Is 330 HP enough for a 37-40' DP

I never felt that one engine is better, I also think there are no bad diesels out there just bad diesel drivers.
Bill

In my opinion, yep, that's enough. You won't be to the top of the hill first, but for me, that kinda thing just doesn't matter. :)

To the OP's original question:

Yes

Let's not let this thread degrade to a Cat vs Cummins discussion. We have had both over the last quarter million plus miles in diesel powered RV's and had zero issues with either.

In the last 15 years, I am not aware of any "bad diesels out there".

Said another way, any of them will outlast the rest of the motorhome with normal maintenance.

As already posted, all will get you there-- some faster than others. One of our good friends has a 1992 Safari Trek. 120 HP Isuzu diesel. They tow a 1971 restored VW bus. He goes everywhere we go (but slower) and jokes that he likes the simple cruise control-- a brick on the accelerator. They live in W Texas, so get a lot of "brick time".

.

I've never drove an RV with a CAT or Cummins motor! I'm a retired truckdriver 44-1/4 years Over the Road, and I've logged over 4 million miles in that time frame. Almost all that time was driving Cat powered engines. If I owned a DP it would have a CAT Motor. In my lifetime of driving CAT motors the least amount of miles before having a inframe overhaul was 750,000 miles. The most miles have driven was 1,250,000 before a inframe. You can also take a CAT motor to the "CAT House" N.C. Machinery and have the motor chipped up for more performance.

Mr.Mark wrote:
If regulations for emissions increase to include 'off-road' equipment, CAT is will up a creek without a paddle. Looks like Cummins, Volvo and others, will be the preferred 'off-road' engine as they mastered the clean air restrictions.

I just don't understand why the engineers at CAT could not jump that hurdle.

MM.

Mark,

I have been pretty closely involved with Caterpillar over the years. I would restate the issue:

Because of the limited percent of their engines that were used on-highway, the cost of developing EPA certified system was not economically feasible. Said another way, their investment would be very high for only 15% of their engine production.

In hindsight a wise decision. Just look at the issues for Navistar (almost bankrupt them) and now VW.

As with the catalytic converter on gasoline vehicles, now that the technology is out there and proven, it would be very easy for Caterpillar to design and build EPA compatible engines, with much smaller R&D costs. Copying a proven design (different enough to get around patent issues) is a lot cheaper than starting with a clean piece of paper and designing it.

And, indeed, as emission requirements for off-highway have stiffened, Caterpillar has indeed met them.

I would not count either Caterpillar or Cummins out-- both are big, well respected international companies.

I think DubDub07 touches on the issue:
If you want the rig to go everywhere at the speeds YOU want, more power is always better.
If you're happy to let the rig set its own pace, it's not so important.

We are at 380/1050 for 32K coach and a 4.5k Wrangler. I think it is ample and don't know how the 330 crowd does it. We are very good with plenty of oxygen in the air and hills. When at altitude and going up 7% or better, there is a real need for a little more power. I am looking at chips to boost it a bit. We go up I70 going west to the tunnel at around 40mph. Faster than semis but slower than most. I would like to hit those hills at 55.

Through most of the U.S. we cruise at 70-75. Our coach loves those speeds.

WW

I have strong opinions on the HR endeavor. I have a 99 model, my brother has a 99 model, and my dad has a 2001 model. All coaches are built with exceptional quality, you'd be very happy with one. Both my brother and I have the Cummins ISB 275 and we are both happy with the performance. He pulls a 3 horse trailer and I pull a large flatbed full of desert toys.

My dad has the CAT 350 and it has a little more power than ours, but I wouldn't say it's a huge, mind blowing difference. And I have driven all 3 extensively.

I pulled mine over a truck scale fully loaded and it was 36,600# with trailer. Pulls that load at 75 mph no problem if you want to. I'm more comfortable at 65 though. All 3 of our coaches are 38' in length.