Banks
Most of the arguments for diesel rely on the power issue. The gas engines just are not quite powerful enough to satisfy either ourselves or in some cases our co-pilots. Even when the power is pretty good, many of us want to make a good thing just a little bit better. Enter the world of performance enhancements.
My 95 Aerbus with its 454 Chevy engine was underpowered. One of Linda’s requirements for our 2000 Aerbus was that we be able to go up the mountains faster than 40 mph. So when we ordered our new rig, we had them install the Banks air intake and exhaust system prior to taking delivery.
In 1950 my father, whose hobby was working on cars, put dual exhaust and low resistance mufflers on our cars. He was convinced that "breathing", both air intake and particularly low resistance exhaust systems, were essential to improved engine performance. We boys certainly liked the performance, even though Mom was less than enthused about the noise.
So my early training and my subsequent study of the Banks literature, along with the usual anecdotal reports talking to fellow RVers, convinced me that I needed a Banks system, since this was to be our "forever" vehicle. The Banks literature claims that the improved airflow through the engine results in an increase of 80 horsepower and 140 foot pounds of torque.
We picked up our Aerbus in Lancaster and a commercial Driver took us and our rig to Las Vagas, delivering it to us out of state. He does this routinely. He tows his car behind. He was very impressed with the power and performance of our Ford V 10 with the Banks as compared to the many many similar vehicles he had driven over the same route on many prior occasions. Pulling the hills we were 10 mph better than he was used to. From that point on I was very pleased I had ordered the Banks. The rest of the trip home impressed me directly as the driver with the power and the honest 9mpg gas mileage. Subsequently I have remained very pleased with the Banks.
Several owners of V 10s have complained about the cruise control downshifting to third gear when climbing overpasses. I used to solve the problem by pushing on the accelerator as I approached the overpass, overriding the cruise control. But with the new rig and the Banks, it rarely downshifts, because there is enough more power in fourth gear that the speed does not drop and cause downshift. Another "evidence" that the Banks works.
Doug