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Check your Sundowner Trailer before use!

Horse Care
#21

[QUOTE=Old Equine Lady;3012654]
I purchased a Sundowner trailer in March 2000. There is an 8 year warranty on structural defects. I found significant failure of the floor structure where the steel is placed against the aluminum. This caused the support for the floor to severely rusted out and become subjected to failure at any given time.[/QUOTE]

Anywhere steel comes in contact with aluminum is a potential hazard waiting to happen. The two together will cause corrosion, therefor you will have eventual failure. This is why I am cautious about trailers that are aluminum with a steel frame.

They might be better if they make sure to put some kind of washer that will stop the corrosion from happening, but I am sure even a washer would eventually have to be replaced.

#22

These trailers have an insulator. It is not steel on aluminum, nor is it powder coated steel on aluminum. There are proper, and thick insulators all over the darn thing.

#23

And I appreciate you trying to be tactful. I’m actually about as interested in maintaining horse trailers as I am in getting a mammogram and Pap smear.

I don’t like it, and I really don’t care. But if I want to keep everything working properly, I have to pay attention and do preventative maintenance.

Sorry you don’t like the way I polish my boots.

#24

I have a 2000 Sundowner 727, have it serviced and inspected yearly at the Sundowner dealership/service center here in Covington. I too heard about these issues last summer, went with list in hand when I had my trailer serviced; the head of the service dept. stayed late and showed me and my husband each part of the floor, the joints, everything…all was fine and dandy. I am always sure to clean the trailer after use and routinely remove the mats to let any moisture between the mats and the flooring dry completely. That and attending to servicing seems to be working in my trailer. I DON’T have a ramp for the very reasons that many of you mentioned as well as the slipping issues as horses back off the trailer. :cool: I’m very pleased with my Sundowner trailer and believe it will last as long as I need it! :slight_smile:

#25

[QUOTE=J Swan;3015842]
. . . . Sorry you don’t like the way I polish my boots.[/QUOTE]

Goodness me. I admire you for polishing your boots! I know you were in the military. My mother used to polish not only everyone’s shoes but our SNEAKERS - our old, canvas Keds were polished with white shoe polish (after being washed regularly in bleach & hot water). I vowed never to embarrass my children with blindingly white sneakers nor with shoes polished to a high gloss. Yes, it embarrassed me to be so different from the rest. But, I have nothing against you polishing your boots to a high gloss as long as that is the way you want them!

#26

[QUOTE=J Swan;3013757]
It’s not a “major design” problem. Take a look under your car or truck and you’ll see rust too. You’re SUPPOSED to be maintaining your trailer; and that includes scraping and repainting the steel frame as indicated. When you take it in for service (another thing most people don’t do like they’re supposed to), the mechanic is supposed to be examining the trailer for signs of wear. The owner and their mechanic should examine the hinges ramp, doors, frame, wiring, checking for dry rot on tires, maintaining the axle, all kinds of things.

Not just for Sundowners; all trailers need vigilant maintenance. The mere fact that they get parked outside and develop condensation predisposes them to rust problems. An 8 year old trailer - sorry - that type of problem isn’t unusual, and it doesn’t happen suddenly. Doesn’t matter what brand it is.

This summer I have to scrape and paint not only my horse trailer, but the flatbed and several farm implements. The flatbed and most of the implements are only a couple of years old - and even then - some of them only get used in the spring or fall.

I still can’t figure out what is supposed to be “illegal” about having to wait to get the trailer serviced.

If the manufacturer is being difficult - that’s too bad and I hope she gets that resolved. But rust? Rust happens.

But it’s not supposed to happen between aluminum and steel.

Steel rusts, aluminum doesn’t. If the OP’s trailer has so much rust that the structure has been compromised - that is because she did not maintain the trailer. Rust isn’t necessarily a structural problem unless the rust is eating through the metal. Usually it’s just surface rust that you scrape and repaint.

If she’s seeing corrosion, that is different than rust. And it is still not necessarily a structural problem unless it has been allowed to corrode to the point the metals are falling apart. And that, again, is evidence of failure to properly the maintenance schedule and can void the warranty.

