330ISC or a 400hp Monaco

[Brooks]

I am a new member and in need of any info or first hand experience with the power adequacy between the 330 and 400hp Cummins. I live in Denver and will be towing a 5000# vehicle over mountain passes. I am looking at several different Monacos to buy, a '04 Diplomat with 330 47K miles, '05 Knight with a 330 14K miles or a '04 Windsor with 400Hp 40Kmiles, all 40ft. Will I see a large difference in power between the 330 vs. 400, enough that I should pay up for the larger engine? Thanks Brooks

[MonacoMama]

Brooks...Welcome to iRV2!! We are certainly glad to have you here!
I can tell you that my husband, SacsTC, would not be happy with anything other than the 400HP. We are towing a full size CrewCab Chevy behind ours and hove no problem with it handling the job.

I will also tell you that he would choose the Windsor over any of the other two in a heartbeat - but to the quality difference between all three.

Good Luck in whatever you choose - and welcome again!

[Lukeaa]

Go with the 400 hp. If you lived in Iowa, you could get by with 330hp, but in the Colorado mountains, you will need the 400hp.

[nodine]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brooks I am a new member and in need of any info or first hand experience with the power adequacy between the 330 and 400hp Cummins. I live in Denver and will be towing a 5000# vehicle over mountain passes. I am looking at several different Monacos to buy, a '04 Diplomat with 330 47K miles, '05 Knight with a 330 14K miles or a '04 Windsor with 400Hp 40Kmiles, all 40ft. Will I see a large difference in power between the 330 vs. 400, enough that I should pay up for the larger engine? Thanks Brooks

Brooks,

Welcome to the site.

I agree with the others but not because of the horsepower but the torque. The 330 HP engines are most likely the ISC but the Windsor is an ISL with 1200 lbs of torque and 8.9 liters. The Windsor also has a stronger frame and a side radiator. I wish I had a Windsor. We do have the 400HP ISL in our 2006 Diplomat but the weaker RR8R frame and a rear radiator. Makes getting to the engine a real pain.

Bob

[Our Time]

Another vote for the 400 HP ISL. We have been all over the Rockies pulling a 3400# Toad and never had a power problem. The ISL has all the torque you would ever need.

[denochs]

While not living in Colorado, we have experienced the benefits of the increased hp & torque going east to west & north to south. My brother has a 40ft MH with the 330 hp. He gets 10mpg. We have the 500hp and average 8mpg. In the mountanious areas we average the same.

Go with the 400hp

[itdave]

Get the 400 hp you will not regret it. Another thing to consider the Windsor is a higher end coach than either the Diplomat or Knight.

[hardy1000]

ISL400 is the way I would go.

[digNbubbs]

I don't think you will find anyone arguing for less horsepower. I have an '06 Knight with the ISC 330, and while it has gotten me to all of my destinations (multiple times over the Rockies and Sierras). However, I can find no compelling argument for having the smaller engine. On many long passes, it simply feels under powered.

Go big, and I will guarantee that you will never say "this thing has too much horsepower - wished I would have gone less"


--kevin

[Zbugsii]

The ISL-400 is the way to go. Tough, tough, tough motor!

[Flagelpater]

FWIW I don't have the 400 ISL, but, I would think that the better engine brake would be the deal maker for me, if, you are going to do the mountains a lot. I traveled the Rockies many times behind my buddy in a Dynasty. He could never pull away from me but I needed to keep a lot of distance because his EB was so much more effective. He was also more than 10,000 heavier too!

[Brooks]

Just want to thank all of you for your comments. I have spent days wrestling with this issue. I am so glad that I became a member of this forum; could have saved some hairs if I knew about it earlier. Again thanks to all.