Community Forums

featherlite · 04-04-2018, 03:12 PM

I had a M C I with 350 hp that weighted about 34,000 lbs for 10 years and got tired of the hills so I replaced it with 550 hp and 1875 lbs of torque . now I go up the hills on cruise control and would never ever give up the power and I get better mileage

go for the biggest hp and torque you can afford

+ the bigger the motor the bigger the frame and brakes

Dave

saddlesore · 04-04-2018, 03:31 PM

Ours is a single slide, 42k/52k, 500 Cummins with an Allison 4060 and an Allison 6 position retarder. (No Jake or engine exhaust brake)
NOTE!
Full fuel (200 gal),propane(13 gal) & water (112 gal)tanks and with 2 ppl on board, still have 7,800 #'s cargo capacity available.... plus the 10k towing .

It's not the biggest/fastest/fanciest/most powerful, or the king of the hills ..but..
For us ...It will do.

docj · 04-04-2018, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eez Moose

It is a 2000 40 foot Panther and the rating was actually 425 HP and not the 417 I posted. It is a Cat unit but the engine model is not specified by the seller.

I believe that the 2000 Safari Panther was nearly a twin of my 2000 Beaver Patriot Thunder. Many subsystems were the same, but the Panther, I think, had a fully hydraulic braking system compared to the air-over-hydraulic in my Beaver.

As for engines the 425HP is developed by a Cat C-12 with 1550 Ft-lbs of torque! It's a dream to drive because my GVWR is ~34,000 lbs with a GCWR of ~37,000 lbs. So the HP to weight ratio is ~1.22/100 lbs which makes it sort of a sports car! We accelerate off the line in an almost car-like fashion. No, you don't have to have that much power or torque, but it is a lot of fun!

If I can answer any other questions for the OP, he can post them or send them via PM.

Joel (AkA docj)

Captain Dan · 04-04-2018, 04:07 PM

I have the Cat 425 C9 in my 48000lb Country Coach and even towing my Denali pickup it has plenty of power.

Dan

Captain Dan · 04-04-2018, 04:10 PM

I forgot to mention that the Cat exhaust brake is very effective and I only need the low setting.

Dan

Eez Moose · 04-04-2018, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saddlesore

Ours is a single slide, 42k/52k, 500 Cummins with an Allison 4060 and an Allison 6 position retarder. (No Jake or engine exhaust brake)
NOTE!
Full fuel (200 gal),propane(13 gal) & water (112 gal)tanks and with 2 ppl on board, still have 7,800 #'s cargo capacity available.... plus the 10k towing .

It's not the biggest/fastest/fanciest/most powerful, or the king of the hills ..but..
For us ...It will do.

An acquaintance of ours has a similar unit and loves the daylights out of it. We hope to achieve the same satisfaction when we finally decide.

diesel odor · 04-04-2018, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G.G.

I can tell you that we had a 38' with the 300 HP ISB. I'm not sure of the torque, but it was something like 800 (???). We had the Allison 5 spd tranny.

As stated earlier, when we were on flat land, it was not a problem. However, if we encountered any hills at all, DH felt like he had to get a running start. If a vehicle pulled out in front of us driving like a Sunday driver when we were gearing up for the hill, it put us back to square one. We felt like saying, "I think I can, I think I can" all the way up. LOL

We now have a 40' with 400 HP...a ISL...again, don't know torque. DH says it's like night and day...even on flat land. It's not that the other was an issue on flat. This ones just drives better.

You described my ex 1987 Vogue with the 8.2 Detroit Diesel v-8 perfectly. 230 Hp and maybe 430 foot pounds of torque with a 4 speed tranny.. Built like a tank, however I nominate it as the slowest diesel ever! Hates any hill but got us where we wanted to go eventually. Definitely had time to enjoy the scenery. Plus no exhaust or jake brake, so downhills were certainly scary especially east side of Monarch pass.

saddlesore · 04-04-2018, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diesel odor

Plus no exhaust or jake brake, so downhills were certainly scary especially east side of Monarch pass.

Are you trying to say that yelling "Whoa Dammit!" was not much help???
(just poking fun)

vtwinwilly · 04-04-2018, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D

46,700# empty weight, 650 hp and 1950 lbs ft torque = hot rod!

Fully loaded at 54,000#'s GVWR and 65,000#'s GCVWR will slow it down though.

3 "speed" engine brake too. Very seldom use the "High" setting, middle is great on 6% grades.

Awww. . . Come on! Now your just bragging!

In the spirit of full disclosure, I'm very envious!

Dutch Star Don · 04-04-2018, 05:43 PM

Let's make this very easy for the OP....no need to talk about HP and torque and start the old argument.

Since about 2003, maybe a few coaches a little older and many a little newer, the Cummins ISL 400 became available. It's still the engine of choice. There are some varieties of it from 370 HP to 450 HP, but still the same engine.

At minimum, if you want to be happy, have enough power for most driving conditions, you want a Cummins ISL mated to an Allison 3000 transmission.

The last thing you want is an ISB in a 40' coach and you especially don't want an Allison 2500 (5speed). I'm not criticizing the above engine and trans combo, it's just not appropriate for a large coach.

Almost any QUALITY 40' coach you look at back to about 2002 should have the ISL available. You'll be disappointed with anything smaller.

The next thing to look for if you find one with the ISL, is an engine brake versus an exhaust brake. The exhaust brake will be sufficient, but an engine brake is much better.

Mr_D · 04-04-2018, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Dan

I forgot to mention that the Cat exhaust brake is very effective and I only need the low setting.

Dan

Exhaust brake is either on or off. If you have more than that you have an engine compression brake.

Old Scout · 04-04-2018, 05:55 PM

.....as usual, Dutch Star Don has it just right--ISL400/450, jake brake, and MH3000 Allison in a 40ft coach--PERFECT!

diesel odor · 04-04-2018, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saddlesore

Are you trying to say that yelling "Whoa Dammit!" was not much help???
(just poking fun)[emoji23][emoji23]

It's all good. Glad I survived!

Crasher · 04-04-2018, 07:15 PM

As was mentioned, the ISL 400/450 Cummins is a perfect fit for a 40' DP. That said, I had a 36' Discovery with the 230 hp ISB Cummins, then a 39' Bounder with the 275 hp ISB coupled to an Allison "Four" speed mechanical. Then a 40' Phaeton with a Cat 330hp w/ Allison 6 speed, then a 40' 380 hp Phaeton, and now a 43' Bus with the ISL 450 Cummins. Some were over the 1 hp/100#, some were way under 1/100#, but they all got me to my destination. I was content with the slower ones and happy with the quicker ones. If you are one that has to lead the pack, go for the big HP. If you like to run slower looking at the scenery, pick a floor plan that works for and go for it. The destination is the same regardless of the HP. I ran comfortable at 62 mph in all of them.