It’s akin to never getting an oil change and then trying to claim that the engine failed because of a “design flaw” and making a claim against the warranty. If the owner fails to properly maintain their trailer/vehicle, it can void the warranty.[/QUOTE]

I was maintaining my trailer property, taking it in every year to be inspected and serviced. I live in a state which require yearly state inspections. The failure of the supports for the floor of the trailer were not evident until my trailer failed. I could see if the corrosion/rust happened gradually over time, but it seemed to happen in one year’s time, from one inspection to the next. Sundowner is paying for the repair, but I was told shops are only allowed to make repairs to one Sundower a month. That is what I think should be illegal!

I have taken excellent care of my trailer, cleaning, removing mats, power washing, etc.

#27

Yikes…

I would never buy a Sundowner. My friend’s trainer was driving her brand new Sundowner for the first time with her horse in it, when the ramp just fell off and her horse fell out onto the highway and was THANK GOD somehow okay… that story turned me off Sundowners.

#28

I was going to say that you should check other dealers to see if anyone else had time… but the fact that they can only fix 1 a month is ridiculous. No logic there at all.

Just a thought… you said you bought your trailer April 2000 and it has an 8 year warranty? I would make darn sure I got something in writing, by email or something from Sundowner saying they are going to pay for it since they apparently only allow 1 repair a month and are making you wait. It would be VERY uncool to have them turnaround and say, nope been 8 years, after you get it fixed.

#29

It might be that your shop does not want to be swamped with warranty work. It doesn’t pay well. If you’re being told that they’re only “allowed” to work one one brand of trailer per month - I’d challenge that. I’d want to see it in writing. (You could make up some reason like you want it in writing so you can call Sundowner and complain, because you need your trailer sooner… something like that). See if they suddenly move you up in line. :wink:

I have to run interference for my mother all the time. Every time she gets her car worked on, or a tree cut down or something - someone tries to screw her. Telling her she needs the air in her tires changed, (I’m exaggerating), or screw her on price…

Does anyone remember when Featherlite trailer doors fell off all the time? Or was that pre-Internet/BB?

I know US rider is collecting data about trailer accidents; but I’ve noticed no government agency collect data on trailer accidents/failures except in certain cases. (GVW of the tow vehicle seems to be the trigger). It’s one of my pet peeves. (that and unpolished boots)

I’d love it if there was a central location for submission of data on trailer failure. Things like hinges, ramp welds, floor supports, etc. Because, at the risk of sounding like I’m lecturing, there does not appear to be a really good way for trailer owners to have their voice heard. We’re too small a population. And though the warranties are often honored, no matter how you slice is a ramp or door falling off is completely unacceptable. Not even one time.

But I’d also like it if all trailer drivers had to pass a course and get a special license to tow, too. Too many nincompoops on the road.

I’m going to go sit in a corner and cry because y’all think I lecture. Oh crap - it’s time to schedule a mammogram, too. It’s going to be a bad week.

Boo hoo. :winkgrin:

Good luck getting your trailer fixed.

#30

Yes, I agree with you. I don’t think we will see really safe, well-made trailers until there is some place to report failures. Unfortunately, letting the industry police itself has not worked.

. . . . But I’d also like it if all trailer drivers had to pass a course and get a special license to tow, too. Too many nincompoops on the road. . . .

The nincompoops I see on the road are car drivers! I’ve come, over the last few months, when I’ve been making a 12 to 14 hour loaded-horse-trailer round trip every five weeks, to particularly abhor Volvo drivers who seem to me to be the worst on the road. What an attitude they have.

#31

JSwan’s nightly prayer

Our Father, who Art in Heaven,
please pour a little chlorine in the gene pool.

Amen.

#32

Wow, very glad I read this thread. I have a 2005 Sundowner Sunlite and I am definitely going to take a close look at my trailer’s underside today. I do recall that the maintenance video tells you that you MUST acid wash the floor frequently – can’t remember exactly how often – or the warranty is void. I have not been completely happy with my Sundowner – the escape doors sometimes appear to be closed but are not (driving down 81 and glancing in my side mirror seeing the passenger side escape door flapping open) – I now pull on a corner of the door after I’ve closed it to make sure it isn’t going to pop open. The vent cover in the roof of the dressing room ripped off while the trailer was parked. The sliding windows are difficult to slide. The divider that keeps the horses heads separated is easily popped out of the holder by a horse’s nose, causing it to swing back into the second horse’s face, and several of the rings for the built-in hay bags that come with the trailer were pulled out the first time I used it, so back to the rope hay bags. All in all, not too impressive.

