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11-14-2019, 09:08 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 11
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Dutch Star 4018 drive quality
In the search for a coach, this model has many appealing qualities. I purchased the ratings guide from the RV consumer group. This model has high ratings for reliability and value. It has a low rating for "highway control". The rating seems to be mainly based on the wheelbase to length ratio of 52%. This ends up with a description of the drive as being fatiguing and difficult to steer much of the time. Can any of you confirm or deny this rating?
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11-14-2019, 09:18 PM
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#2
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"Formerly Diplomat Don"
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Moorpark, Ca.
Posts: 23,931
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"Elousv"......You can't always trust what you read in these type of consumer group ratings. It sounds like they listed the handing as poor with very little knowledge of the 4018 model. Yes the wheelbase is short for a 40' coach, but if they had actually looked at one versus doing the ratings from a desk, they would have seen that the 4018 is the ONLY 40' coach on the market with a tag axle, which dramatically extends the wheelbase. A tag axle on any coach adds quite a bit of ride quality/stability.
The Newmar 4018, over the past ten years has had Comfort Drive, a system that helps control the steering in wind and road crown conditions. I think the consumer group rating in this instance is pretty much junk.
__________________
Don & Mary
2019 Newmar Dutch Star 4018 (Freightliner)
2019 Ford Raptor
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11-14-2019, 09:23 PM
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#3
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Community Moderator
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
Posts: 31,307
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don
"Elousv"......You can't always trust what you read in these type of consumer group ratings. It sounds like they listed the handing as poor with very little knowledge of the 4018 model. Yes the wheelbase is short for a 40' coach, but if they had actually looked at one versus doing the ratings from a desk, they would have seen that the 4018 is the ONLY 40' coach on the market with a tag axle, which dramatically extends the wheelbase. A tag axle on any coach adds quite a bit of ride quality/stability.
The Newmar 4018, over the past ten years has had Comfort Drive, a system that helps control the steering in wind and road crown conditions. I think the consumer group rating in this instance is pretty much junk.
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The Tag plus Comfort Drive will make it enjoyable to drive.
__________________
Tony & Ruth........... FMCA#F416727
2016 London Aire 4519, Freightliner chassis, Cummins ISX, 2018 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Blue Ox Avail with AF1. TST 507 TPMS
No amount of money can buy you an extra second of time.
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11-14-2019, 10:51 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Draper, UT / Palm Springs, CA
Posts: 379
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Elousv,
I had a similar question about why RV Consumer showed this warning for almost all of the Newmar tag axle motorhomes. I had a Tiffin Allegro Bus and had test driven 4 or 5 Newmar tag axle coaches. I knew that they drove very well. I contacted RV Consumer and they told me that they only use the manufacturer's "published" wheelbase specs for their ratings.
The "problem" ended up being that Newmar is the only company I know of, that calculates the wheelbase of their tag axle coaches from the center of the front axle to the center of the drive axle. All the other companies that I checked with, calculate the wheel base from the center of the front axle to the center point between the drive and tag axles. Since the normal tag axle is 4 feet behind the drive axle, that adds 24" to all the other manufacturer's wheelbase calculations compared to Newmar. So, take the Newmar listed wheelbase and add 24" to that number. Then, use that number to compare to the compitition!
Like they say, lies, dam* lies, and statistics!
__________________
Tad & Carol
2024 Entegra Anthem 44D
2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited
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11-15-2019, 04:33 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Fort Myers, FL
Posts: 1,670
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don
"Elousv"......You can't always trust what you read in these type of consumer group ratings. It sounds like they listed the handing as poor with very little knowledge of the 4018 model. Yes the wheelbase is short for a 40' coach, but if they had actually looked at one versus doing the ratings from a desk, they would have seen that the 4018 is the ONLY 40' coach on the market with a tag axle, which dramatically extends the wheelbase. A tag axle on any coach adds quite a bit of ride quality/stability.
The Newmar 4018, over the past ten years has had Comfort Drive, a system that helps control the steering in wind and road crown conditions. I think the consumer group rating in this instance is pretty much junk.
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Agree as well … I have had two (2) 4018's and have always enjoyed a great ride and drive.
FLSteve
__________________
Steve & Lisa
2022 Mountain Aire 4118
2024 JL Rubicon & 2019 Cherokee Trailhawk
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11-15-2019, 03:47 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Texas Boomers Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 116
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I have a 4018 Ventana with Tag. I find it very stable and with great ride quality and it feels very safe going down the road. I would love a Dutch Star with the same layout as mine!
