I have heard that, too, but that Hawks are slightly better…
http://www.blueridgetrailer.com/pages/iframeMain.html?./horse/horse_main.html
Amen!
[QUOTE=Spectrum;3069664]
I have also heard (but can’t confirm) that Hawk trailers are nearly identical to Trail-ets. [/QUOTE]
I heard that too (though also can’t confirm)–that the two owners split up–one went on to build Hawks and the other, Trail-ets…
Any thoughts on Equi Spirit?
I’ve had my EquiSpirit for nearly 9 years and have always used it pretty heavily (atleast once a week spring to fall). It has held up VERY well. I maintain it well, always cleaning it out after every trip, but pulled the mats out and went over it really thoroughly yesterday. No wear and tear on the structure, floor boards, etc.
To think I was debating between the Sundowner and the EquiSpirit back in 1999 - from reading this post, I think I made the right decision!
Well the word is in. My trailer is fine for now. They did a thorough evaluation of the frame and for now I’m ok to enjoy it. I have been advised to never miss an annual servicing and to periodically inspect my frame and floor. No worries.
I am going to pick it up later this week and can’t wait to have it back. Funny but you feel so dependent without one. That’s for sure!!
I’ve had 3 Sundowner ValueLite trailers. They’ve all been great. All have had to have some sort of warranty work or the other and the HQ have treated me like a queen with every incident. I don’t have a dealer close to me (purchased this last one from a dealer in New Mexico even though I lived in Washington), so I regulary call the headquarters in OK when I need something and they’ll tell me if I can get a local “other brand” trailer dealer to handle it or whether it really needs to be transported to the nearest Sundowner dealer 100 miles away.
Last week I did my annual acid washing. Removed the mats and hauled the trailer to a truck wash. Everything cleaned up nicely, but when I got back home and was walking on the horse compartment flooring, it felt funny and on closer inspection it seemed that the bedliner had delaminated from the aluminum flooring. I found one “slit” and sort of pulled it up and it didn’t look good. So, I called my dealer in New Mexico to ask them about it. He told me that it is covered by the 3 yr warranty and not the structural warranty. He also said that they don’t use the bedliner anymore, but didn’t say why when I asked.
So, after talking to him I decided to investigate under the liner further and started pulling it up. I ended up ripping it all out. About 70% of it was delaminated. Underneath I found rusted bolts and quite a bit of electrolysis. So, I called the Headquarters office and the warranty office said it was covered by my 8 year structural warranty, take it to the closest Sundowner dealer and make sure they fixed it to my satisfaction.
I have always had the same pleasant experience with the headquarters office with whatever question or problem I have thrown at them. I’ve delt with them for 12 years now. No trailer brand is without problems that crop up. But I’m extremely satisfied with the service I’ve received from Sundowner. For the first two years I owned my latest trailer, the sales person would call me about every 5-6 months to make sure everything was going well.
Karen
[QUOTE=karenstandefer;3093166]
So, after talking to him I decided to investigate under the liner further and started pulling it up. I ended up ripping it all out. About 70% of it was delaminated. Underneath I found rusted bolts and quite a bit of electrolysis. So, I called the Headquarters office and the warranty office said it was covered by my 8 year structural warranty, take it to the closest Sundowner dealer and make sure they fixed it to my satisfaction.
I have always had the same pleasant experience with the headquarters office with whatever question or problem I have thrown at them. I’ve delt with them for 12 years now. No trailer brand is without problems that crop up. But I’m extremely satisfied with the service I’ve received from Sundowner. For the first two years I owned my latest trailer, the sales person would call me about every 5-6 months to make sure everything was going well.
Karen[/QUOTE]
I am glad to hear that you have had good service from Sundowner and they will fix your trailer right away. As I said in my first post, they will not began repairs until April and this started in January. The location I bought my trailer from is no longer a Sundowner dealer, so I have to wait months for a place that is 60 miles away to repair. Not that it is that far and I guess because I am not a regular customer, I don’t get the same type of service?
I think the difference may be because I didn’t deal with the dealership. I called the Headquarters Warranty manager from the beginning. I’ve always delt with them first, before the dealer, because my dealer is 2000 miles away from me and I don’t have a Sundowner warranty location anywhere close to me (100 miles away). So, I’m always hopeful that they’ll let me take it to the RV place instead of hauling 100 miles up the road.
Sorry you’ve had so much trouble. As another person suggest, I’d definitely call the Sundowner Headquarters Warranty Mgr and make a complaint against the dealer.
Karen
It is a major design flaw. It’s called galvanic action and is the order in which metals should touch, or not touch depending on their propensity to rust when in contact. It’s the first lesson they teach in materials class. It’s akin to putting your gasoline storage right in the hay storage area.
Yes, Lookout - we’ve all hashed that out long ago. Please take my posts in context - and read the ones that come before and after.
It’s not akin to storing gasoline next to hay. Even an all steel trailer, painted and maintained, is going to get some rust on it over time. Even the most expensive, beautifully engineered sports car will get rust on the frame. Even painted surfaces can rust underneath if something (like a rock) chips the paint. And what happens when dissimilar metals touch isn’t rust - by the way.
