Looking to buy a Used Dutch Star - 40-43 - RV-Dreams Community Forum

MitchMendrygal · RV-Dreams Community Member

Looking to buy a Used Dutch Star - 40-43

kb0zke · RV-Dreams Family Member

Welcome, Mitch. I'm sure you will get a ton of comments and suggestions. Since we don't own what you are looking at, I'm not going to add much to the discussion. I can ask some questions, though, and maybe answer one or two.

1. Since our coach only has two a/c units and does just fine, I can't imagine having a third one. I do know that we can only run one at a time if we're on a 30A connection, and can run both if we're on 50A. I wonder whether you can actually run all three, even on 50A service. Someone with three or four can answer that question.

2. The half bath is your choice. If you do a lot of entertaining (or have a larger family) it might be a welcome addition. Some people have taken that space, removed the plumbing and fixtures, and turned it into an office. Others have used it for additional storage space.

3. NADA reflects sales and comes out (to dealers) fairly frequently. I suppose it is even possible to have NADA go UP from one report to the next, but the general route will be down.

4. Newell has been all-electric for some time, and I believe several others are, too. It seems to be the way many are going.

Remember that the value of an object is determined by what the buyer is willing to give for it and what the seller is willing to take for it. You may well find someone with a 2014 who really needs it gone and is willing to take less for it than what his neighbor needs for his 2013. Also, sometimes someone orders a custom coach and then finds, years later, that their color or decorating choices aren't exactly pleasing to others. The price has to be adjusted accordingly.

When you find a coach that both of you like, make an offer. Don't be afraid to offer a lot less than the asking price - but don't offer unless you are willing to actually take the coach for that. You just might be pleasantly surprised.

MitchMendrygal · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thanks David...good advice. Hope also to hear from some of the Newmar owners on their rigs.
Mitch

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

We ordered and bought our Dutch Star in 2004 new, so I can't talk much about the newer Dutch Stars. We have looked at some when we attended the Tampa RV Show this last winter.

On #1, we can maintain good temps until it gets above around 100 to 105 outside, then our two 15,000 BTU A/Cs cannot keep up. I suspect a third A/C would fix that. I also suspect that the extra 3 feet would mean that two A/Cs would not keep up when it is 95 to 100 outside, but that is my speculation.
On #2, we don't like the 1/2 bath option, since it is very small and is really intended just for when you are traveling. It is there so they can put a full bath along the back, which is inaccessible with the slides in. But, Newmar seems to love building bath and a half floorplans these days.
On #4, many are happy with all electric, but there are issues. Our friends bought a 43' 2012 Dutch Star and made changes immediately. They switched to the 3000 watt Magnum hybrid from the 2800 Magnum pure sinewave inverter/charger, which solved their problem of popping 30A campground breakers. They added a couple more batteries to give them more options of staying overnight and it also helped them survive the motorhome sitting on Newfoundland ferry for over 16 hours with the fridge running off the inverter. Having diesel/electric hot water and heat works well and most who have it, like it. The diesel furnace does seem to use less battery power than the normal LP furnace does, probably since it uses small fans instead of one big blower.

We are not all electric but we have a residential fridge, more batteries and the 3000 watt Magnum hybrid retrofitted in our 2004.

Edit: I forgot one of my greatest problems with a bath and a half, one of the toilets needs to be a macerator model to grind up the waste and push it to the tank. One more thing to break and one more thing that uses electricity.

-- Edited by bjoyce on Monday 2nd of November 2015 10:22:14 AM

-- Edited by bjoyce on Monday 2nd of November 2015 11:13:47 AM