Community Forums

supercub · 07-16-2011, 09:24 PM

My sister and her husband are looking at a 1999 35" Dutch Star with a 300 hp Cummins, 6 speed Allison. Looking for pros and cons?
It has an Onan 7000watt LP generator.......are these ok? I'm not familiar with LP powered generators. Any info is appreciated.
Thanks
Brian

SteveLevin · 07-16-2011, 09:32 PM

There's nothing inherently wrong with LP generators, but IMHO they are a pain because you can't just swing by a gas station and "fill up." But we use a generator a lot; in the summer while going down the road we typically have it on to run the roof air, and since we dry camp at racetracks, there are weekends in the summer that we run it 10-12 hours a day.

In the price range/age your sister's looking at, I suspect there are plenty of coaches out there with diesel generators at a very minor premium to the LP one.

Steve

hawgguy · 07-17-2011, 06:13 AM

Agree with above about LP genny. Ours worked well, and sure ran clean. If you're traveling in a cooler part of the country primarily and don't use the genny much, LP is fine. We live in a HOT (really) part of the country and, during the summer, the genny is on constantly. Finding LP in the middle of nowhere on a Sunday is a challenge.

"007" · 07-17-2011, 07:10 AM

Here is info on 99 DSDP manual.

Skip426 · 07-17-2011, 04:07 PM

Would that be a 5.9 cummins or an 8.3, MHO, 35' DP with any kind of a towed the 5.9 is being over worked while the 8.3 would be the way to go. Lots more torque.
Chassis, GVW. GCVW and CCC. all are important. My 99DSDP with 28,000 lbs, Gvw, and 3350CCC. With the size of the cargo area, it would be eazy to overload, and the 4000 lbs between GVW and GCVW. only allows for a small towed or trailer.If they can live with the numbers and power, the DS quality of construction has stood the test of time in my coach.

Norm4015 · 07-17-2011, 08:20 PM

That 99 DSDP will have a 300hp (actually 315hp) Cummins ISC engine mated to an Allison 3060 6-speed transmission riding on a Spartan chassis. A very nice and quality motorhome. If they do not plan to use the generator much the LP gen will be OK. But I think diesel generators are much better. In the 99 DSDP the LP generator was standard and there were two upgrade options - PowerTech and Onan, with the Onan being the most expensive.