msg1951
Tenneessee
New Member
Joined: 06/14/2012
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
 Offline
|
I am in the market for a class A motorhome. I have narrowed it down to 2 units. Both are 40 ft long, one with a 330 horse power engine and the other with a 400 hp engine. Both are diesel. I'm concerned that the 330 is not enough for travel out west. Any one have the 330 or better yet any one had the 330 and now have the 400?
|
MrWizard
Traveling
Moderator
Joined: 06/27/2004
View Profile
|
what is the weight of each one.?
what is the ft lbs of torque for each one ?
what you really need to be concerned with is the torque and hp per lb ratio
the 330 might have the best ratio, if the coach is less weight
for me I would be more concerned about the floor plan and storage space
which one of those is a better match for me
either one is going to climb hills
I do it with 230hp on 22,000 lb coach that is 34 ft
Options, always have options, and the journey goes much smoother
....
Connected thru Verizon with HotSopt WiFi using a Samsung Galaxy Nexus
Member of the Verizon Wireless Customer Council
I BOUGHTthis phone
|
smlranger
Virginia
Senior Member
Joined: 06/23/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
I have a 330 hp CAT in a 36' coach. I have traveled out West twice pulling a 4,600 lb toad over the high mountain passes in Colorado on I-70. My coach weighs about 24K loaded for travel.
I would want more hp in a 40 ft coach. The 330 hp 860 ft lb CAT is OK in my coach but I'd want at least 400 hp and 1,000 or so ft lb of torque in a 40' coach.
2007 Country Coach Allure 470, 2012 Honda CR-V toad. SMI Air Force One braking system. Lucy the rescued lab/springer mix; Dixie rescued beagle mix. Smith Mountain Lake, VA
|
daveshan
Durango Colrado
Senior Member
Joined: 04/02/2009
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
More is better, especially if you're heavy.
Our 37' Alpine, (330/950 ISC Cummins) loaded fairly heavy, pulling my Jeep on a trailer weighs in at 31,500 lbs total. It handles grades around here OK. With just the coach, at ~26,000lbs it's great, we're happy with it but if I had 400hp I wouldn't complain.
All else being equal (floorplan, tanks, quality etc) get the big one.
'99 Alpine 36SDS/8.3 ISC 330 Cummins
Or
'05 Lance 845
'06 Super duty SC/SB 6.0
Upgrades include: StabilLoads, Air Bags & Timbrens,Swaybars
Usually towing an '01 Wrangler, lifted/locked on 35"s or a mildly built '98 Cherokee on 33"s (only one locker)
|
crasster
Dallas
Senior Member
Joined: 07/06/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
It's all about the weight, toad, or tows. If the coaches are about the same weight and you are not towing, 330 should be more than enough. If you are towing or carrying a lot, 400 it is.
4 whopping cylinders on Toyota RV's. Talk about great getting good MPG. Also I have a very light foot on the pedal. I followed some MPG advice on Livingpress.com and I now get 22 MPG! Not bad for a home on wheels.
|
|
|
rvrepairnut
bc
Senior Member
Joined: 11/11/2011
View Profile
Offline
|
msg1951 wrote:I am in the market for a class A motorhome. I have narrowed it down to 2 units. Both are 40 ft long, one with a 330 horse power engine and the other with a 400 hp engine. Both are diesel. I'm concerned that the 330 is not enough for travel out west. Any one have the 330 or better yet any one had the 330 and now have the 400?
is the 40FT 330HP got any slides?
The 400HP most likely does and will weigh more but a 400 cummins has way more torque on top of HP than the 8.3 330 cummins does.I would highly recommend you go the 400 route for sure
You can never have too much power.I would never take the word of anyone whom has not already been there and done that like I have. Others that have posted replys have no experience at all
|
Twomed
FL winters and then somewhere cool
Senior Member
Joined: 06/02/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
Had a 330 CAT in a 40 Safari and it was fine. Have the 400 ISL in the Dynasty and it is fine...BIG PLUS is the two stage jake brake on the ISL.  32k vs 42k on the weights...JMHO but both got the job done.
Happy Trails
06 Monaco Dynasty
07 Hummer H3
FMCA 279843
|
rwhitt
home
New Member
Joined: 01/19/2006
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
Hi, I have had both engines, both were cummins. 40' coaches roughly the same weight.
There is no comparison is the power, that said,unless you will be towing a heavy weight you should be fine with the 330. I would be more concerned about the floor plan that suits you best. Hope that helps with the decision. Good Luck Rwhitt..
|
Ivylog
Blairsville, Ga. USA
Senior Member
Joined: 06/30/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
MSG1951, welcome to the forums. The more info you give us the better our answers will be. I can think of three engines that have ratings of 330 HP and only one 400 HP... Cummins ISL 400. I'd use torque (and Liters) to compare these four engines, not HP and the ISL has 1200+ ft lbs of torque.
In a newer MH you could have a Cummins ISB 6.7L 330HP and only 650 torque (half of a ISL) It's the bigger brother to the ISB 5.9L with 300 HP and 600 torque (these numbers vary greatly depending on which years on the ISB as it started at 250HP up to 330HP)
CAT 3126 7.2L rated up to 350HP w/860ft/lbs of torque. Started at 300HP and 660 torque.
Cummins ISC 8.3L 350HP w/1050 torque. Early ISC's started at 300HP and 880 torque. Cummins 8.8L 400HP w/1200 torque (ISL) A ISL is a stroked ISC. The ISL is capable of 1300 but the Allison 3000 can only handle 1200 ft/lbs. Some ISL's will come with a true Jake Brake instead of an exhaust brake, a big plus.
Having had a 40' Beaver DP with a CAT 330 it was only OK on power, and it weighed less than 31,000 lbs including the toad. I now have a ISL 400 and I'm on the heavy side at 45,000 lbs including the toad. I am impressed with how well this rig handles long, high moutain passes out West.
There is a rule of thumb some use of 100lbs for one HP. As you can see from the above that could leave you under powered if it's a Cummins ISB or a Cat 3126 330 HP engine.
Hard to beat more torque from a bigger engine.
This post is my opinion (free advice). It is not intended to influence anyone's judgment nor do I advocate anyone do what I propose.
04 Monaco Dynasty 42' quad slide
Where am I?
How I tow.
|
rvrepairnut
bc
Senior Member
Joined: 11/11/2011
View Profile
Offline
|
400HP for 45ooo lbs will be and is a dog in the mountains.45000Lbs is extremely heavy for 400HP
|
|
|
