Can a 400HP truck carry 35K 53ft van load on steep grade easily?

Lol that's what we call the 7 axle trash/dump haulers around here. And musket the crappy container company Lol

 

It will be slow up the hills. I ran a 425 hp in the northwest for the last couple years... 6% grade fully loaded is about 30mph if u hold ur foot to the floor.. Id cruise up at about 20 mph with about 75% throttle.

 

No matter where you truck,it's the same place. In this neck of the woods a new truck is a fresh paint job.

 

I’ve posted this before and although I do not have actual data to prove my thoughts I look at it like the big old V8 cars
They sucked fuel going 3 blocks but barely burned any on the freeway as once rolling they just idled down the road

I know guys who have well over 800hp trucks and do every bit as good if not better per gallon than these low hp motors

 

If “sufficient” is getting the job done, then, yes. It’ll get the load up the hill. However, on smaller stuff that should be inconsequential, it’ll still loose more speed than something bigger.

If I’m buying for myself, I’m going for at least a 470hp or even 500hp. It may not seem like that much difference, but, it is, on the road. They’re a much more enjoyable experience.

 

Exactly! If you have a grade that’s “X” miles long, and you’re pulling “X” pounds up it, the amount of energy (fuel) required is the same. Low hp takes longer, so doing the work over a longer period of time. High hp is the opposite.

Where big hp suffers is against the wind, because the big hp is going to shove the truck through the wind at whatever speed is chosen, no matter what. Whereas small hp is going to be slowed down and there’s no more fuel available to do that work. A slow truck up a grade has little wind resistance, whereas big hp is going to have some, so it’ll use a bit more fuel, there.

Always going to be tradeoffs. But, I’d rather run big hp at a relaxed pace than wringing the guts out of small hp.

 

Horsepower does matter, your thinking is flawed. You can have all the torque in the world but if you’re lacking hp you won’t win any races.

Your first question = No
Second question = speed..slow off the line, etc, etc.

What you’re looking at to buy is what I call a flatlander truck. Just like what you already have but it’s going to be a touch more sluggish.

If you’re climbing hills a lot find something 500hp minimum.