__________________
Warren Wilkerson
2013 Newmar Ventana DP 4018
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11-15-2019, 06:29 PM
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#7
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 11
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Kinda what I figured. When looking at that rating it just did not seem to make sense. I have seen videos of a dealer driving it with 2 fingers. He also whipped it around a cul-de-sac that I would have a hard time with my crew cab long bed pickup.
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11-16-2019, 07:11 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Chicago Area
Posts: 635
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Their drive quality rating is based on how much overhang you have in the rear past the axle and it is purely just a formula based on brochure wheel base vs coach length. They do not count the tag, they are just calculating wheel base from front to first rear axle and assuming the rest of the length is overhang. A tag cuts down on rear over hang but also adds additional stability that they do not count.
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11-16-2019, 11:03 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,074
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Compared to what?
I find it hard to believe, frankly. -Paul
__________________
2017 Ventana 4369
towing a 2013 Honda CRV
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11-16-2019, 06:25 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Wilmington, Delaware
Posts: 1,224
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Elousv
In the search for a coach, this model has many appealing qualities. I purchased the ratings guide from the RV consumer group. This model has high ratings for reliability and value. It has a low rating for "highway control". The rating seems to be mainly based on the wheelbase to length ratio of 52%. This ends up with a description of the drive as being fatiguing and difficult to steer much of the time. Can any of you confirm or deny this rating?
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As others have said, don’t believe everything you read, first I suggest you test drive one, second I drive a 4054 and drove across country 2300 miles in some really nasty weather my couch drove brilliantly I don’t drive it for extended periods but see no issues in doing so never tired or “fatigued” as you said the tag axle it’s a perfect combo for the size of coach, having said that tire pressure plays a very important role but you already know that.
Zzotte
__________________
2017 Dutch Star 4054 K2 Spartan Chassis with Active Air, 2022 Sahara toad with Blueox and AF1 - Noodles Communications officer, Choy the co-pilot
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11-16-2019, 06:38 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Freightliner Owners Club Entegra Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: AZ
Posts: 6,388
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tqqest
Elousv,
The "problem" ended up being that Newmar is the only company I know of, that calculates the wheelbase of their tag axle coaches from the center of the front axle to the center of the drive axle. All the other companies that I checked with, calculate the wheel base from the center of the front axle to the center point between the drive and tag axles. Since the normal tag axle is 4 feet behind the drive axle, that adds 24" to all the other manufacturer's wheelbase calculations compared to Newmar. So, take the Newmar listed wheelbase and add 24" to that number. Then, use that number to compare to the compitition!
Like they say, lies, dam* lies, and statistics!
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Actually this is correct for Freightliner, however Spartan uses the middle point of the tag and Drive axles
__________________
Newmar 2016 Canyon Star 3710
Newmar 2018 Dutch Star 4369 SP
Newmar 2023 Dutch Star 4369 FL
Entegra 2025 Cornerstone 45D on order
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11-16-2019, 07:37 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Draper, UT / Palm Springs, CA
Posts: 379
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Stuart,
Spartan might on their own website, but Rv Consumer uses the Newmar published specs, and for both chassis in a Dutch Star, Newmar shows “288 inches plus tag” for the 4369 model. Not sure why Newmar doesn’t just use the same wheelbase specs as all the others. I have to say that I think that the way Newmar does it is more honest though.
__________________
Tad & Carol
2024 Entegra Anthem 44D
2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited
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11-16-2019, 10:16 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Freightliner Owners Club Entegra Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: AZ
Posts: 6,388
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Dutch Star 4018 drive quality
Quote:
Originally Posted by tqqest
Stuart,
Spartan might on their own website, but Rv Consumer uses the Newmar published specs, and for both chassis in a Dutch Star, Newmar shows “288 inches plus tag” for the 4369 model. Not sure why Newmar doesn’t just use the same wheelbase specs as all the others. I have to say that I think that the way Newmar does it is more honest though.
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I’m speaking about the 2018 model year, Newmar’s specs showed two different measurements, I actually call Spartan to find out why their dimensions were different then FL.
It looks like they have now standardized
__________________
Newmar 2016 Canyon Star 3710
Newmar 2018 Dutch Star 4369 SP
Newmar 2023 Dutch Star 4369 FL
Entegra 2025 Cornerstone 45D on order
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11-16-2019, 11:43 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Draper, UT / Palm Springs, CA
Posts: 379
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuart W
I’m speaking about the 2018 model year, Newmar’s specs showed two different measurements, I actually call Spartan to find out why their dimensions were different then FL.
It looks like they have now standardized
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Thanks for the correction Stuart, I didn't realize they had changed the spec info. recently. I don't want to pass on bad information!
__________________
Tad & Carol
2024 Entegra Anthem 44D
2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited
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