500hp isn't enough?

[StuartS]

Seems quite q few 2011 - 2013 Essex are being traded in on new London Aires. 500hp isn't enough? They want the 600hp?

I'd consider a used Essex in place of ordering a new Dutch Star if the right deal came around. 500 is enough for me.

[Sky_Boss]

Originally Posted by StuartS

Seems quite q few 2011 - 2013 Essex are being traded in on new London Aires. 500hp isn't enough? They want the 600hp?

I'd consider a used Essex in place of ordering a new Dutch Star if the right deal came around. 500 is enough for me.

Are you sure it is because of HP? It could be they like the new package.

[Old Car Nut]

The answer to that depends on how you use your rig.

Are you towing something? How heavy is it?

What is your loaded GVW? Hauling the world in your coach?

What terrain do you travel? Drive a rig over the continental divide in MT sometime. Unless you enjoy 3mph sight seeing you learn quick you can never have too much HP.

That said, dunno that I would spend $200k+ to get it.

[wb7auk]

And when a larger engine shows up they will find a reason why they can not live without that one.

[spsm]

Think maybe I'll just stop at the Parts Dept. and pick up a 650 HP sticker. My mechanic only will know.

[OB-One]

It all depends on how you use your coach. Our coach & toad weighs approximately 50K. I'm still working full-time and we're full-timers so travel is often on a time schedule that's tighter than someone that's retired. I prefer to keep the speed in the 60-65mph range for economy, but it's nice to be able to run the speed limit when we need to and it's great not to labor up hills.

[Kbaum]

What is most important horsepower or torque?

I know, I know an old argument however, with that kind of weight are they gaining torque as well or just horsepower?

[Smitty77]

More power usually equals more smiles by the miles... It adds a safety edge... And also usually the larger engines sound more sexy too!!!

May the force to accelerate, and maintain speed - be with you!
Smitty

[StuartS]

Originally Posted by Kbaum

What is most important horsepower or torque?

Torque is more of an issue going from the small block 450 motor with 1200ish lbs of torque to the 500 big block with over 1600 lbs of torque as it goes from the Allison 3000 trans to the Allison 4000. I don't know that the difference in torque is as much a factor between the 500 & 600hp motors.

[gbburgess]

Wow - 500 HP? We have a 42' with a 400 HP Cummins and Allison 6 speed tranny. We just returned from 5,000 miles - Iowa to Washington and Oregon. I was in a hurry so drove at 65+ on the interstates all the way out and most of the way home. I do not think I ever was slower than 50 MPH in the mountains (going up) and never more than 75 MPH on the flats. Fuel miles per gallon when figured on return was 6.6 MPG. Now if I slow down that will likely go up. I tow a 4 door Jeep Wrangler Unlimited all the time. Get the bigger engine and less MPG if you want but 400 HP works for us.

[Steve Ownby]

Originally Posted by Kbaum

What is most important horsepower or torque?

I know, I know an old argument however, with that kind of weight are they gaining torque as well or just horsepower?

Both!

Regardless of all the hype about hp/torque, the truth is they are linked and are different parts of the same equation. Torque is the twisting force produced by an engine and it is the force measured on a Dyno. HP is calculated from torque and RPM.

Torque is the force responsible for acceleration from a stop. HP gets you up a grade.

Maximum MPG occurs when operated in the highest gear, as close as possible to the max torque RPM which is about 1400 in the ISL. Max hill climbing occurs when RPMs are kept as close as possible to max HP, in which ever gear is required to maintain that rpm. Max HP occurs around 2000 in the ISL.


Steve Ownby
Full time since '07

[Jack1234]

The variable that is being overlooked in this discussion is "mass". The big Dutch Stars and the Essex are both 54,000lbs (mass) but the DS only has 450hp (120lbs/1hp) while the older Essex has 500hp (108lbs/1hp) ....... The new 600hp Essex (90lbs/1hp). My Rexhall only has 350hp but our mass is only 26,000lbs....so each 1hp only needs to move 75lbs.

In order to get the same power to weight ratio a 54,000lb coach would need around 750hp to keep-up! The hot-rod in the Newmar line-up isn't the 600hp King Aire...it's the 37' (450hp) Dutch Star (@38,000 GVWR).

[StuartS]

The new 2015 Dutch Star has an empty weight of about 37,000lbs with a 450hp small block.
The new London Aire has a dry weight of about 44,000lbs with a 600hp big block.
The Mountain Aire with the 500hp is within 1000lbs of the LA.

Torque is about 1250ish in the DS, 16?? in the MA & the LA has about 275lbs more torque than the MA.

Adding fuel, water & personal belongings would be about the same across the board. So if you look at torque vs weight, you would think the small block in the DS would pull hills & inclines as well as the others but from what I hear this is not the case. The Allison 3000 trans in the small block will not keep up with the 4000 Allison in the MA even though the MA is 7300lbs heavier.

[Statgeek]

Originally Posted by spsm

Think maybe I'll just stop at the Parts Dept. and pick up a 650 HP sticker. My mechanic only will know.

Love it!