Is 360 hp enough for for 38-40 ft class A

[pointrow]

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.

thanks

pointrow

[redguard]

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]

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]

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]

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]

No matter how big or fast you are someone will pass you! Have seen Class 8 trucks do 120 MPH.

[John___Angela]

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]

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]

Me Happy!

[redguard]

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]

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

[redguard]

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

[zman-az]

pointrow wrote:
The reason I ask this question is because I currently run a 13 Duramax pulling a 34' 5th wheel. Plenty of power and I can drive at what ever speed I want and clime any hill with the best of what is on the road.

You say "hills". Have you had this setup out west in the Rockies?

We have a 2014 26,000lb 34 RV with the 6.7L 340hp engine and I can tell you on the grades above 5% 45mph is about max. Mild hills and 65mph is no problem. Can't feel my tow vehicle behind the RV unless I hit the grades. So when you say "does it have enough HP", its all subjective. To me my 340 HP RV is not enough, for my Dad he says its plenty. That all being said I could not find a MH plan that I liked with a engine larger than 340HP and still be under 36' (exact measurement).

So if your just hanging out in the Midwest you might be fine with 360HP class A, if you come out west you probably will not be happy with the power.

[kmsgoracer]

I have a 330 HP Cat , 7.2 440 cubic inch with 130,000 miles on a 37' #3 slide Safari pulling a 21' box trailer with a Rhino and a Mini Cooper inside. It is adequate for most hills up and down and will maintain 35 Mph to 50 Mph. 8 percent grades are the ones that get you to the lower speed, but it is all about the safety going down hill that you will experience with the exhaust brakes.
The 8.2 plus Liter or 540 cubic inch engines are of course a little faster and brake stronger but not that much better for the 1-1.5 MPG less fuel economy. They both have the 3000 series Transmission. Don't get fooled buying a small block , no torque new Cummins of 350 Hp. TORQUE rules.

[fishhogg]

RayChez wrote:
OLylen, how did you boost the horse power on your 330 hp Cat to 396 hp and boost the torque from 860 to 1050? I have heard this from other RVers that it can be done but I never have asked how it is done.

You set the parameters on the computer! Any good diesel shop can do this. Make sure your off warranty.