choosing between 525hp vs 650hp cummins

[llonghorn]

serious about buying a new signature. they offer a 525hp Cummins std or option a 650Hp Cummins. What is the mileage going to be and is there any opinion on justifying the additional power?

[llonghorn]

serious about buying a new signature. they offer a 525hp Cummins std or option a 650Hp Cummins. What is the mileage going to be and is there any opinion on justifying the additional power?

[MonacoMama]

llonghorn...
Welcome to iRV2! I think it happens to be the friendliest RV forum on the web with some great members willing to help as often as they can.
I have moved your post to the Cummins area along with putting a shortcut to the "New Member Check-In" & the Monaco forums. I am sure you will get much better responses here.

Again-welcome to iRV2 and good luck deciding on the right engine for you!


MM

[Majeasy]

if it were me, i would go with the 650.
here's one you can test drive...
http://www.mhsrv.com/inventory_item.asp?id=524739
this dealer is awesome, they have no haggle pricing. call to find the discount off of MSRP.
one of my friends and myself have both bought our coaches from this company. they are texas size HUGE!
this link is for a patriot thunder. http://www.mhsrv.com/inventory_item.asp?id=490416
drive them both the 525 and the 650, my preference would definitely be the cat engine over the cummins.... cat may not be avaiable much longer to the RV industry... i'd get a cat.

[RV Wizard]

llonghorn, welcome to iRV2.com. We are glad to have you join us and we look forward to reading of your adventures and experiences. I can only say to run a weight to horsepower ratio to see if the 525 hp engine will suffice. Don't forget to include the weight of a toad. Good luck and keep us posted on your decision.

[rmmpe]

According to Carrol Shelby:
"If some is good, more is better. And too much is just enough".

I like his way of thinking.

[Sixpack98]

If I were in a position to purchase a Signature I would choose the 650 hp, I could afford it. Carrol Shelby is right.

[Route 66]

How many more $$$$$$$ for the additional 125 HP?

[Les Stallings]

You are looking at 50,000 to 60,000 pounds, depending on loading and toad. The general rule is you will be fine with 1 HP per 100 pounds, so you want a 500-600 HP engine.

As others have said, the weight of your towed vehicle will play a role. If you want to pull something relatively heavy, like a SUV, 4wd truck or trailer, certainly go for the higher horsepower.

The higher horsepower engine will allow you to change your mind later on. I believe the mileage difference will not be significance assuming the same weight, same driving habits, and same terrain.

You will like the Signature and other than a Prevost conversion or something similar, the Signature will be top of the food chain.

[cb5300]

Buy the 650...no questions about it...I have a 2008 Signature with the 600 hp (I missed the 650 by a week ) The 600 is wonderful and the mileage isn't that much worst than my 2007 Dynasty with the 400. The important thing is to make sure you run in your powerband, with 7800 miles on the coach I get about 6.3 mpg at 71 mph. That's about 1600 rpms. I've try to run it at 55 mph and I only got 4 mpg turning about 1400 rpm. This is with a ford Explorer in tow. On the Dynasty I was only getting 6.9 mpg with 15,000 miles on the coach when I traded it.

[george henry]

llonghorn , welcome to iRv2.com . Go with the 650 hp

[quikduk]

OK. Here are my $.02 again...

If you are thinking along the price point of the '09 in Majeasy's link, I think you would be better served looking for either a Newell, Foretravel or possibly a Prevost. They may or may not offer the same features but I think they do and the ones I have seen have nothing else to compare with (except for more of their brethren).

Check out these sites.

http://www.newellcoach.com/flash.html

http://www.marathoncoach.com/

http://www.foretravel.com/dealers.php

http://www.californiacoachcompany.co...tory_avail.asp

There is no doubt that the higher end Beavers are in this particularly exclusive club and I thought the '09 link was a stunning coach but the top three are the top three for a reason. Everyone else is just copying.

Those top three might have a much higher price of admission so possibly a one to two year old coach may be in your bracket but from my personal (visitors only) experience, they have no equal. Everything is done THAT much better and from what I have heard, cutting corners is not allowed (heresay only but...)

Good luck and buy BIG!

[Our Time]

All very interesting reading but my question to the moderators is why does the same thread show up on three different forums? Aren't we cluttering it up a bit?

[DriVer]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Our Time:
All very interesting reading but my question to the moderators is why does the same thread show up on three different forums? Aren't we cluttering it up a bit? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>IMHO, I would have to agree that engine availability for any given model coach is driven by the "coach builder", year, make and model and has nothing to do with the actual "engine specific forum".

Now if you had a specific issue with the engine once you get it that should definitely be and appropriately so - cross linked to the engine forum.

HP is largely driven by the actual weight of the motorhome and whether there is an optional HP engine which in most cases there isn't unless you upgrade into a different model. It's like an engine bait and switch.