#33

I bought my 2003 Sundowner Valuelite 2H BP trailer in 2005. It had only been used once by the previous owner, for the Florida Cracker Trail Ride. My husband and I crawled all over and under it, when we discovered that the steel floor supports were developing surface rust. I took it to the dealer, who sandblasted it and undercoated it per the warranty. I also had the dealer do the annual maintenance b/c I didn’t know if/when it had been done before. My hubby and I also washed, polished and waxed the trailer inside and out to seal the aluminum and prevent/inhibit corrosion.

I, like JSwan, believe that if you want something to last, you had better take care of it. I unload the shavings, wash the floors and under the mats after every use and leave the floor mats folded over to allow the floor to dry. I also rinse the underside and between the wheels. Has anyone had a horse urinate on their trailer when parked? Guess where the urine goes if its not trapped in bedding. Right through the seams of the trailer. If you do not wash it out, it will ruse and corrode your trailer.

Everytime I see a rust bubble or streak, I clean it down to the metal and use a little drop of rustoleum paint. Wax is your friend–it seals paint and metal to protect against moisture. It also helps to prevent rust under trailers to park them on pavement. Trailer floors are exposed to more moisture when they are parked on grass rather than pavement.

I have checked my ramp over and over and have never found a problem with it. I grease the springs and hinges when needed, but have noticed no faulty or stressed metal. (You might wonder how I would know what to look for when looking for faulty metal. Well, my hubby has a plane–that’s one thing you want to inspect before every flight for faulty metal!)

I guess I can’t speak to the ramp issues, but since there are 2 reports on here of the ramps falling off of new trailers, then I’ll have to take that at face value and always check mine.

All in all, I loff my trailer, but wish I would have bought a GN–I would love to put a mattress in the nose when I “sleep over” with my horse. I think its a well-made trailer and would buy another one.

As far as the dealer–my dealer is very busy in the winter months down here. After all, polo, Wellington and the show season is in full-swing. I have to forgive her if she can’t get me in right away.

#34

I agree completely. April will put you one month past your eight years. Be sure to get something in writing before your time is up.

#35

In the long, long ago the Navy was nice enough to send me to Corrosion Control School. I was the Aircraft Division Officer and was responsible for managing the airframe and engine components maintenance on 8 of the taxpayers’ airplanes. Service aboard an aircraft carrier is VERY hard on metal components (particularly magnesium which will be eaten up by salt air in very short order). I learned a lot about the corrosion propensity of steel and aluminum and what happens when dissimilar metals come in contact in a damp environment. Leaned a lot about protection, too (paint, anodizing, etc.). Most of this stuff has been mentally filed for many years.

When I bought me current trailer in '03 I did a lot of shopping around. I dusted off some of that corrosion control knowledge. One of my tools was a flashlight. I must have looked like a TV CSI crawling around in the daylight shining my flashlight on parts of the trailer “where the Sun don’t shine.” But it was an educational experience. One thing I noted about Sundowner was that welds and various “detail” work was good where you would see it, but shoddy where you would not. I did not see any situations where dissimilar metals were mated without buffers, but I was not looking, either. I “wrote off” the brand based upon the quality of the welds.

I am not very obsessive about trailer maintenance. I clean it good three or four times a year. The rest of the time it gets a good “fresh water washdown” after about every second use (unless somebody pees in it, then it gets done pretty quick 'cause I don’t like the smell). I do a full visual inspection (including the underside) about twice a year. So far this particular Featherlight has no issues of any kind with the structure.

Keeping it under cover when not in use probably contributes to it’s excellent physical condition.

G.

#36

I don’t know much about trailers, and thought I did my homework when I bought my first one two years ago . . . and yes, it is a used Sundowner. I am a little freaked out by this thread! I can say that my ramp failed last spring – it was all internal, so nothing maintenance could prevent. The bars in the ramp which attach to the outer frame detached from the frame. ($650 later . . .)

