Community Forums

pequeajim · 07-29-2013, 07:18 PM

I am shopping a 2005 Kountry Star. In the process I ran a CARFAX report on the coach.

When looking at the owner comments, I found the following:

"Ice Machine and water dispenser did not function correctly as was reported to work when RV was purchased. Customer had to contact warranty and have replaced. Engine (Cummings ISC 330hp) was spitting out fluid on trip home and to Florida. Will have this checked when arriving back home to PA. There were no manuals given to me when purchased and am trying to contact past owner to see if they have them. (No Luck to date - 27 Jan 2010) Washer/Dryer door was broken and replaced by Dealer. "

Should I be suspect of this MH? What could be spitting out on the Cummins?

Here is the link for the report.

Carfax Report 2005 Kountry Star

Any help is much appreciated...
Jim

ericklynda · 07-29-2013, 08:21 PM

We have a 2005 Newmar Kountry Star. Other than newbie issues, it runs fine. I would suggest that you see if you can find any maintenance history on it. Can you contact the previous owners?

Mr_D · 07-29-2013, 08:32 PM

Car Fax literally means nothing on any vehicle, especially on RV's.
There is no law or anything else requiring anything to be reported.
And if you read Car Fax's "guarantee" all you can get back is the cost of their report

HicksRA · 07-29-2013, 08:47 PM

Well, if nothing's spitting out now, I'd assume whatever it was has been fixed.
Based on the info you have given, I wouldn't be suspect at all.
They all have bugs that need to be worked out when new as well as from time to time.

"007" · 07-29-2013, 10:49 PM

Jim if you do a search in this forum you will find more info, here is one I found.

GaryKD · 07-30-2013, 08:17 AM

Hi pequeajim,
Welcome to iRV2. I assume you are looking at the KSDP. I have this coach. The oil coming out the back of the coach can be caused by two things.
1. The Cummins ISC 330 for that year has a slobber tube. It is normal for a bit of oil to be coming out of this tube. On can reroute the tube or put the end of the tube into a gallon bucket. If you want more detail, PM me.
2. This engine is notorious for having the dip stick tube too close or touching the exhaust manifold. This burns a hole in the dip stick tube. Oil will be pushed out of the hole and out the back of the coach. There is a Cummins fix for this. It is paid for by the customer. Parts + one hour of labor.
3. As to the ice maker, this is due to Dometic/Norcold putting in the cheapest possible tubing for the ice maker. The tubing is in the rear of the refrigerator. The only way to repair the tubing is to remove the refrigerator, install new tubing, reinstall the refrigerator.

For the Cummins problems, take the coach to an authorized Cummins service center. They are well known problems, easily fixed.

After my coach settled down, It has been a great coach to own and enjoy. My only suggestion is for you to drive the coach at least 50 miles over a variety of roads.

pequeajim · 07-30-2013, 07:26 PM

Thanks all for your feedback. The dealer has promised to fix anything that is not right, (engine leaking fluid would be one). I am going to look at it Saturday. The paperwork is all completed, so unless I find something that I can not live with, the deal will go through, and they will come and pick up my 5th wheel.

I'm very excited and a little aprehensive at the same time, but the good feedback from this board has help to build my confidence.

Jim

HicksRA · 07-30-2013, 07:41 PM

I know the feeling. I recently traded my Jayco Designer 5th wheel in on my current Dutch Star. It's kind of a feeling of ecstasy and fear all at the same time.
Driving the coach is so much more relaxing and enjoyable than dragging a big 5'ver.
Good luck and enjoy!

GaryKD · 07-31-2013, 06:50 AM

Hi pequeajim,
If the dip stick is too near or touching the exhaust manifold is the problem, do not have a dealer tech install the new part. They will do it wrong. A trained Cummins technician knows how to route the dip stick correctly. It is not obvious. If a coach technician does the work, I give the repair 3 years and you will need to have it done again. By now, you most likely understand how I know this.

pequeajim · 08-02-2013, 06:22 PM

Well, I went to the dealer a day early and looked at the coach. I must say in spite of a couple things, overall it exceeded my expectations, so pending the part 2 long drive I am taking it on tomorrow, I don't see anything holding up the sale.

