Yeah, gearing definitely comes into play. My V10 gasser can keep up (towing) with most comparable diesels (in 3/4 & up trucks). I was actually commenting on it earlier today with someone, I was towing around 12,500 lbs and it had no problem with it, even gaining speed up some sharp, long inclines. But, the powerband of that engine is in the high revs. There's not much low end "grunt". She screams and powers thru, but I'd take the low end power of the diesel over the higher revving power of a gasser any day ... But this is what I have to work with.
Didn't the 8n have a gasser?