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#90-GTSC · 10-19-2011, 08:11 PM

"Generally used in road applications, not highway applications"

What is the difference?

I saw that truck Mike is looking at on RacingJunk.com (I think); looks like a 378 Peterbilt. Am I right?

The "big trucks" appear to come with 450 to 515hp and a commensurate amount of torque. I presume those trucks are designed to haul 80,000 loads medium to long distances.

For our purposes, do we really need 450 to 515hp and around 2,000ft/lbs of torque? What does this truck that Mike is looking at weigh in at? 20,000 pounds (I'm just guessing). What does your 379 weigh? My trailer fully loaded with the stock car, tools and stuff is probably around 11,000 ... I might go to a 28' trailer and some more "stuff" and now I'm at 12,500 or 13,000. 20+12 = 32,000 pounds. Shouldn't 300hp (and what 1,200ft/lbs) pull the whole load pretty nicely? Yes going through the Rockies I'll be in the right lane at 30mph. But I expect to run around the Midwest; want to run Daytona once, Bonnevile once, & Pikes Peak if they continue racing there. But those will be one shot deals.

But wouldn't I pay a huge penalty in fuel mileage to run 450 to 515hp when I could really get by with say 300hp running in the Midwest?

Your thoughts. Thanks! I'm learning quite a bit here!

Dick

10-19-2011, 08:11 PM	#15
#90-GTSC Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Grafton Posts: 285	Truck terminology question "Generally used in road applications, not highway applications" What is the difference? I saw that truck Mike is looking at on RacingJunk.com (I think); looks like a 378 Peterbilt. Am I right? The "big trucks" appear to come with 450 to 515hp and a commensurate amount of torque. I presume those trucks are designed to haul 80,000 loads medium to long distances. For our purposes, do we really need 450 to 515hp and around 2,000ft/lbs of torque? What does this truck that Mike is looking at weigh in at? 20,000 pounds (I'm just guessing). What does your 379 weigh? My trailer fully loaded with the stock car, tools and stuff is probably around 11,000 ... I might go to a 28' trailer and some more "stuff" and now I'm at 12,500 or 13,000. 20+12 = 32,000 pounds. Shouldn't 300hp (and what 1,200ft/lbs) pull the whole load pretty nicely? Yes going through the Rockies I'll be in the right lane at 30mph. But I expect to run around the Midwest; want to run Daytona once, Bonnevile once, & Pikes Peak if they continue racing there. But those will be one shot deals. But wouldn't I pay a huge penalty in fuel mileage to run 450 to 515hp when I could really get by with say 300hp running in the Midwest? Your thoughts. Thanks! I'm learning quite a bit here! Dick __________________ Started looking for 379 Peterbilt TC, 24' to 30' box, bumper pull--but ended up w/1999 Liberty Coach conversion of 45' Prevost XLV bus. 1,000sf heated/AC'd race shop w/dump station, 50amp shore pwr where bus parks, 3 NASCAR/ARCA race cars & 26' Bravo trailer.