We listed our home with a realtor this week. It will go on the market on the 4th of June. So, now we are serious about our purchase of a motorhome. We have decided to purchase a Dutch Star, Allegro Bus, Alpine or Travel Supreme. That said, our first choice is the Dutch Star. We have gathered TONS on information from several forums, thank you all. After purchasing the CD from RV Consumer Group and visiting the site for recalls on motorhomes. We selected the coach we would first like to explore purchasing. I sent the owner an email and congratulated them on their new motorhome and said I had some questions about their Dutch Star. One of those questions was whether the three recalls on their unit had been repaired by Newmar. I got a return email and said "I suggest you buy a new motorhome". Was asking this owner an insult? What do ya'll think? My husband said mark it off the list and move on but this one had all the options I wanted and "seemed" to be well cared for. What is ya'lls thoughts on this. I was blown away.
Also is the auto gen set a good idea if we will spend some time in Texas in the hot weather...if we are going to leave our 3 1/2 lb. Yorkie in the motorhome while we are away sometimes. I wouldn't want the power to go off and have her get sick or worse. She's so tiny she could dehydrate quickly I would think. It is one item that is not offered on alot of Dutch Stars. The option seems to be available on Alpine. I have a zillion questions now that the time is near!
Thanks! Dianne
bjoyce said
01:34 PM May 23, 2007
Sounds like the owner you were asking questions is someone to avoid. It probably has nothing to do with them having a Dutch Star, they are just not that nice a person. They also might not really want to sell but promised someone they would try. Anyway, if they are not friendly before the sale I would avoid them. You can get auto genstart with a Dutch Star when new, just ask. It is also available afterwards if you spend some money on about any motorhome. Automatic generator start for most Xantrex inverter/chargers - Automatic Generator Start. They also have one for their MS/RS inverters - MS/RS generator start. Xantrex makes many of the inverters used in RVs. The other major inverter/charger company and I think the better one since everything is USA made is Magnum Energy. Some Newmars and Monacos use them. This is their auto genstart - Magnum Energy auto genstart. The Magnum auto genstart ME-AGS-S doesn't need an inverter/charger to work so you can always add it no matter what inverter/charger you have.
-- Edited by bjoyce at 14:49, 2007-05-23
-- Edited by bjoyce at 14:57, 2007-05-23
mcw50 said
07:47 PM May 23, 2007
Dianne......we don't have the automatic generator, but we do have a Dutch Star. In our 7 years of full-timing we have had very few times that the coach has lost power while we were gone, and in those cases it (and the A/C) always had come back on after a short period of time. We do understand your concern for your small pet, however. As far as repairs by Newmar are concerned, we have had most of our service/repairs done right at the factory. Actually, most of our service needs have been minor, but the factory has always been very helpful and thorough. Many of our acquaintances have had similar experiences, even when the coach is out of warranty. The only problem is that you need to schedule service appointments way in advance unless you want to go in winter. We've also had a few little things taken care of by mobile repair and a dealer that we did not purchase the coach from, with full cooperation from the factory. If you go to Newmar rallies, service reps are usually there to do minor service, and usually free . Good luck with your coach shopping.
Mary
Brenda L said
01:17 PM May 24, 2007
Congratulations! It is a big step to sell your home and join this unique lifestyle of fulltiming. We did it last fall and have never regretted our decision for a moment. Initially my husband was a little nervous about it, but now he tells everyone "your gonna love it, it's addicting".
We started out in a 5th wheel and recently purchased a 2007 Phaeton, by Tiffin Motor Homes. Our Xantrex inverter/charger can be programmed to turn the generator on at a specific time or if the house batteries get below a specified voltage level. We too have concerns about our coach heating up in the afternoon sun and our doggie getting overheated.
Good luck finding a coach that fits your needs. It is a tough task, we looked for almost 8 months before we decided on the Phaeton.
Brenda L
DJ Wannabees said
03:50 PM May 24, 2007
Bill, I emailed Magnum Energy after studying their site, thanks for the information. That DS is off our list but their will be another one. Mary, it is very comforting to know that the loosing power doesn't seem to be a hugh issue. Brenda, WOW I thought I was the only woman wanting to full-time with a relunctant husband. Mine is coming around but more so to please me than to have the burning desire. He is showing a great deal of interest, but I am still the only one researching and planning. He just plans to go when he retires. Some day I think he will be more enthusiastic than me even, but for today this is the way it is. We've been married 42years and I do know the routine. Thanks for the input to all of you, Dianne
Free Spirit said
07:33 PM Sep 2, 2007
Hello DJ-W
I noted that you have a wee Yorkie. You know, I had a pouch that I wore which is made for little dogs, I put Teddy, my toy poodle in there when he was a about two months old and would take him with me even into stores. I never had a problem. He behaved better than some kids running around in the stores pulling stuff off the shelves. Just a thought!
Also is the auto gen set a good idea if we will spend some time in Texas in the hot weather...if we are going to leave our 3 1/2 lb. Yorkie in the motorhome while we are away sometimes. I wouldn't want the power to go off and have her get sick or worse. She's so tiny she could dehydrate quickly I would think.
It is one item that is not offered on alot of Dutch Stars. The option seems to be available on Alpine. I have a zillion questions now that the time is near!
Thanks!
Dianne
You can get auto genstart with a Dutch Star when new, just ask. It is also available afterwards if you spend some money on about any motorhome.
Automatic generator start for most Xantrex inverter/chargers - Automatic Generator Start. They also have one for their MS/RS inverters - MS/RS generator start. Xantrex makes many of the inverters used in RVs.
The other major inverter/charger company and I think the better one since everything is USA made is Magnum Energy. Some Newmars and Monacos use them. This is their auto genstart - Magnum Energy auto genstart. The Magnum auto genstart ME-AGS-S doesn't need an inverter/charger to work so you can always add it no matter what inverter/charger you have.
-- Edited by bjoyce at 14:49, 2007-05-23
-- Edited by bjoyce at 14:57, 2007-05-23
Mary
We started out in a 5th wheel and recently purchased a 2007 Phaeton, by Tiffin Motor Homes. Our Xantrex inverter/charger can be programmed to turn the generator on at a specific time or if the house batteries get below a specified voltage level. We too have concerns about our coach heating up in the afternoon sun and our doggie getting overheated.
Good luck finding a coach that fits your needs. It is a tough task, we looked for almost 8 months before we decided on the Phaeton.
Brenda L
Bill, I emailed Magnum Energy after studying their site, thanks for the information. That DS is off our list but their will be another one.
Mary, it is very comforting to know that the loosing power doesn't seem to be a hugh issue.
Brenda, WOW I thought I was the only woman wanting to full-time with a relunctant husband. Mine is coming around but more so to please me than to have the burning desire. He is showing a great deal of interest, but I am still the only one researching and planning. He just plans to go when he retires. Some day I think he will be more enthusiastic than me even, but for today this is the way it is. We've been married 42years and I do know the routine.
Thanks for the input to all of you,
Dianne
I noted that you have a wee Yorkie. You know, I had a pouch that I wore which is made for little dogs, I put Teddy, my toy poodle in there when he was a about two months old and would take him with me even into stores. I never had a problem. He behaved better than some kids running around in the stores pulling stuff off the shelves. Just a thought!
-- Edited by Free Spirit at 20:34, 2007-09-02