Starcraft Starflyer 1021 vs. Dutchmen 1203

[throttle]

Looking at purchasing a 1993 Starcraft Starflyer 1021 or 1995 Dutchmen 1203.  Anybody have an opinion on which way to go?  The Starcraft is a few hundred dollars cheaper.  Both seem to be in pretty good shape, but don't know if there is an overall quality difference between the two?  Is the Starcraft a better quality than the Dutchman?

[batsignal2]

Looking at purchasing a 1993 Starcraft Starflyer 1021 or 1995 Dutchmen 1203.  Anybody have an opinion on which way to go?  The Starcraft is a few hundred dollars cheaper.  Both seem to be in pretty good shape, but don't know if there is an overall quality difference between the two?  Is the Starcraft a better quality than the Dutchman?

We have had two Starcrafts.  Our current one is a 1995 Starflyer 1021.  We love it and have had no problems.  The Starcraft company is very good about giving advice.  I have contacted them a few times through the years and they have always been able to help.  If you feel it is in good shape and you have tried the lift system and it works efficiently, I would lean that way myself.  

From other post I have read here, I do not think the Dutchman camper is made anymore.  I also seem to remember complaints about them.  I do not have direct knowledge of them, so you may want to try a search.  Here is one to get you started:

http://www.arveeclub.com/showthread.php?t=57125&highlight=dutchman

Good luck in your camper search!

[kwatson51]

Looking at purchasing a 1993 Starcraft Starflyer 1021 or 1995 Dutchmen 1203.  Anybody have an opinion on which way to go?  The Starcraft is a few hundred dollars cheaper.  Both seem to be in pretty good shape, but don't know if there is an overall quality difference between the two?  Is the Starcraft a better quality than the Dutchman?

Throttle,
We have a Starcraft (not the same model you are looking at) and our camping buddies have a Dutchmen (not made anymore). In comparing the 2, I like the Starcraft better. Setup is less of a hassle and SC seems to have put more thought into the design.
Our friends have had converter problems (not made by Dutchmen) and a lift system problem. We have had 0 problems (except for some 'creative wiring' done by the previous owner), and we bought it when it was 5 years old.
These are very general statements, but I would choose the Starcraft. They are very helpful and are still around to help.

[jxn4]

Belated, maybe too belated but...
We have had 2 dutchmen pups, both were barely used, one a 98 and one a 99.  We have camping friends who owned a 2003 Dutchmen 5th wheel.  We had camped 4 years with these.

We currently own a 2006 Starcraft Centennial, after experiences with the Dutchmen we wanted something "sturdier" and more durable.  The Dutchmen served our purpose at the time, but had putzy design things that didn't make sense and made it harder to set up, and we had lots of little things go wrong.  We always were warm and dry and happy, though.

The starcrafts we have seen, including the one we now own, seem to be more carefully thought out in design, better quality, we also have a highwall which is easier in general.   With longer trips with one night stays in our future it was time to move up to something a little easier.

Just our experience and opinion.  Good luck
Mary Jo  (jxn4 mom)