Author:
Jeff Miller
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Date Posted: 08/ 30/ 03, 7:10pm
Get the most power you can afford.
The FCs are around 1,000lbs/foot, shorter is lighter and dropping from the 35 to the 33 or 31 will save a fair amount of weight (= increased power/weight ratio or more pulling power). Dropping from the 35 is good and bad, it loses the weight of the large 12.5kw diesel genset, but that diesel genset is very useful for extended dry-camping such as racing, has capacity to "buddy plug" another coach into it, or a race-car trailer complete with compressor ;~)
The 210hp has enough power for 55mph travels with your trailer on fairly flat terrain. On rolling terrain or to run 60-65 you will be happier with the 250hp (have one for sale), and to pull grades with more authority the 300hp with 5-speed will do pretty well.
The 225hp started in '83, along with the Jacobs EL (electric driveline retarder) retarder which is quite effective. The late '83 through '86 coaches had the 250hp and Jacobs EL also. In '87 they got the 300hp, a 5-speed overdrive ZF transmission with retarder.
I've had at least one of each, all nice coaches. Personally I would plan on at least a 250hp if its main job is to tow 6,000-8,000lbs, I towed 6,500 with my 210hp once, it took a lot of flat-pedal driving to keep 60. The 300 would be nice, but an '87-'89 will typically bring almost twice the price of an '83.
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