How well does the 190 HP Cummins pushing a 30" Barth Breakaway work in the mountains? I will be towing a Jeep.
Would a Banks System be needed?

What year is your Breakaway?

Thanks for the reply. 1992

I don't have an answer for you but I will be looking for replies to your question. I asked myself the same question. I wonder how much you can safely pull with the 30', 190HP Breakaway without starting to have cooling issues with the transmission.

quote:

Originally posted by Raymag:
I wonder how much you can safely pull with the 30', 190HP Breakaway without starting to have cooling issues with the transmission.

Hmmm............if it really is just a matter of cooling, wouldn't a bigger or better cooler take care of any extra heat?

I am wondering what the overall preformance would be in the mountains. Up hill and down? bill h, do you think overheating would be a problem? How about brakes? I will have a tow brake system.

Hi Raymag
How do you find YOUR 190HP 4spd for mountainous. pulling? I know you don't have any mountains per se in Eastern Canada..sorry couldn't resist!!Do you think you would have concerns in the mountains with or without pulling a toad? I have talked to a west coast owner of a Breakaway with a 230HP,6spd, and he thinks that it is more than adequate here in the mountains. Just curious as I am in the market for coach.

I haven't gotten a clear answer. Can anyone help?

You're not likely to get a clear answer. Adequacy of performace, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.

A 190 Cummins, or a GM 454 is not going to take you over the mountains in top gear at the speed limit, but the Cummins has more torque so it should do better. Furthermore, with the turbo it should not suffer as much power loss at altitude.

You can find lots of information on the internet. For example, I just looked up the Cummins 190, & the GM 454. The current turbo Cummins is rated at 600 ft. lbs. of torque. One website sells a GM 454 crate engine rated at 500 ft/ lbs. The Cummins should be a better mountain climber.

My 33' Regal SE with 59,000 miles, and the original 1989 GM 454,has been up and down I-5 from Washington to So. Cal., and across the South end of the Sierra Nevadas several times at a gross weight, including toad, of around 21,000 pounds. I spent a lot of time in second gear, but nevertheless, I passed more big rigs on the hills than they passed me. That performance was OK with me, it might not be for you.

A 30' Breakaway is lighter than my Regal loaded with Corian counters, etc. With 20% more torque, the Breakaway should be able to pass me in the mountains.

With proper equipment, overheating should not be a problem. It hasn't been with my 454.