Losing Power On Inclines

[ftaylor3]

First outing in our Benemar Tessoro 486 170 bhp. It is losing significant power on inclines. Never had a motorhome before.

 

[Flairy]

Your lucky I’ve only got 128hp and were 5tons,just use your gear box and you’ll be fine

 

[Phill D]

I don’t know you vehicle.
What weight is your motorhome?
Is it a turbo engine?
Is there any noticeable clutch slip?

 

[Neil S]

First outing in our Benemar Tessoro 486 170 bhp. It is losing significant power on inclines. Never had a motorhome before.

are you sure your not expecting to much performance from it , motorhomes are not the most dynamic of vehicles

 

[Ridgeway]

If it’s loosing power then there’s a problem, if it’s loosing speed then this is perfectly normal.

I think you mean it’s loosing speed/pull/grunt right ? I assume the same 170 horses are there at the top of the hill

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[Stoosal]

I am assuming it’s a manual gearbox and you are leaving it in sixth gear on hills and finding it slowing down/not pulling/not accelerating on hills. If so then consider sixth gear is just a motorway cruising gear and on hills you need to change down a gear or two to keep the revs up. I’ve found you need to work the gearbox but as soon as you change down the engine should keep pulling!

 

[ontheroadagain]

I assume with it being170hp it is a Ford.
Some of them had issues with the injectors.

 

[Dorwyn]

My newish van is only 2 litres, but supposed to be 130 bhp, the same as my previous Ducato 2.3
pvc. The grunt just disappears on steep hills. I have to drop the gears down to at least 4th, and it doesn't pull anything like the Ducato. I think this van is only 3.3 tons too. It probably gets its power from revs, with less torque.

 

[UptheGas]

Stick the cruise control on , works for my Moho better than not having it on. No idea why ?!

 

[pappajohn]

My first van was a 1.9ltr diesel...... Some steep hills would need 2nd gear especially into a head wind.
Use the gearbox, that's what it's there for.
And it isn't a time trial to the top, the aim is to get there.

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[Janine]

My first van was a 1.9ltr diesel...... Some steep hills would need 2nd gear especially into a head wind.
Use the gearbox, that's what it's there for.
And it isn't a time trial to the top, the aim is to get there.

I had a Bedford CF motorhome like that. The temperature gauge would go into the red just as we reached the top of one particular hill in Wales

 

[dunnah01]

if it's the 170bhp transit engine then it has 400Nm of torque so shouldn't struggle on minor inclines, if they get a bit steeper then unless you have to drop lower then 4th gear I wouldn't worry.

 

[Folkranger]

are you sure your not expecting to much performance from it , motorhomes are not the most dynamic of vehicles

They vary quite a bit my 2014 ducato 2.3, 150 tore up hills and I never had to use first to pull away.
My 2017 ducato 2.3, 150 is like a damp f*rt. Always have to change down on the slightest of inclines and MUST use first to pull away. I have a whole thread on this subject, where the answer seems to be, live with it or get the engine remapped. Having just toured the Italian lakes and the alps I know that the wrong decision was to just live with it.

 

[Miggs]

I had a 170hp Ford Benimar and it went like sh!t off a shovel. I would say you have a fault, put it in for a diagnostic check.

 

[Verteuil Man]

With a diesel which is carrying some weight you should not let the engine revs drop to much. If you do dropping down a cog will not do a lot. When climbing or decending you should watch the rev counter, the speedo does not matter. If you drop to about 2,500 revs, drop down one. Also drive to the road in front of you. Anticipate the climb and get a good run at it.

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[davidbaldam]

Hi and welcome to FUN. My Van is 2.8 and I learned very quickly to judge when to change down through the gears on steep inclines, you'll soon get use to it as well. Happy Motorhoming.

 

[Bailey58]

Welcome to Fun. If you've never had a motorhome you'd get a lot of help by joining and dipping into a vast amount of knowledge.

 

[Threeracers]

100 bhp and 7.5 tonnes make hills a bit of a challenge here sometimes too!

M

 

[Ray-Vic]

Our Peugeot Boxer 2.0L (160 bhp) was fine with inclines, albeit sometimes there was a little gearbox usage, so I'm a little surprised if you are struggling with 170 bhp (depending on weight of course. However, I had ours remapped and can honestly say it's the best thing we've done so far. Mine went from 160 to 210 bhp, and from 340 to 381Nm of torque. The difference is significant and driving it is now so much more enjoyable, with gear changing reserved for only the steepest of hills. Best £269 I've spent for some time, and better fuel economy too!!

 

[Pausim]

The more gears you have the more often you have to change gear. To achieve low emissions and good fuel consumption the higher gears are just that, higher gears, and not suitable for going up hill.

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[Bailey58]

Has he got up that hill yet?

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

Possibly looking for hot kit for the 170bhp, to give it a little "pep".
Mike.

 

[Folkranger]

With a diesel which is carrying some weight you should not let the engine revs drop to much. If you do dropping down a cog will not do a lot. When climbing or decending you should watch the rev counter, the speedo does not matter. If you drop to about 2,500 revs, drop down one. Also drive to the road in front of you. Anticipate the climb and get a good run at it.

2500 rpm seems pretty high to me. Mine is comfortable at 2000 but flags at 1500. at 2500. I would never get out of fourth gear.

 

[Phill D]

2500 rpm seems pretty high to me. Mine is comfortable at 2000 but flags at 1500. at 2500. I would never get out of fourth gear.

I do agree very comfortable at 2000 rpm and in 6th my remapped to 180bhp is cruising nicely on cruise control.
I have few issues but need to keep the revs up on the steepest of winding hills.

 

[Dochie]

You should try living in my shoes - 3.5 tons, 78hp and automatic gearbox to boot. If you are behind me on a hill you will need to have a bit of patience till I get to the top.
On the plus side there are no electronics, no ad blue, no turbo, ect and can be fixed with spanners

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[gus-lopez]

78hp

22 more than my last coachbuilt had

 

[jezport]

From what I've heard the ford 170bhp has crap torque where you need it. It's not the BHP that's the most important. You need good torque at the revs you actually need it at. Ford cocked up allegedly!

 

[Barclaybasher]

If you see a long hill ahead get plenty of speed up before.
I cruise at about 60 but if I see a long incline ahead I will be doing 70-80 before I get to the slope - van romps it!

 

[Swifter]

You need to work the gearbox more . It’s a completely different driving experience to a car .

 

[jezport]

168BHP at 3500 revs!!!
Who drives a motorhome at 3500revs!