Opinion on Sundowner

[RunningCharlie]

Hey, all.

I’m currently in the market to upgrade my trailer and am looking at a 4h Sundowner slant (Sunlite 727). Now… this trailer is a 2007 model. I’ve heard the horror stories about the Sundowner frame issues from the earlier 2000s and am looking for opinions if this trailer is worth pursuing or if I should avoid touching it with a ten foot pole - do the frame issues affect all the models from those years, or just specific models? I’m looking at spending 11-12k on this trailer.

Thanks!

[Snowdenfarm]

I don’t know. I have a 2004 2h, slant load, bumper pull, Sunlite 727 that I bought when it was a year old. I have always rinsed it out after any poop or pee. I wash under the mats about once a year. I had the bottom sand blasted underneath about four or five years ago. There was a small opening in the coating over the metal on the floor under one of the mats a year or two ago and I had that sealed. I do not know if it is because I have been overly meticulous because of the stories or if it is just a good, solid trailer. The trailer still looks like new, pulls beautifully and the floor is rock solid. I’m thinking about selling and buying something else as it is getting older and those stories are still in my head. So like I said, I don’t know.

[Foxglove]

Google the web for “Sundowner problems.” There are threads here, and on Horse Forum that discuss the specific year and models where powder (power?) coating failed. Friends had one that had to be re-done before they could sell it.

[ParadoxFarm]

I think I read it’s from 1999 to 2008? Be careful to check that out. I had a Sundowner in that year, and though I was able to sell it, it did take a while.

[endlessclimb]

I also had a Sundowner in the frame-issue range. I wouldn’t buy it, if I were the OP.

[CanteringCarrot]

The steel issues weren’t remedied until the 2008 models. That trailer, being a 7 series and model year 2007 was likely impacted.