'05 Dutch Star 4011 on Freightliner?

[FLgatorgirl]

Hello Newmar owners! We have good friends on their 3rd Newmar and are trading our class C in on either a Newmar or Tiffin. We are going in the morning to look at a garage kept, 37k mile 2005 DSDP 4011. Dealer says it's on a Freightliner chassis with a 330 Cat. I cannot find specs for this combo anywhere, just the Spartan and larger motor. I also cannot find NADA values for the same reason.

Anyone have positive or negative comments on this particular coach? I have learned to look for the "thermal checking" in the fiberglass in the dark paint areas. I read on your very helpful forum that the 05's would be equipped with 275/70/22.5 tires that many of you replaced with 275/80/22.5 to make the ride better and increase load capacity to the full amount allowed by the axle. This unit does have the 275/70 tires, but since it is on the Freightliner chassis, I wonder if there will be the same issue? I have already priced replacement tires (Toyos) just in case.

We will usually tow a 8500-9000 pound trailer, doing lots of dry camping as well as overnighting, it's just the two of us and most trips range from a long weekend to a week. We would be interested in adding a flatscreen midcoach and a fridge/freezer as well as possible tv outside.

Thanks for any opinions or advice!!

[GaryKD]

Hi FLgatorgirl,
In 2005 Newmar was turning out 15 coaches a day. That was a record amount. Quality may have suffered. See if the records are available for all service (warranty and customer paid). Tires on the front axle depends on what front axle is on the coach. If the axle is rated under 13K the 275X70 tires should be okay. If the axle is for more then 13K your post may be the best choice. Before doing anything, try the coach out for several months. Get the coach weighed to see how much weight the front axle is carrying. My 05 KSDP 3910 has never come close to the GAWR on the front. My problem has always been maxing out on the rear axle (20K legal limit).

I have the Cummins ISC 330. Assuming the CAT 330 has about the same torque, you will feel the towing weight mentioned in your post. I tow 5300 lbs. I feel it on the hills. I am not the fastest vehicle up the hill, but not the slowest either. With 9K lbs you may need considerable patience on hills/mountains.

If there is paint checking that will be a discount off the asking price to get the side walls replaced. Currently, Newmar has a program for coaches up to 6 (I think) model years old. They have a discounted price to replace the side walls and repaint the coach. Call Newmar for details. Without this program, the cost of replacing the side walls and repainting the coach is around $35K Paint checking must be eliminated. It does not go away, it only gets worse with time! Checking can show up in several different ways. Be sure you can recognize it.

Overall we are happy with our 05. We intend to keep it a very long time. I just added a 37" TV to the outside entertainment center area. It was no problem, the coach was prewired for it. The TV is on a pull out and swivel mount. It is the largest TV that would fit in the bay. Make sure your coach is pre wired.

Drive the coach over several different road conditions. Do you like how it handles? Check for leaks (roof).

[bigskymt]

We have an '04 KSDP/Freightliner/C-7 330 Cat. The Dutch Star is a step above the Kountry Star so more luxurious.
We've been happy with our coach in every aspect. Newmar fit and finish is exceptional. Tiffin enjoys the same or better.
We occasionally tow a 7000#+ trailer and can notice it climbing long steep grades. Pulling a 3500# toad is unnoticeable~~mileage is decent.
Our coach is pre-wired for an outside TV and included a separate freezer.
We rarely ever camp with hook-ups.
We have noticed no thermo checking in our paint.

["007"]

Welcome FLgatorgirl to Newmar forum.
I can not add to much just this link for 4011 on Spartan for comparison. Have not found any on FL chassis as yet.

[Lug_Nut]

The torque difference of the two engines Cat or Cummins is night and day. The Cat C-7 has 860 ft. lbs. while the Cummin ISC is around 1050. Now, understand, both engines are great and either is capable of doing the job. But the torque is much higher on the Cummins as it is a much bigger engine, 6.7 l compared to 8.3, that's about 24% more cubic inches. I don't think the '05 was the new version 7.2 l which would be 15+% in same comparison. The torque spec of 860 is for the 7.2

Peter

[Iron Man]

Had a friend with a 330 cat in an 04 Nothern Star. Had SERIOUS power issues going up minor grades.

