Community Forums

hnybare · 08-20-2014, 04:55 PM

You can have a gazillion horses under the hood, but if it doesn't get to the drive wheels it does you not much good. Never heard how many ft lbs of torque is at the drive wheels of this rig or the other rigs mentioned here.

VanDiemen23 · 08-20-2014, 08:54 PM

I have a 30' beaver, 300 CAT. The weight you guessed is about right, the HP is pretty much standard for that size coach, it's not underpowered at all, I've driven Colorado a couple of times, and no problem, (as well as all through the Sierras, the Wasatch, all over the Mojave, and straight across the great basin), torque is somewhere around 1000 ft-kb.

Don't let the Nervous Nellies scare you.

OLYLEN · 08-21-2014, 06:16 PM

Yup your under powered. The guy in the 500HP coach will beat you to the top of the hill by 2 minutes and burn 10 more gallons of diesel. The 330 HP will do fine, your not driving a race car its a truck with a home on it. But do have all the coach inspected by a pro, then you will know what you are buying. If the cooling system is right the coach will be a little slow on the climb but will get you there. I have 330 HP tow a trailer with a towed and come out at about 7500#. I am not first to the top and not last, and stay with or pass the 18 wheelers.

LEN

bluegrassrv · 08-21-2014, 10:34 PM

Make sure the valve lash maintenance has been done. If it has never been checked the engine may be lacking power. Most likely, if it hasn't been done, there are not enough miles on it to worry about engine damage. But getting the valve lash set on a Cat that has never had it done will improve power and mpg. You can get the engine number from the coach build sticker and call the Cat hotline to check the maintenance records and also look through any maintenance records that the previous owner may have.

slickest1 · 08-21-2014, 11:08 PM

It won't be a hot rod on steep hills but will get you there just fine. The fuel mileage will make you smile compared to the guy with the 500 hp coach.
I have 350 hp with a 33000 lb coach and it does jut fine in the mountains. Like said by others get it checked by a mechanic and you should be fine.