Community Forums

pattypom · 05-24-2016, 11:43 AM

We love our Newmar Dutchstar. It is a 2014 4038 and is a 40' with a good size kitchen. The problem is that Newmar isn't making kitchens this large anymore and we even looked at new 45' coaches.

We're thinking of jumping ship and trying another manufacturer. We went to the Tampa RV show and didn't see any big kitchens in any of the other RVs either. We're wondering if we missed something and if there is a model out there that can accommodate our need for a big kitchen.

We would like a second bathroom since we became full timers and we would love heated floors. We would love to upgrade but have found nothing to our dismay.

2 Stroker · 05-24-2016, 11:56 AM

My wife said the same thing, they need a woman to layout the kitchen. The only thing that I have see with good kitchens layouts are fifth wheel. We had a 2003 Alpenlite 5er with a rear kitchen and my wife love it, lot of counter space. Now when she does dishes I have to dry they

in the 5er she had room to let them dry on the own.
2 stroker

Dutch Star Don · 05-24-2016, 05:15 PM

Your kitchen is the same size as my Dutch Star 4018 and the same size as the 2107 4018. They also have a new model called the 4045 or 4054 not sure of the number. It's also the same size. I don't see where you say they're smaller.

Dutch Master · 05-26-2016, 09:41 AM

Hello Pattypom.
I could not agree with you more! We have a 43 foot Dutch Aire, with bath and a half (i.e. rear bath and mid 1/2 bath). Even at this size, (i.e. tag axle), the kitchen layout sucks big time. We also went to the Tampa RV show two years ago, and "noticed" the kitchens were inadequate. After reviewing some 5th wheels, we see that these have superior kitchens to any and all Newmars! Thus, we are going to sell here and move into a 5ther with a "nice kitchen."

Regards
Mark S.

Electra 225 · 05-26-2016, 06:37 PM

Hello Patty,
For your reference, here's the kitchen in our 2014 Itasca Ellipse 42QD. It has a good amount of length and depth, around 6+ft by 3ft approx.
Best regards,
W.D.

Dutch Master · 05-27-2016, 03:49 PM

Hello Patty,
I totally agree with Electra 225. The Itasca has a much better and modern design that any of the Newmars have. I saw these at the Tampa show. I can't understand why Newmar does not provide a better kitchen. Time to fire or retire the floor designer there.

harleyjt · 05-27-2016, 09:14 PM

Our Kountry Star 3742 has as large a kitchen as I've seen. I'm in the same boat. Don't see any new units with as large a kitchen as we now have. Only thing that is close is the Canyon Star 3914 with an L shaped countertop.

jt
2005 Newmar Kountry Star gas 3742, Workhorse 8.1L w/Allison 5 speed.

Sent from my iPhone using iRV2 - RV Forum

Electra 225 · 05-27-2016, 09:59 PM

From my own studies, I've noticed the difference between the older and newer model Newmars is.......in the newer DPs, seems they have given more attention to a larger and luxurious rear bath. Everything is shifted forward to expand master bath depth in (some) models. Which shortens the kitchen and living room a bit.

Our rear bath is at least 2ft shallower in depth than a Newmar. But that's OK (with us), it's still roomy enough. It's personal preference of course, some folks would rather have a bigger bath to go with the bedroom suite. In our case, a longer kitchen and living room suits (us).

I have owned both brands, and I'm a big fan of both brands. I am a study of all of 'em, but I love the Winnies and Newmars. I wish I could combine the best (my favorite features) of both. I could have a Newmabago Ellipse Aire!

Best regards,
W.D.
2014 Itasca Ellipse 42QD

vettenuts · 05-28-2016, 05:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harleyjt

Our Kountry Star 3742 has as large a kitchen as I've seen. I'm in the same boat. Don't see any new units with as large a kitchen as we now have. Only thing that is close is the Canyon Star 3914 with an L shaped countertop.

jt
2005 Newmar Kountry Star gas 3742, Workhorse 8.1L w/Allison 5 speed.

Sent from my iPhone using iRV2 - RV Forum

I have the same coach as jt and my wife has not seen a kitchen arrangement that she likes as well as what we have. However, some of the new bathroom arrangements are nicer so that is the trade-off. However, she has found that even a longer coach than our 37' seems to have less storage which has been another issue with her.

az99 · 05-28-2016, 07:01 AM

Electra 225- Where do you put your pots and pans? Pantry items ?

We are also looking at DP's and the wife is disappointed with lack of kitchen. Phaetons don't even have a pantry. Our 35' Super C had far more kitchen and pantry space.

jtermini30 · 05-28-2016, 07:47 AM

You may consider looking a Haulmark super C as you can highly customize each unit. I have seen kitchens equivalent to those in small SB apartments.

2009 Fleetwood Expedition 38F
2014 RAM 1500 Quad Cab Ecodiesel Toad
2013 Scion XB Toad

Sent from my iPhone using iRV2 - RV Forumk

docj · 05-28-2016, 08:11 AM

Last year we toured the Hershey RV show and came away with similar conclusions to what has been voiced in this thread. Our elderly Beaver has a kitchen that would be quite fine in a s&b and it is fully functional even with the slides retracted. Nothing we saw, at any price range, came close.

As has been mentioned one of the driving factors has been the enlargement of the rear bath, but another is the popularity of the bath and a half arrangement. There's only a certain amount of space in a MH and if you use it for one thing you can't use it for another.

What I find amusing is that one of the reasons give for the need for an extra half bath is that the main bath is not accessible with the slides retracted. IMHO it would be more sensible to fix that problem than it is take away kitchen space to create room for the extra bath.

My wife and I like to cook and carry a full complement of cooking appliances with us. As full-timers we don't consider ourselves to be on a "camping trip" or on vacation so we don't want to cook every meal outside on a fire or grill, nor do we want to go to restaurants for the majority of our meals. But, after looking at many of the kitchens offered in newer MHs those are the only choices that seem to be offered and, I suspect, those are probably quite acceptable to many RVers who use their rigs only on vacations or weekends. But it's clearly not acceptable to us as a full-time residence.

deandec · 05-28-2016, 10:38 AM

Our opinion is that Manufacturer's spend more time making the bedroom and bathrooms more spacious and appealing. But most of our time there is horizontal.

We spend much more of our active MH time in the galley and salon, which seem to have become smaller, especially in two bathroom rigs.

Galley counter top space is ignored when they place the cooktop immediately adjacent to the sink. No place for dirty dishes or cleaned dishes during dishwashing.

We have no slides but really like our long galley counter and sofa. We seldom go out for meals.

Mike and Cha · 05-28-2016, 10:54 AM

Wow, I don't know how much room you need for a kitchen, ours has plenty of room for us, and has the bath and a half too. I guess what most people forget is no matter how hard you try to make it a "house" it is still a Motorhome with limited space. Even if you are fulltime living in it, it is still not a "house", even with some of the longest MH's you can only do so much with 40-45 feet. Then when they make the kitchen bigger people will complain that the living room, or bedroom is too small. I guess I see it from a point of all the other tents, trailers, campers, boats we've had and camped in, now I feel spoiled with all the luxuries I have to "Camp" in, even though mine is only 37 feet.