Community Forums

GaryKD · 08-03-2013, 10:01 AM

The propane furnace is located under the refrigerator. The vent is for that appliance.

"007" · 08-03-2013, 11:34 AM

As Gary said its the return vent for furnace and in the bathroom there maybe a vent for return air from basement compartments for you tanks during cold months.
There is a heat vent to basement with a 12v fan that heats the tank area and it cycles with the furnace.
During the winter months Jan- March there is a 15% discount on labor at the factory.

pequeajim · 08-03-2013, 07:29 PM

I went back to the dealer to take one last look at the coach and tell them that there were too many issues and I was not going to buy it. After talking to them at length, we came to the following conclusions:

Issue 1: I did not like the floor squeak in front of the refrigerator, and nothing short of a floor replacement in that area would make me happy.

Resolution 1: They agreed to pull up the floor, and replace any sub floor that is not right. Additionally they would completely replace the top layer of flooring throughout, everywhere! This includes the kitchen, bath and cockpit area.

Issue 2: The kitchen refrigerator is not in very good shape.

Resolution 2: They are going to put in a brand new 4 door Norcold refrigerator, (no dispenser).

The tires have a DOT date that ends in a 10.

They are going to refinish the basement doors that were scratched from moving it in the yard.

They are also repairing the Corian counter top that is cracked. If it cracks again, they will replace the whole counter top. (I have this in writing)

I drove the coach, it rides very nice. My brother is coming back with me to drive it. He owns a Travel Supreme with the same setup.

The two things that I am slightly disappointed in are, the roof is Britetek, and not fiberglass like they said, and the hydraulic jacks are not auto-leveling. I can live with those two things.

So, we go back when they are finished, and go over the coach again. Then either say no, or take it home.

Mr_D · 08-03-2013, 07:35 PM

BriteTek carries a 12 yr warranty on the material, the fiberglass only has the original Newmar warranty.
Ours still looks close to new after 11 years although I have had to patch a few spots on the original Dicor but not on the Britetek itself.
I wouldn't let it be a deal breaker.
Our HWH jacks are not auto leveling either, personally I'm not sure I'd want them after reading about some of the troubles with them.

pequeajim · 08-03-2013, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D

BriteTek carries a 12 yr warranty on the material, the fiberglass only has the original Newmar warranty.
Ours still looks close to new after 11 years although I have had to patch a few spots on the original Dicor but not on the Britetek itself.
I wouldn't let it be a deal breaker.
Our HWH jacks are not auto leveling either, personally I'm not sure I'd want them after reading about some of the troubles with them.

Yeah, there are so many different opinions about the BriteTek vs fiberglass, that it really doesn't matter. The auto leveling is not a huge issue, I would have liked the option. I had auto levelers on my 2003 Georgie Boy and used the manual controls a lot of the time to fine tune. I will just use my cell phone as a bubble level, and have at it.

USMCRET · 08-04-2013, 03:53 AM

Just a thought...If it were me, I would have them replace the fridge with a Dometic vice Norcold.

pequeajim · 08-04-2013, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by USMCRET

Just a thought...If it were me, I would have them replace the fridge with a Dometic vice Norcold.

Well, at that point, it was leave the current refrigerator and fix it, or replace the current with a new model of the same type with no dispenser. I took the new one, no questions asked.

To their credit, BnRV volunteered the replacement.

pequeajim · 08-04-2013, 08:16 AM

Mr D:

I was re-reading your post and came up with a couple of questions for you.

- When you level manually, are you placing bubble levels, Where?)
- What do you use to clean the BriteTek?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D

BriteTek carries a 12 yr warranty on the material, the fiberglass only has the original Newmar warranty.
Ours still looks close to new after 11 years although I have had to patch a few spots on the original Dicor but not on the Britetek itself.
I wouldn't let it be a deal breaker.
Our HWH jacks are not auto leveling either, personally I'm not sure I'd want them after reading about some of the troubles with them.

GaryKD · 08-04-2013, 10:08 AM

Hi pequeajim,
I clean my BriteTEK roof with 303, once a year. Mop and a bucket.
I use the HWH control panel to level the coach as a first step (all yellow lights go out). Then I open the fridge door in three different positions. If the door stays put, I am level. Lastly, if the wife says we are level then I'm done. If not I make adjustments until she is satisfied. Her and the fridge usually agree.

Did you try and level the coach with the jacks? Did all the jacks retract fully?

I would not worry about the BriteTEK roof. Mine has been through a tornado, hail (several times) and has been outside its' entire life. It has needed no repair and looks as good as the day it came from the factory. FYI, the hail took out both roof HVAC unit shrouds. No damage to the roof.

pequeajim · 08-04-2013, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaryKD

Hi pequeajim,
Lastly, if the wife says we are level then I'm done. If not I make adjustments until she is satisfied.

She sounds like my wife...

pequeajim · 08-04-2013, 10:32 AM

Yes, I did use the jacks, and remembered what you had said about them retracting fully; they all did. I also looked under the engine about 30 minutes after we took it for a drive and saw no spots on the ground. We will do a closer inspection of it when we go back, plus I want thtem to run a hose out to the coach so I can check the plumbing.

I made a list...

imgoin4it · 08-04-2013, 12:30 PM

I think you will love the KSDP. Saying that check the flooring situation very carefully. We have a 07 KSDP that well love. Our commode overflowed while we were in the motor home at Newmar and it swelled and bubbled the wood looking plank floor in the commode room which is the same throughout the galley and bath. Newmar did not have and could not get the same flooring for repair. I ended up getting the entire carpeted and wood plank area (the entire front of the coach) replaced while at Newmar. We like our new floor far better than the old, but it ain't cheap!. So check out all the options available to you for this floor so you are not blindsided.

DaleM · 08-05-2013, 08:33 PM

HiI have a 2005 Kountry Star DP with
4 slides. It's a good solid coach. No real
Issues other than one slide out sitting a little
Angled on one corner. Under my fridge
There is a vent cover that pulls off
And there is a water filter in there.
After dewinterizing I had a tube
Pop off a little valve , I was lucky
I was looking in there and noticed
Before I turned the water pump on.
I retired from the railroad 5 months ago
And now work at a dealer here in Calgary
And sell New Newmars and Tiffins. it's hard to get
In my 2005 after driving and being in new
Ones everyday. The New ones sure are nice
But a well looked after 2005 will last a long time.
Good luck with your RV shopping
Dale M

Mr_D · 08-05-2013, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pequeajim

Mr D:

I was re-reading your post and came up with a couple of questions for you.

- When you level manually, are you placing bubble levels, Where?)
- What do you use to clean the BriteTek?

I use the lights on the HWH panel and then go by feel. I also have a small, accurate bubble level mounted right next to the HWH panel, but it gets knocked out of adjustment easily so I don't go by it anymore.
To clean the BriteTek I use what Newmar says, which is Murphy's oil soap, then spray it with 303 when dry. Need to get up there and do it this year. It's on my to do list since the wife refused to go ahead with a deal on a new 2012 DSDP that we had preliminarily worked out with the dealer.