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03-13-2021, 12:18 PM
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#1
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Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: Ocala Florida
Posts: 89
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Newmar Kountry Star Cat 330 Model 3705
Good Morning All !
I am retired and want to travel and have owned a couple of gas coaches in the past.
I'm thinking of making the transition to diesel, and am considering a 2004 Kountry Star Model 3705 with the Cat 330 engine.
I would like to tow my trailer which when loaded with toys is over 5K and from what I've read so far a Jake Brake is the way to go ?
I look almost daily on RVTrader and wonder if anyone has any advice on drivetrain/ chassis? Cat versus Cummins? Diesel generator versus propane?
I have narrowed my search to primarily Newmar,Monaco but am open to ideas!
Any advice would be welcome!
Thanks,
Lee
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03-13-2021, 12:24 PM
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#2
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Senior Member/RVM #90
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Columbus, MS
Posts: 55,923
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Hi Lee! Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined us! 
Get out there and start kicking those tires!
Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!  
__________________
Joe & Annette
Sometimes I sits and thinks, sometimes I just sits.....
2002 Monaco Windsor 40PBT, 2013 Honda CRV AWD
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03-13-2021, 12:32 PM
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#3
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Moderator in Memoriam
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
Posts: 31,663
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Hi Lee
Nice to have you here with us.
I had looked at a Kountry Star years ago before I decided on a Dutch Star. I had the Cat engine and never had a problem with it. Several years ago Cat decided to stop making over the road engines. That left Cummins with the lion’s share of the market.
I have a Cummins now and like it as well.
If you’re going to diesel let your generator be diesel as well. It keeps things simple.
Let us know if we can help you further.
__________________
Tony & Ruth........... FMCA#F416727
2016 London Aire 4519, Freightliner chassis, Cummins ISX, 2018 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Blue Ox Avail with AF1. TST 507 TPMS
No amount of money can buy you an extra second of time.
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03-13-2021, 12:34 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 8,806
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Quote:
Originally Posted by prt1gue
Good Morning All !
... and from what I've read so far a Jake Brake is the way to go ?
Lee
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No Jake Brake on a Caterpillar 3126 or C7. OR Cummins B or C. Optional on Cummins L.
All mentioned above have an EXHAUST BRAKE, not engine compression brake.
__________________
Brett Wolfe
Ex: 2003 Alpine 38FDDS. Ex: 1997 Safari Sahara. Ex: 1993 Foretravel U240
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03-13-2021, 12:46 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Powell River, B.C.
Posts: 34,103
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Welcome to iRV2. 
The 330HP Cat , probably a C-7 ( maybe a 3126E ), only available with an Exhaust brake . As are the Cummins ISB engines of that vintage.
A Jake Brake ( compression brake ) only available on larger engines .
Note , the Jacobs manufactures both compression and exhaust brakes , so a lot of confusion exists. You want to look for , compression or engine , brake , multi stage for the best performance.
5K + trailer could well be over the chassis tow limit . It would be on my 99 Freightliner chassis .
You need to look into larger engines Cummins ISL ; where compression brake is an option ; those in a Spartan chassis would come with 10K tow limit. Some newer Freightliner also have the 10K. towing . You have to get into the individual coach and check the weight decal .
__________________
99DSDP 3884, Freightliner, XC, CAT 3126B, 300 HP /ALLISON 3060
2000 Caravan toad, Remco & Blue Ox.
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03-13-2021, 03:27 PM
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#6
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Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: Ocala Florida
Posts: 89
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Cat 330
Thanks Skip!
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03-13-2021, 03:40 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: 5 miles south of Lakeville, Mn
Posts: 3,068
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We tow our Explorer with our Cat 330 with little problem. It's a good engine and no DEF.
Yep, exhaust brake and it works well.
__________________
Jim and Carol Cooper with Oreo the Kitty
FAA ATC ret, VFW, AL, VVA, NRA
US Army Aviation, MACV Vietnam 65-66
2012 Journey 36M, Cummings 360hp
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03-14-2021, 06:42 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Where we park it!
Posts: 13,145
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Welcome to the forum.
You are joining a good group of folks here with good information to share. Read the various threads here and ask questions as they come up or add information if you can.
Good luck with your search for your new rig and enjoy the adventure!
__________________
momdoc
2018 Tiffin Allegro RED 37PA
2020 JEEP Trailhawk
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