Looking at going to a DP from a 5th wheel. A lot of units have 360-380 hp. Is that enough? Especially if pulling a toad or a trailer.thankspointrow

My 350 Cummins pulls a 4800# toad and I don't even feel it. I go over the rockies all the time and if that is not a test nothing is!!!

As our DP MHs keep getting larger the old rule still seems to apply as a MINIMUM of 100 hp for each 10,000 lbs. 350 hp for 35,000 lbs, 400 hp for 40,000 etc.

Assuming it's turbo charged diesel(and they pretty much all are) mountains shouldn't be much of an issue.500-600hp is more about ego than need.

We have 350HP in a 2006 39' DP and it does fine. Have been to Alaska and back, through all of the mountains in south west Canada and across the US Rockies several times. Did the 10% grades up at Teton and in the last couple of days did the 11% and 14% grades in southern Utah on Hgwy 12 just south of Dixie Park. We're towing a Jeep Wrangler.The neighbor make it up the hills a little quicker with his 600HP, but then he paid about four times what we did for his DP.Bill

My 330 CAT 860 ft lbs of torque does very well while towing #5000lbs. Never felt under powered. I can still stay ahead of trucks on hills if I wanted to, but take it easy and let the engine and trans work with out pushing hard to be first. 8-10 MPG too.

Is 360 hp enough for for 38-40 ft class A | Good Sam Community

redguard
Explorer
Nov 05, 2014
Tntman wrote:
I guess something that is missing, but important is the EPA and their regulations. In 2003 the regulations about killed the 330 diesel engines. Gas mileage dropped dramatically.

fuel mileage is always a subjective subject,.I have owned a 38Ft no slide 1997 325HP 8.3 cummins. 2002 8.3 350HP 2 slide and now a 425 2008 ISL 4 slide and they all got/get around 7.7 MPG(mountain travel) so I certainly see no effects regarding the emission requirements as of late
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Nov 05, 2014
370HP with our Cummins pulling the Jeep and we're in the western mountains all the time. Absolutely no problems going up...or down.
Tntman
Explorer
Nov 05, 2014
I guess something that is missing, but important is the EPA and their regulations. In 2003 the regulations about killed the 330 diesel engines. Gas mileage dropped dramatically.
redguard
Explorer
Nov 05, 2014
This toad comes in a little under 10,000 pounds and makes the Moho a little dogish on some hills

go though deadmans pass in pendelton Oregon and it will be much worse than dogish or mamouth mountain in Ca
Passin_Thru
Explorer
Nov 05, 2014
No matter how big or fast you are someone will pass you! Have seen Class 8 trucks do 120 MPH.
John___Angela
Explorer
Nov 04, 2014
Well, we are never the first ones up the hill, then again we are never the last. I think it it depends on the person. If it bugs you being in the right lane with the trucks then go big. If not then then 350 HP will happily haul 40,000 pounds up hills all over the place including the mountains. This toad comes in a little under 10,000 pounds and makes the Moho a little dogish on some hills. For me I could care a less. I always get there. :).
redguard
Explorer
Nov 04, 2014
road glide wrote:
Me Happy!

and really that's what is important to you personally.If a person is happy pulling the rockies at 35 MPH and all that stuff who am I to judge ?to each their own

"But" the question at hand was is 360/380HP enough for a 38-40 FT class A Diesel and the answer is absolutely "NO" in my personal opinion based on actual useage
road_glide
Explorer
Nov 04, 2014
Me Happy!
redguard
Explorer
Nov 04, 2014
discovery4us wrote:
redguard wrote:
Snomas wrote:
My 350 Cummins pulls a 4800# toad and I don't even feel it. I go over the rockies all the time and if that is not a test nothing is!!!

well I have a 450HP ISL 40 ft and loaded with my gear and towing a 3800LB toad and towing through BC,Washington and Oregon its no speed demon. I had a 350HP ISC and traded it off because of poor power
I seriously laugh at the guys with the 275HP 38 ft ISB and claim they do 45-50MPH up 6+7% grades. heck I can only go 48-52 with my 450HP ISL

apples to apples. Your 450HP ISL is probable in a 45,000 lbs. coach and the 275 ISB is more than likely in a 25,000 lbs. coach. Thus power to weight ratio we are pretty close.
I certainly hope that you will at least stop laughing long enough to wave as you pass me at a few MPH faster up the grades:B

The ISB pushers iam referring to weigh in around 30K plus tow rig and mine is around 38K plus tow rig.My friend has a 43ft with tag same make as mine and has the 425 in his and its pretty sad on any hill
my point really was how people exaggerate about how they have adaquite power when in fact they really don't.I mean iam fine with power but guys that say they have a 350ISC and fly up 7% grades are
simply wildly exaggerating.case in point:

""My 350 Cummins pulls a 4800# toad and I don't even feel it. I go over the rockies all the time"

I had the same set up 2002 Tiffin and empty it struggled through the rockies
discovery4us
Explorer
Nov 04, 2014
redguard wrote:
Snomas wrote:
My 350 Cummins pulls a 4800# toad and I don't even feel it. I go over the rockies all the time and if that is not a test nothing is!!!

well I have a 450HP ISL 40 ft and loaded with my gear and towing a 3800LB toad and towing through BC,Washington and Oregon its no speed demon. I had a 350HP ISC and traded it off because of poor power
I seriously laugh at the guys with the 275HP 38 ft ISB and claim they do 45-50MPH up 6+7% grades. heck I can only go 48-52 with my 450HP ISL

apples to apples. Your 450HP ISL is probable in a 45,000 lbs. coach and the 275 ISB is more than likely in a 25,000 lbs. coach. Thus power to weight ratio we are pretty close.
I certainly hope that you will at least stop laughing long enough to wave as you pass me at a few MPH faster up the grades:B