Used Discovery 2001- with 5.9L ISB or 2002+ with 7.2 Cat

[michelb]

Hi, I'm on the lookout for a used Discovery and my initial feeling was to get a 2001 or older simply to get the 5.9L ISB (275HP). The only reason is cause it sounds like it gets much better mileage. Should I look at 2002+ with the 7.2L CAT (330HP) as well? From what I've read, driving moderately, I should be able to get 10+mpg with the 5.9 where as I'd probably looking more around 8mpg with the 7.2. Both have 5k tow ratings (which is fine for me) so there's no benefit there and roughly the same CCC. Is there any other benefit of one over the other (engine brake, durability, reliability, maintenance cost, etc)?

Obviously, more power is never bad but I'd be moving up from gassers where I don't really have a problem with the power anyway (I'm not particularly concerned about acceleration and while slowing down on steep inclines is a bit of a pain, it really doesn't bother me much).

Let me know what you think. Thanks.

[Chuck 1935]

I would suggest going with the Cat. It will be much more pleasurable to drive unless you live in Kansas and have no hills. I have had two diesel pushers, one with a smaller engine and my present coach with the C7 Cat. The newer coach with the C7 is a pleasure to drive. We tow a Honda CR V and don't know it's there. My Itasca is 34 feet if yours is any larger don't even think about the smaller engine. I have put 60,000 plus miles on my Itasca and have enjoyed every mile. I get about 7.5 to 8mpg towing at about 65 to 70mph. Hope this helps.

[skipwil]

I have an 01 Discovery 37v/300hp Cumming ISB and am very well pleased with the power. I like the exhaust brake also. It has a Banks System so I was told it gained 45hp so I would suspect I have about 340hp+/-. I also drive 60-65mph. Fuel /mi. is better than my gasser was.
Safe Journeys

[beaverjim]

one more thing that you might want to consider is the electrical on what your looking at. we purchased a 2001 discovery new with 30 amp power. kept it for 1 yr and traded it for what we have now. we had many,many problems with the 30 amp. if we would have waited till the half yr. we would have had 50 amp. when fleetwood changed it after many complaints.
please note i'm not downgrading the mh. just the electric on those early models. just a heads up jim

[Chuck 1935]

Any time someone feels the need to jack up the power of an engine, that should tell you something. As you crank up the power you start to lose reliabilaty and raise the exhaust gas temperature and in a diesel that is very very bad. Do you want a little guy working up a sweat or a big guy barely working. There is no sustitute for cubic inches.

[michelb]

Thanks for all the input. Actually, I hadn't even thought of the 30A vs 50A upgrade but that's something I'm very interested in (our current mh only has 30A and it's kind of a pain that we can't run the microwave and washer/dryer at the same time and it would be also sometimes be nice if both ACs could work at the same time too).

[skipwil]

Had I had the choice between a 01 discovery and an 02+ w/50amp and a cat engine at a reasonable price I would certainly gone larger all the way round. I didn't find the Banks upgrade for a month after purchase. Does anyone think the wiring in the 50amp coaches is a size larger than a 30amp system? Just asking.
Safe Journeys...

[ninos]

I would go with the newer one, the biger engine is definetly a plus and I have a 2006 discovery with the c7 cat and If I cruise at 65mph I can get about 9.5 mpg so Its not so bad, and the 50amp vs 30amp Its a lot better with 50amp, I think Its a no brainer go with the 2002, but this is just an opinion, Joe.

[wdbates]

275-300hp cummins will give you better MPG along with lower maintiance costs compared to CAT. CAT will have about 30hp and 200lbs more TQ than the cummins and will get 2mpg less in MPG. However the CAT will get you to the top of the hill several seconds sooner than the Cummins!!.