Considering going from a 5th wheel to a ClassA

[jandkbradford]

We have just started our search for used Class A's. Some of them over 38 foot are equipped with 350 to 370 hp diesel. Would that be under powered for this large of class A?

[ncrowley]

I have a 39 foot with a 350 engine and it does just fine.

[JFNM]

What is your mission??

My ISL 370 powered 40', 35,000 lb coach does just fine - towing a Jeep Wrangler with yacht, bikes, and fishing gear. I'm never in a hurry, am not racing anyone, and have no need to go around 25 mph corners on mountain roads at full throttle.

[mvpmich]

BigD629 wrote:
Well a good rule of thumb is 10hp/FT, So 40' at least 400HP. I recently followed a friend through Arkansas that has a 40' Fleetwood with 330hp. He kept slowing down on grades so much I had too pass him.

A lot has to do with the weight of the unit. I have a 39' dp with a Cummins ISP 340 hp and have no problems. In fact I find that since my rig doesn't weigh +35k I'm passing most rigs and truckers up steeper slopes.

[BigD629]

Well a good rule of thumb is 10hp/FT, So 40' at least 400HP. I recently followed a friend through Arkansas that has a 40' Fleetwood with 330hp. He kept slowing down on grades so much I had too pass him.

[Trackrig]

You'll find a lot of 38' - 40' with 300HP in some of the older models. They're still making it up and down the hills, just not as fast as the higher HP units - there I gave someone an opening to bring up that it's the torque not the HP..............

Bill

[azdryheat]

I think you'll find that the manufacturers did a fairly good job of matching up engines to the respective MH. The Cumnmins ISB engine is about the same size as you'd find in a Ram pickup truck though it is not the same. The Cummins ISC and ISL are more desirable for their added torque. Oh, and when it comes to Diesel engines it's the torque that does all the work, that's what will get you up the mountain grade, not horsepower. The more torque the better.

[Artum_Snowbird]

It depends. Do you want to tow another 10,000 pounds full of quads, horses, or racing cars? If so.. you might want a little more power, but getting a used Class A depends on your budget now, and into the future too.