Community Forums

Oldrtrcr · 01-19-2014, 12:11 PM

Any comments concerning these units would be appreciated. Kountry Star to be specific.

Thank you.

FiverBob · 01-19-2014, 12:25 PM

Newmar has always been known to make good stuff. Their basic structural is good. They have had a few slideout problems, but overall good quality. Just make sure you are ready to drive a truck big enough to pull pending the model.

Bob

hone eagle · 01-19-2014, 01:42 PM

Comparable to Mobile Suite IMHO,very heavy Iam at over 4000# on the pin and still 2000# under my gross .Padded ceiling quiet air (duel) painted not tape stripes, so many little luxury touches that a friend with a Carriage calls it the taj ma hall .

tuffr2 · 01-19-2014, 02:35 PM

I'll say the Newmar's are very nice and heavy. Very solid units. A friend has a mid 2000's Mountain Air. It has 2 axles, each axle has 4 tires as in a total of 8 tires. He tows it with a custom hauler bed on a F-550 chassis. I think he told his rig was either 22,000 or 23,000 lbs. loaded to snowbird for 5 months.

The Kountry Star I think is going to be slightly less weight than a Mountain Air.

99-Am.Star · 01-19-2014, 05:35 PM

My daughter and son in law have a 2005 Kountry Star that they bought new. Only problem they have had was with one of the slides about 5 years ago, and last year a rusted out spring shackle. They fixed the shackle by installing morryde IS suspension and disc brakes. The slide was fixed by Newmar at one of the international rallies, it was just bad connections. They use a GMC 3500 Turbo diesel with no problem. The mountain airs are very heavy as are the Torrey Pine's. I have an older one (see signature) and can attest to them being a very solid built. Good luck on your hunt.

Roam America · 01-20-2014, 06:43 PM

I have a 2005 Kountry Star and it has served me well. Knock on wood, I have had very few problems and they were minor. I agree with all that it is a heavy unit and I do tow it with an F-450. I had an F-350 dually and it did just fine. I got the F-450 in case I ever got a larger trailer.

Oldrtrcr · 01-20-2014, 06:44 PM

Thank you all for your responses.

Kro1957 · 01-25-2014, 07:30 AM

Newmar has great products for sure. I look for the day perhaps they get back in the 5r market as demand for high end quality units are increasing.

Larmolljr · 01-26-2014, 07:19 AM

I have 2001 Kountry Star 31BKCL bought it new in 2001 and have 87000 miles on it. Great unit did replace drum brakes for disk brakes and a roof replacement in 2013. Love this 5r thought about moving to a MH but this K Star is so well built I just could not move to a MH. You will need a heavy duty pick up to move it as the 31 foot unit can weigh as much as 14000#. Good luck we love ours.

Oldrtrcr · 01-26-2014, 08:20 AM

Again, thanks for the replies. Ended up purchasing a 2003 33KFSB. Newmar shows approximate dry weight of 11,000 lb. I'm sure it is somewhat more than that due to the third slide.

hone eagle · 01-26-2014, 04:55 PM

Mine was supposed to weigh 12,000 dry and 2800 on the pin (dry)
dry weights do NOT exist in the real world
mine turned out (according to CAT scale )over 14,000# and a real pin weight of 4040 #.
I urge caution and forget dry anything
-we are not full timers-