[GaryKD]

FYI, my Cummins ISC 330 HP has 950 ft lbs of torque. If Peter's number is correct for the CAT engine, you will have less power than I do pulling more weight.

[Norm4015]

As I get older I forget more, so please correct me if I'm wrong. I met with the Newmar president, Dick Parks, at the Louisville RV Trade Show in December 2004 where they were introducing the 43' 2005 Dutch Star with a tag axle. It had a Freightliner chassis with a CAT engine. Mr. Parks said they would start building that way since that was an available chassis and Newmar produced a few, very few, 2005's with Frieghtliner and CAT, with the 2004 CAT engines. Before production of 2005's got into full swing Newmar went strickly with Spartan chassis and Cummins engines, but a few Frieghtliner / CATs rolled out of the plant. I had a friend who bought a 2004 Dutch Star with that CAT engine and he had nothing but problems that CAT could not fix. Newmar built him a new Dutch Star on Spartan / Cummins.

The 2005 Dutch Stars with Cummins came in two varities. The base engine was a Cummins ISL 8.9 liter rated at 350 hp and 1050 ft lbs torque. Most orders were for the upgraded Cummins ISL 8.9 liter 370 hp version with 1200 ft lbs torque. I followed the 2005 models for a year and talked to Mr. Parks and Newmar sales reps before I ordered one with many unlisted features. I am very happy with my 2005 Dutch Star.

There were no 2005 Dutch Stars built with Cummins ISC engines.

[Iron Man]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norm4015 As I get older I forget more, so please correct me if I'm wrong. I met with the Newmar president, Dick Parks, at the Louisville RV Trade Show in December 2004 where they were introducing the 43' 2005 Dutch Star with a tag axle. It had a Freightliner chassis with a CAT engine. Mr. Parks said they would start building that way since that was an available chassis and Newmar produced a few, very few, 2005's with Frieghtliner and CAT, with the 2004 CAT engines. .

How many 2005 Dutch Stars were made with a tag axle? I thought 2006 was the first year and it was a Spartan Mountain Master chassis.

[Norm4015]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iron Man How many 2005 Dutch Stars were made with a tag axle? I thought 2006 was the first year and it was a Spartan Mountain Master chassis.

I don't know how many, but there were very few made. I wrote my response above from memory so I just checked an article I wrote to refresh my memory. I was a member of RVIA and was invited to the Louisville RV Trade Show to inspect new motorhomes and write an article on quality. This is two pieces from that article.

"The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association's (RVIA) 42nd National RV Trade Show was held in Louisville, Kentucky, November 30 - December 2, 2004."

"Newmar brought two new motorhomes that excited the dealers - a 43 foot, quad slide Dutch Star on a tag axle chassis and a new concept London Aire Bus."

So my old memory was correct that Newmar introduced the 43' tag axle in 2004 and a few months later had it in production as a 2005 model. All of the early 43' Dutch Stars were built on Freightliner / CAT.

[Lug_Nut]

Gosh, I'm with John on this one, I think the DSDP tag were all built on a MMGT tag Spartan. I don't think Freightliner even had tag at that GVW.

Peter

[FLgatorgirl]

Thanks so much for all of your replies, they were very helpful. Your responses in combination with a few things we were mislead on from the dealer made us decide to pass on this one. We will keep looking although the process is getting frustrating!

[Norm4015]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lug_Nut Gosh, I'm with John on this one, I think the DSDP tag were all built on a MMGT tag Spartan. I don't think Freightliner even had tag at that GVW. Peter

Peter you are correct that Freightliner did not make a 43' tag axle for the Dutch Star. I am glad I started my message with "As I get older I forget more, so please correct me if I'm wrong" and now I have been corrected. When I went to bed last night my old memory was churning and I realized I made a mistake.

But the 43' tag axle Dutch Star was first produced as a 2005 model and only a few sold. Newmar broke away from their standard combination of Spartan / Cummins and went with Spartan / CAT and had engine problems. The earliest 2005 Dutch Stars were available in 38' and 40' models with both Freightliner and Spartan, then during the model year they went with Spartan only.

Thanks for correcting me.

["007"]

FLgatorgirl do not know if you found our Newmar dealer list but their maybe some near you that maybe of help.
Mention irv2 and your frustrations and our dealer list.
It is not easy to put everything together more than a house because you have wheels to move it around.
Your doing the right thing by asking all the questions and we will help.