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10-22-2016, 11:22 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 8
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2017 Dutch Star Freightliner vs. Spartan chassis
We are looking at purchasing a 2017 Dutch Star 4369. This will be our first experience as RV owners. We would like to better understand the pros and cons of having the Freightliner chassis vs. the Spartan chassis to help us make an informed decision. We would appreciate any help you can provide.
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10-22-2016, 12:08 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Forest City, FL
Posts: 782
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Quote:
Originally Posted by onatrip
We are looking at purchasing a 2017 Dutch Star 4369. This will be our first experience as RV owners. We would like to better understand the pros and cons of having the Freightliner chassis vs. the Spartan chassis to help us make an informed decision. We would appreciate any help you can provide.
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We just recently went through this same decision. I can tell you how we came up with our decision. We ended up going with the Freightliner chasis for the following reasons:
- Tighter turn radius in/when needed
- Much larger service network if needed work done while traveling
I can tell you I drove both chasis on 2017 Dutch Stars and could not feel any difference in overall ride comfort/smoothness. What did it for me was the tighter turn difference I noticed in parking lot on both chasis. We park our coach on the side of our house & having the tighter turn was important to me.
I think it ultimately comes down to a personal preference. The Spartan chasis is a bit heavier (think about 1,000 lbs) and has little bit larger front axle rating but we do not full time & should be well within the axle ratings.
You will get opinions both ways kind of like a Ford vs Chevy preference. I posted this same question when ordering and got many responses both ways.
__________________
Brian
2017 Dutch Star 4310 (bunks)
2018 Ford Explorer Platinum
Previous: 2010 Tiffin Allegro Red 38QBA
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10-22-2016, 01:42 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: cayucos, ca
Posts: 1,299
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The Spartan for me cause it has air disc all the way around. Best for emergency stop.
__________________
Ross Starkenburg
2017 Newmar Dutch Star 4369. Spartan chassis w/full disc brakes. 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee toad
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10-22-2016, 07:18 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 4,505
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As a 20 year Newmar/Spartan owner with over 200K miles on Spartan chassis I would recommend Spartan. Here are a some of the reasons your Dutch Star would have the better chassis with a Spartan.
! Disc brakes on all 3 axles with your 43 DS
2 Larger and stronger frame rails and cross members
3 HD wiring color coded for ease of maintenance
4 Higher resale value
5 American owned serving the RV industry for over 30 years
6 Spartan chassis has 1,580 more pounds of carrying capacity
7 Central service center for ease of maintenance
Both our London Aire and now are Essex are on Spartan plus all King Aire's
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10-24-2016, 09:22 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: MotorCoach Resort, St Lucie West
Posts: 215
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tom chelbana
As a 20 year Newmar/Spartan owner with over 200K miles on Spartan chassis I would recommend Spartan. Here are a some of the reasons your Dutch Star would have the better chassis with a Spartan.
! Disc brakes on all 3 axles with your 43 DS
2 Larger and stronger frame rails and cross members
3 HD wiring color coded for ease of maintenance
4 Higher resale value
5 American owned serving the RV industry for over 30 years
6 Spartan chassis has 1,580 more pounds of carrying capacity
7 Central service center for ease of maintenance
Both our London Aire and now are Essex are on Spartan plus all King Aire's
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Just to be clear, I drive a gasser(for now). I did look long and hard at the two chassis...stripped down condition at the International Rally. During which I was offered a beautiful used Essex at what I considered a good price. BUT it was on a FL chassis.
The Spartan chassis is a heavier construction(think full wall slides), carries more (bigger basement), has disc brakes on all axles, and does not require that you move in reverse a few feet to get the tag to straighten out. The Spartan tag will snap back to straight when you place the transmission in drive. I believe the Spartan also has a air line to the rear of the coach as standard.
The things Tom stated and the few I noticed made me a Spartan fan. The next coach will be a Spartan frame.
Bob
__________________
2021 DSDP 4363 Spartan K2, NKK F21594
Bob, Loretta, & Paddy the Westy, No Pronouns, HOOTS
2021 Tesla MYP
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10-24-2016, 10:08 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 2,515
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Currently the 2017 DutchStar does not have the air line. All coachs above the DS do, maybe in 2018. The DS does not have the Spartan Mtce center on the side like the other coaches another 2018 upgrade?
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10-24-2016, 01:34 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,459
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Canuck I think the only reason the DS doesn't have the Spartan Mtce on the side is that the DS is shorter (43 series vs 45 series) and simply doesn't have the length to accommodate. From the Spartan chassis photos it looks like they are arranged across the back. Hoping to be at Midway RV on Saturday and they have a Spartan DS on the lot that I want to look at. I'll try to post a few photos.
__________________
Gary 2021 NH Majestic
Ram 5500 with Bodywerks bed
Box Elder, SD and the road
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10-24-2016, 02:44 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 2,515
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Gary I think you are right and the other story I heard from the Spartan people that the go ahead for the DS came late and not enough time to redo including the door. Can always hope for 2018 along with the air supply. Pictures are always fun if you drive it let us know what you think.
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11-01-2016, 10:44 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,459
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__________________
Gary 2021 NH Majestic
Ram 5500 with Bodywerks bed
Box Elder, SD and the road
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11-01-2016, 11:01 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 126
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What is an air line at the rear of a Coach used for?
__________________
Sold 2009 Allegro Bus 36QSP.
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11-01-2016, 11:17 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: British Columbia
Posts: 3,838
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The air line is for air activated towed vehicle use, such as Air Force One.
Peter
__________________
Peter - Doctor of Mixology
KADB 2013
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11-01-2016, 01:09 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 2,515
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I do not see the airline connection? MA and up has the air line connection unless they have started to add it to the DS?
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11-01-2016, 01:25 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,459
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I don't see an airline connection in the photos I uploaded.
LA and above 2017 now includes the Spartan toad braking ping tank. That air connection for systems like the Air Force One has the outlet down on the chassis tow bar to the left of the toad wiring connector.
Some coaches do have an air line located in the engine compartment or in the front generator slide out area, sometimes both. It is used during a towing event so that the tow truck can supply air to the coach tanks for applying the coach brakes under tow. Can also be used for filling tires, etc as long as you keep the pressure up (motor running).
__________________
Gary 2021 NH Majestic
Ram 5500 with Bodywerks bed
Box Elder, SD and the road
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11-01-2016, 01:53 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 2,515
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Lug Nut indicated an airline for Air Force One and on a KA with Spartan that is correct. For a New DS 2017 on a Spartan not there yet.
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