Community Forums

Milehghcty · 09-14-2014, 05:06 PM

Searched the forum and didn't see anything on this subject. Looking at a used coach with this upgrade. Has anyone heard of this upgrade? Is it okay? Does anyone know the torque on the Cat 7.2 330hp before the upgrade and what would it be after the upgrade? This is on a 39' coach/3 slides (2004). Even with the upgrade on a 39' coach pulling a toad, would it perform okay or be slightly underpowered?

Sammie · 09-14-2014, 05:13 PM

What is a 1 FU upgrade?

Sammie

1ciderdog · 09-14-2014, 05:21 PM

I don't know about the upgrade but I believe CAT put out a C7 at different HP ratings all with the same torque. 300, 330 & 350 HP. The power produced by the 330 in my RV is sufficient. Just made a 6500 mile trip up and back to Alaska pulling an enclosed trailer probably weighing above 8500 pounds. No not the fastest RV up a hill but I quit racing a while back.

MaverickBBD · 09-14-2014, 05:53 PM

Do you have any maintenance records? A call to CAT with serial numbers would list any upgrades they have. Depending on the up grades sometimes they work and sometimes they don't. Drive it and if you are not comfortable have a third party check it out.

jeffwit · 09-14-2014, 06:10 PM

I've got a C7 with 350hp. My coach is 40' and I tow my Ram 1500 (around 6000#). We just completed a 3300 mile trip to Maine, and I had no issues pulling the truck. As stated, we weren't the fastest getting up the hills, but never had to drop below 45mph, and that was only on the steepest hills.

Milehghcty · 09-14-2014, 07:44 PM

Wow ... great information and really appreciate it. This is a great forum! I'm unable to drive the coach as over 1500 miles away. The owner said the option was completed by the Winne dealer after it was purchases. The coach has around 27k miles. Haven't contacted someone to check out it out yet, but may as I narrow down my choices. My tow weight will be around 4200#s ... less than what most of you are towing ..

iciderdog and jeffwit -- on those long trips and towing, were you able to get 7mpgs ... more or less? Probably not a big deal, but seems I've read where the cummins 350hp has more torque and is a bit more fuel efficient that the cat ... don't know if that's true or not and probably only depends on who's doing the writing and which motor they own!

FIRE UP · 09-14-2014, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tprochaz

Searched the forum and didn't see anything on this subject. Looking at a used coach with this upgrade. Has anyone heard of this upgrade? Is it okay? Does anyone know the torque on the Cat 7.2 330hp before the upgrade and what would it be after the upgrade? This is on a 39' coach/3 slides (2004). Even with the upgrade on a 39' coach pulling a toad, would it perform okay or be slightly underpowered?

tprochaz,
The C-7, produced for "on the road engines" (which superseded the 3126 version) was produced with as stated, 300, 330 and, the 350 HP. All three versions produce the same exact torque. And that is, 860 ft. lbs. I have talked with two different CAT and, Freightliner service centers and, the "flash" or, ECM upgrade from my present engine, the C-7 330 HP to, the 350 HP version would cost approximately $600 or more.

And, the results in actual HP are negligible. The old cliché "Torque is what get's you going and HP is what keeps you going" is pretty much right on the mark. Our coach is a 2004 Itasca Horizon 36GD with the C-7 CAT and Allison MH3000 trans. A good buddy of ours, has a 2006 Itasca Meridian 36G also with the C-7 but, the 350 HP version, and same trans.

We've been on a few trips together and, pulling the same grades, at the same time, pulling toads, of equal weight and, mine a bit heavier. On all occasions, on grades, if I hit the grade first and, based on all driving techniques being similar, he can't catch me for several miles. Then, slowly he creeps up on me. And, he says he was "on the throttle" quite a bit.

So the point is, is it worth upgrading a present 330HP C-7 to the 350HP version at that stated cost of $600 or more,? Well, that's certainly, in all reality, debatable unless you've got a bag of money, just laying around with no place to spend it on. Is it a "night and day difference"? Not in mine or, the service reps/techs ideas that I've consulted with. If you bought your coach with the 350 version, it would certainly be better but, to me, you wouldn't get the value for the cost. Your choice.
Scott

jeffwit · 09-15-2014, 07:18 AM

iciderdog and jeffwit -- on those long trips and towing, were you able to get 7mpgs ..

I try really hard not to know my mpg.

Having said that, rough estimate would put my mpg between 7-8.

Sammie · 09-15-2014, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffwit

iciderdog and jeffwit -- on those long trips and towing, were you able to get 7mpgs ..

I try really hard not to know my mpg.

Having said that, rough estimate would put my mpg between 7-8.

I got 8 mpg once. Most of the time I tow a Jeep Grand Cherokee and average 7.2 mpg.

Sammie

wb7auk · 09-15-2014, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tprochaz

Wow ... great information and really appreciate it. This is a great forum! I'm unable to drive the coach as over 1500 miles away. The owner said the option was completed by the Winne dealer after it was purchases. The coach has around 27k miles. Haven't contacted someone to check out it out yet, but may as I narrow down my choices. My tow weight will be around 4200#s ... less than what most of you are towing ..

iciderdog and jeffwit -- on those long trips and towing, were you able to get 7mpgs ... more or less? Probably not a big deal, but seems I've read where the cummins 350hp has more torque and is a bit more fuel efficient that the cat ... don't know if that's true or not and probably only depends on who's doing the writing and which motor they own!

Keep in mind that a valve adjusting is needed around 30,000 miles.

Milehghcty · 09-15-2014, 03:28 PM

Thanks for all the additional information. Art or anyone -- What's the approx cost of the valve adjustment now-a-days? Side radiator? Guess that would have to be near one of the first things to be done if I purchased the coach.

wb7auk · 09-15-2014, 03:44 PM

300.00 to 500.00 depending where you get it done

1ciderdog · 09-15-2014, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffwit

iciderdog and jeffwit -- on those long trips and towing, were you able to get 7mpgs ..

I try really hard not to know my mpg.

Having said that, rough estimate would put my mpg between 7-8.

On my Alaska trip pulling a heavy trailer the overall mileage was just over 7.1. There was a lot of slow roads sometimes miles in second or third gear such as on the top of the world highway. The lifetime average in the lower 48 states is about 7.8 towing a Honda CRV or Mini Cooper. That is not adusted for generator fuel usage so actual mpg would be somewhat higher. I think I calculated it out at 8.6 or 8.8 but don't find the spreadsheet that I used. I tend to drive 58 to 62 mph. Hope this helps.

When planning a trip I estimate fuel cost at 50 cents a mile and that comes out fairly close (ouch!) then add some $$ for RV parks, entertainment, etc. I call it entertainment expense.

rver98 · 09-15-2014, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tprochaz

Searched the forum and didn't see anything on this subject. Looking at a used coach with this upgrade. Has anyone heard of this upgrade? Is it okay? Does anyone know the torque on the Cat 7.2 330hp before the upgrade and what would it be after the upgrade? This is on a 39' coach/3 slides (2004). Even with the upgrade on a 39' coach pulling a toad, would it perform okay or be slightly underpowered?

IF it were me, I would invest in the MP8 as an upgrade. I have been very happy with this product. Lots of torque at the low end where it is needed.

Good luck

Diesel Performance Specialists