Ro646a
New Boston, MI
Senior Member
Joined: 03/03/2007
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
 Offline
|
I am getting close to purchasing a very nice 2008 Itasca Meridian model 39K with the 6.7 liter Cummins engine with 45,000 miles on it.
Can anyone comment as to whether this will have adequate power to tow my 4000 pound jeep through the mountains out west?
Thanks in advance
* This post was
edited 05/07/17 02:26pm by Ro646a *
Roland
1999 American Dream 40 DVS
2011 Jeep Liberty
Roadmaster Sterling Towbar
Brake Buddy
|
bullydogs1
OBX, NC
Senior Member
Joined: 06/26/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
That will work, but you won't break any records doing it....
Stuart and Stella Denning
2016 Entegra Aspire 42RBQ
The 3 Bulldogs (Daisy, Sylvie and Stashie)
2018 Equinox Diesel (TOAD)
|
Ivylog
Blairsville, GA and WPB, FL.
Senior Member
Joined: 06/30/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
The 6.7 is a good little engine but the 350 HP is misleading as a 08 may only have 650 ftlbs torque... in 2011+ it's 800. A 350 HP 8.3 Cummins has 1000+ torque so in this case the 1 HP/100 lbs rule of thumb for MHs does not apply very well. Will it get you there, yes but on some of the really high passes in CO you may want to let the DW drive the Jeep over the Pass.
This post is my opinion (free advice). It is not intended to influence anyone's judgment nor do I advocate anyone do what I propose.
Sold 04 Dynasty to our son after 14 great years.
Upgraded with a 08 HR Navigator 45’...
|
KCFDCapt
At Home
Senior Member
Joined: 04/10/2011
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
I have a 2007 Itasca 39K with the Cat 350 HP 3126 engine. I live in the Sierra Nevada mountains and travel Hwy 395 to Reno frequently. You will not pull Sherwin Grade or top Conway Summit at the legal speed limit. I tow a Ford Explorer behind ours and always say I will be there when we get there. The speed up these grades is around 40 MPH. It is not floored, but I like to allow a margin for the engine to be cool. I have a rear radiator in my coach.
Hope this helps. We are pleased with the coach and its performance.
|
Bruce Brown
Northern NY
Moderator
Joined: 06/01/2001
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
^^^ This goes directly with what Ivydog posted; your 350 HP Cat has a fair bit more torque than the 350 HP ISB Cummins in question.
As has been a hundred times, HP sells but torque is what gets the job done. I'll take more torque every time.
There are 24 hours in every day - it all depends on how you choose to use them.
Bruce & Jill Brown
2008 Kountry Star Pusher 3910
|
|
|
FIRE UP
Lake Havasu City AZ
Senior Member
Joined: 03/08/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
KCFDCapt wrote:I have a 2007 Itasca 39K with the Cat 350 HP 3126 engine. I live in the Sierra Nevada mountains and travel Hwy 395 to Reno frequently. You will not pull Sherwin Grade or top Conway Summit at the legal speed limit. I tow a Ford Explorer behind ours and always say I will be there when we get there. The speed up these grades is around 40 MPH. It is not floored, but I like to allow a margin for the engine to be cool. I have a rear radiator in my coach.
Hope this helps. We are pleased with the coach and its performance.
KCFDCapt,
Ex FD huh? Me too. Anyway, just wondering. You state your '07 Itasca is sporting a "3126"? Ours is an '04 Itasca Horizon 36GD with the CAT C-7 330HP engine. I've always been lead to believe that around 'Sept - Oct of '03 was the change-over from the CAT 3126 series to the C-7 series and, it was C-7 from that point on. So, yours is the first one of that year that is reported with the 3126 engine that I've read of.
Scott
Scott and Karla
SDFD RETIRED
2004 Itasca Horizon, 36GD Slate Blue 330 CAT
2011 GMC Sierra 1500 Ext Cab 4x4 Toad
2008 Caliente Red LVL II GL 1800 Goldwing
KI60ND
|
Redwoodcamper
The real norcal
Senior Member
Joined: 03/18/2017
View Profile
Offline
|
A few mods and you will add almost 200 reliable horsepower. Take it to a reputable diesel shop in your area and they can take care of you. My ram 6.7 has near 500 whp and 278k miles. Do your homework and you can significantly increase it's performance.
2011 ram 3500. Cummins 68rfe. EFI live. 276k miles and climbing.
2017 keystone bullet 204
|
Busskipper
Grasonville,Md/Superior, CO
Senior Member
Joined: 11/25/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
Ro646a wrote:I am getting close to purchasing a very nice 2008 Itasca Meridian model 39K with the 6.7 liter Cummins engine with 45,000 miles on it.
Can anyone comment as to whether this will have adequate power to tow my 4000 pound jeep through the mountains out west?
Thanks in advance
Think about like this - Good Milage - Good on the Flat highway - Slow up the hills.
Sort of the a full sized car with an economy sized engine.
For some this is a deal breaker - for others this is the Deal Maker.
When I had my Coach built the standard engine was 600 HP - I had mine built on a lighter chassis with a smaller engine - 400hp. I'm happy and have never looked back.
So IMHO it will work for many but not for some - you just need to know/understand what you are getting. Why have a great big engine if you are going to park it most of the time, and you live in Florida? On the other hand if you live in the keys and are going to the far side of the Rockies for most of your travels and never parking the unit then you might want to think about it a little more, No real answer here just a lot of choices.
Best of Luck,
Busskipper
Maryland/Colorado
Travel Supreme 42DS04
GX470-FMCA - Travel less now - But still love to be on the Road
States traveled in this Coach
|
SCVJeff
Santa Clarita, CA.
Senior Member
Joined: 07/28/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
FIRE UP wrote:You state your '07 Itasca is sporting a "3126"? Ours is an '04 Itasca Horizon 36GD with the CAT C-7 330HP engine. I've always been lead to believe that around 'Sept - Oct of '03 was the change-over from the CAT 3126 series to the C-7 series and, it was C-7 from that point on. So, yours is the first one of that year that is reported with the 3126 engine that I've read of.
Scott He's goin' old school... ![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/smile.gif "smile")
Jeff - WA6EQU
'06 Itasca Meridian 34H, CAT C7/350
|
Bruce Brown
Northern NY
Moderator
Joined: 06/01/2001
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
3126, C7 - potato, potatoe
Same church, different pew. ![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/biggrin.gif "biggrin")
|
|
|
