Hello from Cali.
Just found this site tonight as I was searching google for 'Newmar Dutch Star'
I'm soon to be the new owner of a 1998 Dutch Star 3865, going to Wenatchee, Washington to pick her up next Thursday and drive back to San Diego.
I'm sure I'll have some newbie questions as I go along as this will be my first DPMH but not my first diesel. Just glad to find this site...
back to lurking

WELCOME Rick to iRV2!!

We look forward to hearing more of your experiences...

Welcome RicksDP to the Newmar forum and irv2.
Congrats on your DP purchase
Enjoy the forum and do post often.

How do I become a member of the Newmar Owners' forum?

How's that??

The wife and I just bought our first Coach. It is a 1996 Newmar Kountry Aire 38ft.single slide unit. My wife is retired and I will be retiring in about 2 years and we plan to live in the coach upon retirement. The coach had all the literature for every add-on accessory but did not have a manual for the coach itself. I have ordered a chasis manual from HELM INC. I am familiar with most of the systems since I have stayed in and worked on an Airstream trailer twice a year for 2 weeks at a time for many years now while my dad and uncle and I go fishing. It sure would be nice to know where all the little hidden pieces are located. I don't even know where the water pump is located or how to put water in the fresh water tank. The unit has 2 separate switches on the control panel that are both labeled hot water heater. Since the unit has a Kenmore washer and dryer I wonder if it has 2 hot water heaters. I haven't had a lot of time yet to just crawl around under the coach and hunt things and the water system is all enclosed anyway. I will be making necessary repairs myself to most items. If it is like the Airstream there are little out of the way valves on the water system that will give you fits and I know not to turn on the hot water heater until you know it has water in it. I have traced the air suspension system. I would appreciate any help I can get. I will gladly pay for an owners manual and will furnish copies of any of the material I have free of charge to anyone who needs it. I have everything from the electric steps to the roof mounted remote control spot/flood and everything in between. One last question. There are two large, round clear lights, one on each side of the coach near the top about half way back. How do you turn these on? I have tried every switch I can find and neither light comes on. I don't know if the bulbs are bad or a switch or circuit is bad because I don't know for sure how to turn them on. There is a switch on the dash control panel that says courtesy lights that doesn't appear to work anything and I thought that might be to these lights.
I know I sound really dumb. I really am not but just hate to start in the dark. Not knowing where to begin is really frustrating.
Thanks to everyone.
Eddie Helms

Welcome Eddie,

I have a '94 38' KS DP. On mine the 2 hot water switches are for (1) the LP burner and (2) the 120V electric heating element. Either or both can be turned on.

The round exterior lights are called "security lights", although I've seen them called "scare lights". On mine they're controlled by 2 rocker switches right by the entry door (inside).

Here's a tip; Newmar calls the lights in the basement compartments "wrap lights". There's no switch upstairs, but that's what the fuse is called.

You don't sound dumb to me; you're just working on poorly documented equipment. And Newmar is of very little help to me, they say my rig is so old they have no info on it! Good luck, maybe they have stuff on your "newer" rig.

Thanks a bunch. I've tried every switch for the "scare" lights without success, so I will get the ladder and check bulbs and power.

How do I put water in the fresh water tank? I found the drain and the overflow but no inlet. I would like to get it sanitized and ready to go. Also, where is the water pump located? I found the commercial water hookup and the black and gray water tank dumps and flush, etc. I haven't tried the water pump because I don't know how to put water in the tank. If there is a problem with the pump, I'd like to know where to look for it.
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Again, thanks a bunch for the info.
Eddie

Hi Eddie! Welcome to the forum. This area is kinda of hello everyone. If you start a specific post down a little bit with a new title you will probably get a lot more answers. Congrats on your new purchase. Paul

Hi Eddie,

First of all Paul is right, you'd do better posting in one of the other categories below. That said, on mine there is only one water inlet, the hose reel. There is a red handled valve that diverts the water coming in the hose from pressurizing the faucets to filling the tank.