Community Forums

Tim Fox · 08-17-2018, 07:49 PM

What I've learned. We are just closing in our first major trip. While always admiring muscle cars of the sixtys, I have always appreciated raw horsepower. Translated to motorhomes, I have always thought I needed a brand new 605. There were only two times on our trip were our 450hp felt a bit anemic. One was a spot I shouldn't of been in, where we negotiated a 10% grade out of Jackson WY on route 22. Won't go there again. The other was on Interstate 70 between Brekenridge and Denver. I was reduced down to about 40mph on those long hills. So, in summary, for about fifteen minutes, I wished that we had a 605 with its associated torque. This doesn't preclude a Cornerstone from our future, but just a new perspective for me or others questioning if a 605 is necessary.

Ann n Gene · 08-17-2018, 08:12 PM

No, it is not necessary, BUT, it and the many other upgrades are sure NICE! [emoji2]. All JMHO

MRUSA14 · 08-18-2018, 06:30 AM

Half the stuff on your coach is not necessary. It there to make you smile!

dadej · 08-18-2018, 06:47 AM

Did you down shift a gear on I-70? I pulled that grade in a cummins 5.9 Liter with no problem. I weighted 26000. What is your weight?

Saltydog44 · 08-18-2018, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MRUSA14

Half the stuff on your coach is not necessary. It there to make you smile!

And we do!!

Nowabeachbum · 08-18-2018, 10:06 AM

Since you appreciate Sixties muscle cars(hp just you can) than you know you miss the hp every time you push the accelerator! Do you need it, of course not, but... [emoji3]!

Gary.Jones · 08-18-2018, 11:16 AM

Very few of us ever said that we needed 600-605 hp. I knew when I bought my 2019 Cornerstone that I could easily live without any more horsepower than I had with my 450. Now that I have pulled some 6%, 7%, and 8% grades, I know that I can probably climb them 10 mph faster than I could have with my 450 Anthem.... that was never the point. I also could do without the passive steer tag .... I would be happy to replace the tag tires 1000 miles earlier than I will with my steerable tag, and spend that 15,000 - $20,000 on something else.

However, I wanted a Cornerstone, and I wanted all of the associated features that I found on it. Did I have to have them, no. Is it a really nice rig, YES.

Gary

Gasman 2 · 08-18-2018, 01:29 PM

Gary, when we were at Elkhorn Ridge the gentleman across from us in a CS said he drove for Greyhound in the earlier 60s and when he top the Cajon pass on old Route 66 is was down to 10 mph with his Scenicruiser on his run from LA to Las Vegas. The Scenicruiser used a 318 Detroit.
So I guess we are kind of spoiled even with a 450 let alone a 605.
I though a 318 Detroit would have done better but I understand that was a long grade to pull.
Richard

Gary.Jones · 08-18-2018, 02:03 PM

Richard:

You and I have talked about our "old truck driver days", and I was a driver, not a mechanic..... I was 22-27 and in graduate school and driving truck for beer money and an apartment with the new wife (Dee), but I am pretty sure that if the cabs that I was driving then had 300 horsepower (maybe 350), I was doing very well. When I say, my motto was: "never lose a rev", what I mean is that I, and everyone else, would come right up to just a few feet (10 maybe?) to the truck in front of us on a grade if we were moving a little faster before pulling out into the left lane, and then pass the truck even if we were doing maybe 1-2 mph faster than he was going.... and the whole reason was that if you had to downshift early, or back-off the diesel pedal, you might lose 3 or 5 mph and it might take me 10 miles to get that 2-5 mph back once the flat.

Yes, a 450 is a massive machine compared to what I used to drive, and this 650 is a complete beast. Now, if I lose 5 - 10 mph, I can get it back before I've passed him completely and ready to come back into the right lane.

We have it pretty nice in any of these coaches....

Gary

Matt D · 08-18-2018, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary.Jones

We have it pretty nice in any of these coaches....

Gary

-Well said.

Regarding the pull on I-70 to Breck, I did it every working day in July in my twin turbo F-150. I gotta say that truck is really made for that type of driving.

With that being said, I would eventually come up on someone camped out in the left lane, and all momentum would be lost.

Regardless of engine size, you’re gonna get stuck eventually.

We came from a 40’ with an ISC 380 and while it slowed on the hills, it was totally expected. Our 450 does the same thing, but it will carry speed a bit better. Funny thing though, our 380 did just as well as our 450 speed wise on Rte 9 south of Breck.

I believe our previous coach was significantly lighter than our current coach. I seem to recall a 7000# difference in dry weight.

I’m learning how to slow down, we’re already where we want to be anyhow!

-Matt

MRUSA14 · 08-18-2018, 03:18 PM

Back in the 90’s 300HP was considered a big engine and only the most expensive coaches had that much power.

Lault · 08-18-2018, 06:41 PM

You are only gaining about 10 mph on same grade as my 43 ft Rev with the 450 hp, and use a lot less DEF. So no big deal and I will go back in size in a couple years and back to the 450hp. This 600 or 605 hp does get blown out of proportion for sure on line.

Tim Fox · 08-19-2018, 04:04 AM

Back home now after 6225 miles. What a great country! While our Anthem did an admirable job of getting us around, it doesn't stop my desire for an X15. Kinda like the ring of 2020.