower?

Mr.Mark wrote:



Rgatijnet1, yes, I understand what you are saying about the gear ratio. I've never seen it as an option on any coach, but I could be wrong.

I saw a video of a new John Deere (?) diesel farm tractor on a pull-off contest with an old steam engine farm tractor. The steam engine tractor pulled the four wheel drive John Deere with the JD going at full throttle while it dug itself into the ground with the big-treaded tires (they were attached back to back). The torque on the steam engine was unbeatable. The guy said the steam engine gear ratio had to be set for pulling OR speed.

MM.

I remember seeing that video also and it was sort of neat to watch the steam powered tractor.
Since your new coach is being built on a Prevost chassis, I assume that you can pick the rear axle ratio. Most Prevosts are built as busses and the rear axle ratio is determined by the route/use that they are to be used. For instance a cross country bus will have a different final gear ratio than a city use bus. The same goes for a bus to be used in an Eastern flat route versus a bus to be used on a Western mountain route. The bus companies are looking for a compromise that will give them adequate performance with maximum fuel mileage. If it is not too late, you may want to ask about what gear ratio is being put in your coach. That is why I was saying that what you heard about the performance about the different engines, and torque, since they were so close, is really dependent on the axle ratio as to which one will get you to the top of the hill the quickest. The final axle ratio on my gas coach is so high(5.38:1) that I can easily pass most coaches going up a hill but I am limited to about 80 MPH top speed, by the ECM. If you have watched some of the Greyhound/Trailways buses out West, on the open highway, you will see that 80 MPH is just loafing along for them.