That’s why you have to maintain your vehicles, trailers and farm equipment. That’s why they make paint for farm implements. For trailers. For cars. blah blah blah.
Because wear and tear happens.
Actually yes, you’re right, it’s not rust, it’s corrode. And when you have metals in the wrong order according to the galvanic chart, touching, no maintenance is going to help you. It’s bad design. And yes I did go thru the posts and the point was not made. It’s like gasoline next to hay in that two ‘incompatible’ materials which should not be in close proximity, are put there in error.
Unless there is an insulator.
Sundowner Trailer Proactive options
I would like to bring to the attention of anyone who currently owns a Sundowner Trailer and/or is aware of the ongoing problems trailer owners are experiencing with the disintegration of the under structure due to faulty undercoating of all trailers manufactured between 1998-2008. If you did not know this already, please educate yourself, it could mean the safety of transporting your horse.
Sundowner has not publicly recognized the problem; however, if called directly they allow as how they are well aware of the problem and that the individual dealers are taking care of the repairs. Unfortunately the company is encouraging a sand and paint job to cover up the problem what is really becoming a structural issue. The dealers hands are tied. There are no recalls as of yet and it is getting more and more difficult to get results that satisfies the safety issues of the trailers. It’s just a matter of time before there is a tragedy of a horse falling through the flooring of a Sundowner Trailer. These trailers are rusting from the inside out. Take a good look at the underside of your trailer with a flashlight and specifically check the seams and corners. Peel back the covering that is under the mats. The company is clearly trying to put a band aid on the issue until such time comes as the warranty is void. The question is why we are waiting for someone else to suffer a tragedy before we make a bold move. We, as concerned horse owners need to act collectively and present an argument that the company cannot refute. By contacting the Consumer Protection Agency we can bombard them with personal experience and letters of dissatisfaction. With enough names and testimonies we can make a difference. Go to www.oag.ok.gov and create your file with the agency. Make sure to reference Sundowner Trailer.
For information on the company has reduced their work from approximately 600 to 200 over the past two years. The Elkhart Office is closing. They are downsizing and cutting corners. If we do not act now we may very well be stuck with an expensive investment that is dangerous to use.
sunlite v. valulite
I recently bought a used Sundowner SUNLITE and did extensive research before I bought it, and had it inspected. It passed with flying colors. No issues, AT ALL.
In my research what I found out is that the issues with Sundowners are with the VALULITE line.
Still, proceed with caution as you would in any large purchase or maint program, but be aware that all Sundowners were not created equal.
I also had a ramp fall off my Sundowner…trailer was fairly new when it happened. Horse was loading when it fell…was determined to be a “defect” in the welding on the trailer. Won’t own one again…and Sundowner was less than concerned that my trailer may have other “defects” in welds in other places…
I know someone else who had the door fall off theirs while transporting horses…you expect some problems with trailers when they age…and of course if you dont maintain them…but my issue was just sloppy work…and it took attorneys to get it fixed.
Any recent updates on this issue?
bump
I have a Sundowner 727 4 horse that I estimate I have pulled over 200,000 miles over the past 14 years.
I get it inspected and acid washed at least once and usually twice a year.
I have never had any of the problems mentioned here.
I am mystified as to how the ramp falling off lets the horse fall out.
All Sundowners I am familiar with have double swinging doors, latched with the same style latches used on over the road trailers with the ramp outside of the doors, so if the ramp were to fall off, the doors are unaffected.
May be the Sundowner is not the best today, but I certainly have no reason to complain.
CSSJR
I just called Sundowner about concerns with my trailer. I spoke with a warranty dude, and he was very helpful. he explained everything, and that my trailer is under structural warranty, and they will “replace” any damage. he even said that they would approve my tractor mechanic to fix my trailer if something is wrong, because there isnt a sundowner dealer near me anymore.
Im going to have my mechanic check out my trailer. if he doesnt see anything, I will just be very diligent about spraying underneath my trailer to keep salts under control.
IMO he was very helpful
just give Sundowner a call if you have any concerns - (800) 438-4294 - Customer Service - click 4 to talk to a warranty dude.
he also said that they started using “under coating” in 2002
you know, just like any vehicle on the road, it is subject to corrosion. unfortunately, UNLIKE most vehicles on the road, one of the MOST important parts of a horse trailer is in the floor/frame… hence the huge concerns.
Im sorry about all the trouble you all have had with Sundowners. and I took all your stories very seriously because I have a Sundowner, so it hit home.
you know, I had to ride in the back of my trailer one time, with a sick horse, on a 45 minute trip to an emergency hospital, and I gotta tell ya, riding back there was smoother than riding in my truck which was VERY helpful at that moment trying to hang onto IVs and such. I LOVE my Sundowner, so all your stories really upset me.
Just call them and try to work out any of your troubles with them.
Grandma used to say: “you get more flies with honey, than you do with vinegar”… so, be nice - it will take you far…
