Community Forums

saltfevr · 09-01-2014, 01:22 PM

Hi everyone:

Considering our first ever mh purchase. Currently fting in a 31' towable. Looking toward 1998 - 2000 dutchstar dp.
I know the chassis and engine types.
But do they all have 4 airbags and ifs?
I looked in newmar archive brochures with no luck. Forgive me if theres a sticky for this.
Btw, very informative group. Thanks!

ARTWERKE · 09-01-2014, 02:15 PM

WE have a 2000 Dutch Star. Chassis are Freightliner 4 bag solid front axle with Cat engine, Spartan chassis has IFS & Cummins engine. We have 330 Cat & Freightliner. Just simply love it.

GaryKD · 09-01-2014, 02:23 PM

Hi saltfevr,
The Brochures say 1998, 1999 and 2000 DSDP Spartan Chassis does have IFS. 4 air bags would be the minimum required for the DSDP.

saltfevr · 09-01-2014, 02:41 PM

Thank you very much for your quick replies.
So all Dsdp in those years(1998-2000)had 4 airbags?

Also some models have only manual levelers. Does that mean hand crank downs like my tt?Plus a final question, if I may.
Did both cat and cummins come with exhaust brakes standard?
Again apologies for these newb questions.7

Skip426 · 09-01-2014, 02:51 PM

Exhaust brakes may have been standard equipment , I'll check .
But I'm sure that the reference to manual levelers , means individual push button control of the hydraulic levelers as opposed to automatic computer , one button control.

Skip426 · 09-01-2014, 03:21 PM

More info, yes both Spartan and Freightliner chassis in these coaches use 4 air bags in the suspension.
I cannot find exhaust brake listed in standard or optional equipment. Still looking. But thinking standard equipment.
The manual levelers; even I'm a little confused on this. The levelers will be hydraulic, with a 12v pump. There are 3 different control types; joystick( That I don't think Newmar used in Dutch Star) Touch panel control, ( individual control buttons for air bag pressure dump and up/down for each of the 4 jacks) and, Full automatic , single push button computer control. I don't see the full automatic system listed in my options brochure, on my 99.
Now I'm interested too, so I'll keep digging.

Gordon Dewald · 09-01-2014, 03:36 PM

Our Freightline chassis with Cummins engine has an engine brake. I believe most are not exhaust brakes now.

GaryKD · 09-01-2014, 04:01 PM

Hi saltfevr,

Yes to the air bag question.

On a diesel, manual levelers means one needs to press the side, front or back buttons to activate those jacks to level a coach. There is auto leveling where one dumps the air and the system takes care of lowering the appropriate jacks to level the coach. You are not going to crank anything on a diesel coach. They weigh too much. The process is:
1. position the coach where you want it.
2. dump the air (press the dump button)
3. level the coach using the jack control panel (when the yellow lights go out, the coach is level)

All diesel engines (1998-2000) have an exhaust or engine brake. Without this device, going down a long grade would be more exciting than you could ever hope for. For me, it matters not if it is an engine or exhaust brake. When they are use and the result is the same. They help slow the coach on a down hill grade.

Skip426 · 09-01-2014, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon Dewald

Our Freightline chassis with Cummins engine has an engine brake. I believe most are not exhaust brakes now.

For the three years in question , I'm sure the 300hp Cummins was not available with anything but an exhaust brake. Engine brake availability was a few years later. Archive doesn't even list ISC? Just 300hp.
Only info I can pull from the Newmar brochure archive ; is a 300hp, Cat in the Freightliner, and 300hp, Cummins in the Spartan chassis; versions of the Dutch Stars.
EDIT and I see GaryKD, posted the info I was looking for, while I was typing.

"007" · 09-01-2014, 05:36 PM

Welcome to the forum, the HWH JACK System would be one of these two.

Route 66 · 09-01-2014, 05:43 PM

I don't recall if the ISC had an exhaust brake as standard equipment back then. Definitely not an engine brake.

The engine brake became standard in 2007 with the ISL.

Air Baron · 09-01-2014, 06:01 PM

If you know the chassis types, then buy the one with the engine torque and towing capacity that suits your needs.

Skip426 · 09-01-2014, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Route 66

I don't recall if the ISC had an exhaust brake as standard equipment back then. Definitely not an engine brake.

The engine brake became standard in 2007 with the ISL.

I've got a PM, into a current 1999, DS with Cummins owner to confirm, engine size and exhaust or engine brake . No reply at this time.

Mr_D · 09-01-2014, 06:18 PM

The 2000 DSDP came with either the Freightliner (300 hp 3126 CAT and beam axle) or optionally the Spartan (330 Cummins and IFS) chassis. Difference was some $5,000 at that time. We ordered the FL chassis on the 2000 DSDP, then went to the 2002 DSDP on Spartan with Cummins ISC due to the lack of torque (for me anyway) of the CAT (860 vs 1050 ft lbs) but then added a Banks system so now 435 HP/1200 ft lbs. Nothing wrong with the FL chassis and CAT engine though, just wanted the IFS and add'l HP/torque.
Both the CAT and Cummins came with exhaust brakes.