How much weight do you tow? and with how much motor?

[lewi7722]

I am in the market for an upgrade to my motorhome. Recently bought a 24 foot enclosed trailer and fill it with sand toys up to 10,000 pounds. On a recent trip with just over 9000 pounds my gas rig barely made it home over steep mountain grades here in Far Nothern California (20-25 mph)...it was terrible.

Due to being in California I can't legally be over 65 feet which leaves me a maximum of 36 feet (actual length) for a replacement motorhome. In looking it appears the Cat motor has 850 lb feet of torque and the Cummins is at about 650-700 in the years ranging between 2003-2007 both have about 300 hp. Thinking about a 2006-2007 Fleetwood Expedition 34h with the Cat motor.

Questions is: What speed can I expect going up long 6% grades? What has your experience been towing heavy loads? Thanks for your replies.

ps. i read alot and rarely ever post, not quite the newbie it looks like.

[Snomas]

We pull 5000# toad and loaded MH thru the rockies all the time. Our 350 ISC cummins will hold 55 if we keep up RPM's and don't lose speed from behind a semi on 6% grades. If we have to slow down it will still climb @ 45MPH using manual shifting to keep up RPM's!!

[Trumpet_Player]

bshpilot wrote:
all this fuss about maintaining speed going up steep grades....ive never had a problem, in fact we maintain if not ACCELERATE climbing steep grades while towing !

You are 100% correct! But see, you are working within your equipment ratings. This guy is towing a 10,000 trailer with a gas coach that likely has a maximum hitch rating of 5,000 pounds and maybe even less than 5,000 pounds when manufacturer maximum trailer ratings are applied. He isn't worried about killing someone when he has an equipment failure... he is just wants to go fast over the mountains. Personally, I would like to know who he is to make sure that I am not along side of him or behind him when the inevitable failure happens.

Safe travels.

[bshpilot]

all this fuss about maintaining speed going up steep grades....ive never had a problem, in fact we maintain if not ACCELERATE climbing steep grades while towing !

[Blackdiamond]

lewi7722 wrote:


Questions is: What speed can I expect going up long 6% grades? What has your experience been towing heavy loads? Thanks for your replies.

ps. i read alot and rarely ever post, not quite the newbie it looks like.

I had an 07' discovery 39', 3 slides, with the 330hp/860flbs cat and with a 7000 lb trailer I would go up a 6% grade. At the steepest point I would be going about 42mph, most of the grade would be around 48mph.

My brother had a rig that would meet your needs, 05' Country Coach Inspire, 36', 4 slides with the c9 cat, he sold it 1.5 years ago for $90K

[CA_Traveler]

Yes it's reasonable. My 34K 36' DP with ISC 330 was close to the performance of my current rig above. Except that the current rig ex brake is a little better even with the additional weight. Both were towing a 3.6K CRV, less than half of your tow.

[lewi7722]

Thanks again for the on topic responses I appreciate it and it is helping to get a reasonable expectation level.

I want to keep the cost below 100k and more preferred is below 80k on a used coach. From what I have seen with a 36 foot or shorter a diesel coach towing 9,000- 10,000 lbs will at a minimum need the Cummins ISC (1050 ft lbs) and preferably the ISL (1200+ ft lbs) to get the job done. On the CAT engine side, the 2006-2007 Fleetwood Expedition which I have been considering with 850 ft lbs of torque is an absolute minimum. As I see here with the comments I can expect slow downs in the mountains as I have previously had in my gas coach when I was towing the smaller trailer & less weight. It sounds like I'll be back to the familiar 35-40 mph range unless I can find that elusive ISL on a smaller coach in my price range. Do you think this is a reasonable compilation of information in this case???

Weight Police types, no further comments are requested. Thank you

[CA_Traveler]

43,000 lbs with toad, ISL 400 HP, 1,200 lb-ft torque, 35-45 MPH on sustained 6% grade, 7.9 MPG average, cruise at 63 MPH.

The exhaust brake will not hold the rig on a sustained 6% grade and some service braking is required.

[mike_brez]

We tow a 01 Jeep Wrangler I think weighs about 4400 lbs with a series 40 330hp

[glamisorbust]

My 38' holiday rambler endeavor is a 99 model and has the 5.9 cummins ISB 275hp. Torque is 660 ft-lb @1600 RPM's. This coach moves up the hills, no problem at all. Not towing a trailer I can hold 45mph on most 6% grades. Towing my honda CRV I will drop to about 35-40. I love it.

[Jerry_M]

I pull a GMC Sierra/Duramax Diesel (7,000 lbs.) with a ISC 330.(39,000 lbs gcw). On some grades it will drop below 45, but other than that the 330 is fine with that amount weight. I wouldn't want to tow it without a good tow brake.

Jerry

[J-Rooster]

I tow 3,300 lbs. Honda CRV and my motorhome has a big block chevy engine.

[CA_Traveler]

It's really simple: 1HP/100 lbs and you'll go 35-40MPH on a sustained 6% grade. Maybe even 45MPH. Even so you'll slowly pass loaded heavy haulers. 500HP+ and you'll begin to feel like a rocket ship.

[hartb1999]

ihave a 2003 am.tradition \spartan chassie ,15,000 tow cap 425 cummins /f350 crew long box 4by 4 diesel 100gal tidy tank works fine but you have to drive coach

[FIRE_UP]

lewi7722 wrote:
Wow. Ok so back to the question at hand.

Great answer Sir.
Scott