Anyone on here tow with the 5.9 diesel motorhome? I know there are people doing it, but I have had a couple people say they don't think it will have enough power. I have a 24ft enclosed with a 2750lb doorcar and golfcart and have been pulling with a older 31ft gas motorhome that had the 8.1 chevy vortec and it pulled ok but looking to upgrade a little and most of the smaller diesels have the 5.9 Cummins. I do not want a big 40 footer and don't really tow in any mountain areas. Would love to hear from some with experience with this as I think going to the smaller diesel, the frame will be much better than a gas one.

I had a 93 dodge with the 5.9
Automatic trans , it has plenty of power to pull 32 foot tag with 2 door cars.
It just wouldn’t go crazy fast to speed.

I put 150,000 on it , never put a wrench on it.

Correction , it was a 1991

I had a 36ft class A with that motor and it wouldn't pull a sick ***** off a pi$$ pot. Friend had a Mountain Air or something like that with the same motor with same result. 8.3 at, I think 325hp, is as small as I would go. That 5.9 was made for pickup trucks. My current 36ft has a 450 Cummins and it gets the job done. Plenty of used 8.3s around. Unlike a pickup your class A starts at around 25-30,000lbs before the trailer is hooked up.

I’ll be the outlier and say I don’t have any issue with how the 5.9 in my 97 Discovery tows my 32’ trailer with dragster and golf cart. It probably helps that I came from a V10 gas job and don’t have a bigger diesel to compare it to

Of course you’re not setting any 60’ time records but it tows fine rolling down the road around 65 and does better in the hills than many of the tractors.

I realize it is a much bigger motorhome than my gas one was as the frame on the diesels are much sturdier and weigh more than the gas motorhomes, but I would think that the torque that motor makes and the Allison 6 speed transmission would be an upgrade over chevy vortec and chevy transmission that pulled the trailer fine. I figured there had to be many towing with them seems that's what most of the smaller diesel motorhomes have in them. I have not found many at all with the 8.3 unless you go back a little older than I'm already looking at and they want the same money for them.

Make sure it has an exhaust brake, some of the older ones don't and stopping will be an issue.

The 12 valve can be stepped up to do anything you want relatively easy and cheap. 4K governor and valve springs, set up P pump timing from 12* to 17* and some other things. Do a little research and I think you will find it can do everything you want it to.

I have an older Allegro 32 bus with a 5.9. I pull a 28' trailer at around 10,000 lbs. Honestly I have no complaints on power or fuel economy. I live in michigan and don't have any mountains here, but there are some pretty big hills. Like I said the bus is 32 foot so it's not super heavy like a 38-40 footer.

quote:

Originally posted by Curly1:
The 12 valve can be stepped up to do anything you want relatively easy and cheap. 4K governor and valve springs, set up P pump timing from 12* to 17* and some other things. Do a little research and I think you will find it can do everything you want it to.

I doubt he is looking at a motorhome old enough to have a 12v (1998 back)

quote:

Originally posted by DLR:
I have an older Allegro 32 bus with a 5.9. I pull a 28' trailer at around 10,000 lbs. Honestly I have no complaints on power or fuel economy. I live in michigan and don't have any mountains here, but there are some pretty big hills. Like I said the bus is 32 foot so it's not super heavy like a 38-40 footer.

This is more what I'm looking for is the smaller 32-35 foot motorhome. Thanks for all the replies

A 1998 or older 5.9 just needs the fuel plate moved 1/8" - !/2" as needed and it will pull your trailer with the garage still attached to it.....A newer 5.9 needs a computer...same results in power gain, Just use your EGT's as as a governor....Also a full length exhaust system (no muffler) makes the turbo happier