I do have a couple of things that I have questions about, and would like to get your opinions on them.

1. There is a crack in the solid counter top near the front of the sink. My understanding is that this is Corian, and I believe the advantage of solid countertops is the ease of repair? I didn't even notice it, but my wife did.

2. I noticed inside the bay just under the refrigerator, the carpet is bubbled up about 6-8"in one spot. I mentioned to the salesman that it looked like water got in the bin, and caused this to happen. Sure enough when I walked in the coach, the floor right in front of the refrigerator has a slight spongy feeling to it and it creeks too. The floor is the light oak laninate. I seriously hope this is only the laminate and not the sub floor. The promise that they will fix it. I am hoping that this is just a separation of the wood laminite from the sub-floor, and not damage to the sub-floor.

The tires are Michelin with plenty of tread, but I did not get to see them outside and could not read the number that determines the manufacture date. I will tomorrow.

Everything else looked great, but the floor issue would be a deal breaker for us. My wife loves the coach, but if this is not fixed, the issue will go sour very quickly and I can't blame her.

Part 2 tomorrow with driving, exercising the slides, and anything else I can try to find fault with.

Any comments are welcome.

This is our first run with Newmar, I am hoping it will be a good one.

"007" · 08-02-2013, 06:48 PM

The floor could be caused from a water line feeding the ice maker in fridge if it has one, hose broke or dried out and leaked, or if there is a furnace under the fridge I had a MA that had a leak to my laminate wood floor and caused it to buckle.
The water was from a rain storm without the awning out and it was coming down the side wall outside and entering the top of furnace that had no sealant at the top opening and traveled under cabinets out to the floor.
They said they will take care of it if its a dealer ship maybe,if they write off something I would make a trip to Newmar to fix it right, your not far from Newmar.
Was able to place a couple of heavy cement blocks over buckled floor and it flatten when floor dried out.
Your tires are probably the tires that came on the 05 coach chassis, more than the tread is look at sidewalls inside under coach for any tears or cut marks from what someone might have run over in between the dual tires you may need a flashlight to check out.
The Corian counter someone who deals with Corian may be able to hide the crack but it could still expand because of temperature changes.
I had a counter replaced at Newmar which was under warranty not sure how long Corian is warrantied.

pequeajim · 08-03-2013, 07:51 AM

Tell you what 007, this has really got me upset, but maybe it is just "to be". The floor issue would always bother me, and neither my wife or I can live with it. I went to bed last night with this on my mind and I havent even taken it for a ride yet. I am going to talk to the dealer today, start the engine, check everything out in detail, but am now leaning towards saying no to the coach.

One thing it has done for me though is make me fall in love with the Newmar line...

GaryKD · 08-03-2013, 08:21 AM

Hi pequeajim,
Floor plan sells the coach. Everything else can be repaired. It is a question of getting it repaired correctly. Looking at the positive side, get the price reduced due to the floor issue. Consider taking it to Nappanee for the correct repair Newmar factory service). This is your chance to put wood flooring (or the flooring of your choice) throughout the coach and have it done by factory techs.. The dealer may or may not be the best choice for repair. There are many businesses that specialize in coach interior repair.

Lastly, you will enjoy the visit to Newmar, in Nappanee. It is an experience you will remember (positively).

pequeajim · 08-03-2013, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaryKD

Hi pequeajim,
Floor plan sells the coach. Everything else can be repaired. It is a question of getting it repaired correctly. Looking at the positive side, get the price reduced due to the floor issue. Consider taking it to Nappanee for the correct repair Newmar factory service). This is your chance to put wood flooring (or the flooring of your choice) throughout the coach and have it done by factory techs.. The dealer may or may not be the best choice for repair. There are many businesses that specialize in coach interior repair.

Lastly, you will enjoy the visit to Newmar, in Nappanee. It is an experience you will remember (positively).

Boat N RV does not have the best reputation, so you're right, I would not want them to repair the floor. I am leaving to go to the dealer in a few hours, and have already let them know that this is a deal breaker unless we can come to a ameable solution.

One other thing, there is a vent under the fridge, is this venting for the refrigerator, or some kind of heating vent? Something 007 said led me to believe that.