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Old 06-07-2015, 10:10 AM   #1
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Cat C-9 400 or Cummins 400

We are looking for a used DP. Have narrowed our search to the Holiday Rambler Scepter, Monaco Camelot & Beaver Contessa. One issue is the engine. The HR & Monaco have the Cummins. The Beaver has the Cat C-9. We live in Reno, NV and do a LOT of mountain driving. I am a little concerned with the Cat exhaust brake VS the engine brake on the Cummins. All input/ advice is appreciated.
We will be towing a car/pickup.
Am I manufacturing problems ??
Thank you in advance !!

Greg
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Old 06-07-2015, 10:19 AM   #2
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I'd do the Beaver w/ the Cat but that is my choice.

The engine brake is just something that you have to get used to using.

The Cat goes thru the tranny so you have to be sure that you have shifted into a lower gear and then you have to watch your RPM.

Got 42000 on a Cat 300 and have driven many miles as a long haul OTR driver.

The truth is up to you to make the decision and live with your choice.

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Old 06-07-2015, 10:40 AM   #3
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I haven't driven a Cat C9, but I can say I love my Cummins ISL400. The two stage Jake brake is fabulous on down grades. I can adjust my downhill speed by toggling between the low and high setting and rarely touch the service brakes.
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Old 06-07-2015, 10:47 AM   #4
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I have the C9 and the Contessa Tag axle. Have ~50K miles and spend tons of time in the "Real" mountains. I'm fine with the Exhaust brake once you understand how it works. Tow a Jeep wrangler
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Old 06-07-2015, 11:14 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gnlandrus View Post
We are looking for a used DP. Have narrowed our search to the Holiday Rambler Scepter, Monaco Camelot & Beaver Contessa. One issue is the engine. The HR & Monaco have the Cummins. The Beaver has the Cat C-9. We live in Reno, NV and do a LOT of mountain driving. I am a little concerned with the Cat exhaust brake VS the engine brake on the Cummins. All input/ advice is appreciated.

We will be towing a car/pickup.

Am I manufacturing problems ??

Thank you in advance !!



Greg

I do not own either engine so this is from a fairly knowledgeable outsider.

The Engine compression break is superior. The C9 will be exhaust brake only. The ISL might be engine compression brake, traditional exhaust brake or VG turbo exhaust brake. It depends on OEM configuration so do your due diligence.

If the Cat C9 is a Acert engine just be aware up front that the Acert technology is problematic.

If the ISL was built in late '05- early '06, there is a group of serial numbers with a "wrist pin bushing" problem. Again, do your due diligence.


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Old 06-07-2015, 11:34 AM   #6
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The Jake brake on Cat engines have been used on highway trucks for many years. Things probably would not be used on highway trucks if they were not reliable. They do need to be used on a regular basis.
Glenn


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Old 06-07-2015, 11:54 AM   #7
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The Jake brake on Cat engines have been used on highway trucks for many years. Things probably would not be used on highway trucks if they were not reliable. They do need to be used on a regular basis.
Glenn


2009 Safari Cheetah 40'
350 HP Cat
2014 Ford Focus
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I didn't say that they did not work or that they were unreliable. They aren't as powerful as a compression brake. C9s are not OTR long haul engines. They are regional medium duty. The big C12, C13, C15 Cats all used compression brakes.


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Old 06-07-2015, 02:42 PM   #8
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I'll take some heat for this, but personally, I think the Cummins ISL is probably one of the best/most reliable motor home engines ever built. It has been the most popular over the last 8-9 years.

I've had two of them and they've performed flawlessly. My first had the exhaust brake and the second has the engine brake. One of my reasons for buying a new coach was upgrading to an engine brake.

Now this will get some dander up on many.....you'll find that the Cummins gets better fuel mileage. I came close to buying a used Beaver with a Cat 525HP engine. As I did my research I found it got substantially poorer mileage than a similar Cummins.
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