I dunno – should I just sell this trailer and get a different one? I don’t want to hijack this thread, but what’s a good replacement?!

#37

I’ve only ever had a 1992 CM stock combo and a 2006 Circle J Outback. No complaints on either one.

#38

[QUOTE=Guilherme;3017532]
In the long, long ago the Navy was nice enough to send me to Corrosion Control School. I was the Aircraft Division Officer and was responsible for managing the airframe and engine components maintenance on 8 of the taxpayers’ airplanes. Service aboard an aircraft carrier is VERY hard on metal components (particularly magnesium which will be eaten up by salt air in very short order). I learned a lot about the corrosion propensity of steel and aluminum and what happens when dissimilar metals come in contact in a damp environment. Leaned a lot about protection, too (paint, anodizing, etc.). Most of this stuff has been mentally filed for many years.

When I bought me current trailer in '03 I did a lot of shopping around. I dusted off some of that corrosion control knowledge. One of my tools was a flashlight. I must have looked like a TV CSI crawling around in the daylight shining my flashlight on parts of the trailer “where the Sun don’t shine.” But it was an educational experience. One thing I noted about Sundowner was that welds and various “detail” work was good where you would see it, but shoddy where you would not. I did not see any situations where dissimilar metals were mated without buffers, but I was not looking, either. I “wrote off” the brand based upon the quality of the welds.

I am not very obsessive about trailer maintenance. I clean it good three or four times a year. The rest of the time it gets a good “fresh water washdown” after about every second use (unless somebody pees in it, then it gets done pretty quick 'cause I don’t like the smell). I do a full visual inspection (including the underside) about twice a year. So far this particular Featherlight has no issues of any kind with the structure.

Keeping it under cover when not in use probably contributes to it’s excellent physical condition.

G.[/QUOTE]

I agree, I have a 99 C&C 2h straight load GN and one of the things I really inspected when I was trailer shopping was the welds. My trailer is all aluminum, frame and all. I have had it since it was brand spanking new, and thanks to good construction and careful maintenance, the other day someone asked me if I got a new trailer.
I had it acid washed once while I was out of town and when I came back through the inspection station into FL the officer asked me if I had the paperwork from the dealer since it was a new trailer coming into the state. He almost fell over when I told him the trailer was 5 years old at the time.

I have looked at a number of Sundowners over the years, both brand new on the lot and some belonging to friends and have never been impressed. The quality of my C&C is beyond compare, Sundowners…not so much. I would never buy one, and esp would not buy a used one.

#39

timely information

Now I know why the maintenance guy at the trailer place was so insistent about me bringing this trailer in for an annual inspection and his mention of this being the last year of the 8 year warranty. I was grumbling about a 350 dollar maintenance call but I guess I better pony up the cash. Thanks everyone.

#40

[QUOTE=XHalt;3013174]
You can look for rust anywhere on the frame (the gray part).

And JSwan, this isn’t a maintenance issue, it’s a MAJOR design problem. Sundowner is well aware of the issue and not doing the right thing by notifying owners or standing by their warranty.[/QUOTE]

Is the fact that Sundowner (ESPECIALLY at the HQ level) is unethical and not honoring warranties actually NEW NEWS to some of you?

MANY posters here have recounted ad nauseum about problems with Sundowner QUALITY, that is FURTHER not backed by its owners.

Personally, I have shared multiple times on this BB my first hand trouble with them. First, the trailer I bought, tho NEVER USED, sat for 3 mos. after Congress over winter … when I went to get in to it for the FIRST TIME, the door almost came off in my hand. Turns out, it had ALL of the door hinges tearing away from the frame because the hinges were UNDERATED for the weighted capacity.

Secondly … about my trainer’s trailer … the axles tearing off at 65 mph ((w/a listed Olympic team horse, a National Champion horse, and my regional champion horse on board) … the axles and tires BOTH were no where NEAR the correct capacity for the rig. Sundowner is NOTORIOUS for this. Even on BP’s, they put the cheapest avail. tires on. IMHO - I wouldn’t trust them to haul a show dog, much less a horse!!

Magnum

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