cat vs cummins?

[trmpt]

I am lookig into buying a motorhome with a cat 300. I am searching for opinions on the cat 300. Thanks trmpt

[bob2k]

I have an 8.3L 315 Cummins turbo which gives 950lb of torque. The CAT 330 engine only gives 860lb torque. The Cummins is a "wet sleeve" engine which means its easier and cheaper to repair that a CAT. Remember its the torque that gets you over the big mountains. I've looked at several MH's with nice floor plans that we liked but they had a CAT and that turned me off quick.
Good luck. Bob

[trmpt]

I have an 8.3L 315 Cummins turbo which gives 950lb of torque. The CAT 330 engine only gives 860lb torque. The Cummins is a "wet sleeve" engine which means its easier and cheaper to repair that a CAT. Remember its the torque that gets you over the big mountains. I've looked at several MH's with nice floor plans that we liked but they had a CAT and that turned me off quick.
Good luck. Bob

Thanks for the infromation! Trmpt

[beaver]

We have had a CAT in our last two motorhomes and our next one probably will but we feel the engine model to engine we would buy a Cummins as they are both good engines. Makes no difference to us. We do belong to the CAT Chapter of FMCA but would join the Cummins chapter if we bought a Cummins equipted coach.

[sirbill]

I am lookig into buying a motorhome with a cat 300. I am searching for opinions on the cat 300. Thanks trmpt

I have a CAT in my coach, and traveled to Nova Scotia, with no problems at all. Look and what the big earthmovers run CAT!

[minniemax]

We have 300hp Cummins and love it. It pushes the inclines without a problem. As for service....most diesel mechanics have a Cummins certification as that is not the case with a Cat. Cat is a good engine but the torque displacement is not as substantual as the Cummins. You need torque in the mountains. Have a great summer to all.

[trmpt]

We have 300hp Cummins and love it. It pushes the inclines without a problem. As for service....most diesel mechanics have a Cummins certification as that is not the case with a Cat. Cat is a good engine but the torque displacement is not as substantual as the Cummins. You need torque in the mountains. Have a great summer to all.

Thanks for taking the time to respond. Enjoy trmpt

[trmpt]

We have 300hp Cummins and love it. It pushes the inclines without a problem. As for service....most diesel mechanics have a Cummins certification as that is not the case with a Cat. Cat is a good engine but the torque displacement is not as substantual as the Cummins. You need torque in the mountains. Have a great summer to all.

thanks for your reply

[pusher4me]

When starting to quote HP and Torque numbers, there's more to the eqaution than just saying I have a 300 Hp CAT.....I have a 350 CAT, but its the 3176B big block 10.3 litre engine compared to the 350 Hp CAT of today which is a 7.2 litre engine. The torque on mine is closer to 1100....so there is more than meets the eye. As you cruise through these different forums, the general consenus is that you will not "go through" an engine be it a CAT or a Cummins before the MH falls apart. IMHO

[bigben]

I'm a retired truck driver, If i were buying used i would worry more about over all condition than who made the engine. There are a bunch of happy owners of each.

[doug7155]

Listen to BigBen. He's right on the money. Both good engines or they would be out of business.

[navion]

If it ain't a cat it must be a dog. Mine is a 3126B 300HP turbo cat. I love it.

[bobb5212]

Where are the horse power rated from ? I was a truck driver in the 70s CAT rated there horse power torque where the rubber meet the road. Cummin's rated there at the end of the transmisson out put shaft. Cummins was a 350 and Cat was a 350 but Cat had 380 hp. at the end of the output shaft. Something to think about.:)

[richa]

I'm a cat person myself, but I don't think the difference in either is as prominent as the way they've been taken care of and the way both are rated. I believe the hp on the cat is rated somewhat different then the hp on a cummins. Correct me if I'm wrong. Also, the 330 cat delivers the 860 ft lbs of torque mentioned, so it does outpreform the cummins along the same hp curve. The cummins delivers it's torque at a lower rpm than does the cat though. The choice is not as important as the care the MH has had. Put a turbo on the cummins and it will outpreform the cat. Mine has no turbo on it. Hopefully, the 860 ft lbs of torque will get me to the top, and my toad brake will get me back to the bottom. Richa

[pools]

I Have A 300 Cat And Loove It, I Have No Problem Going Up Hills.
Both Engines Are Great

Pools:)