Sundowner frame issues

[rugbygirl]

design defect in the axle mount combined
and this
This resulted in a thinned web that enabled the load to surpass the yield stress of the steel during typical operation.

:winkgrin: that’s what I was after, but thanks for the rest too!

6mm per year is brutal/unbelievable on its own anyway (the old Toyotas 80s/90s had NO corrosion inhibitors and still took a solid 10 years to get through even the exposed sheet metal on the floors with daily operation)

Do you think they tried to weld or weld repair the frame/axle connections after powder coating, or was the porosity and general shoddiness uniform outside the heat affected zones?

I wish I could say I haven’t seen the results of THAT one before…

[workinggirl]

is there any fix?

Can the rusted frame be scrapped and coated with unercoating or rustoleum to slow down the erosion process?

[naters]

Any new info? What model years affected?

[vtdobes]

My neighbor had her 2003 Sundowner (3 horse BP) at the trailer sales place for something (I forget the original reason) and he came out and told her the frame was rotted. This was just from trying to jack it up…hadn’t even gotten to the reason she brought it in.

It was 3 or 4 months out of warranty…the trailer place said they couldn’t fix it but he’d give her $800 for it as a trade on a new trailer. She left with trailer and brought it to another place who said they’d replace the floor for about $1000.

[Whitfield_Farm_Hanov]

What year trailers are affected by this?

[Equibrit]

http://www.automotix.net/autorepair/car_problems/sundowner/

[17Rider]

How much rust underneath is normal?

If you look under a car that is 5, 10 yrs old, it won’t be pristine?

[NJRider]

I am shopping for a 2H aluminum “nicer” trailer and found a Sundowner that fit the bill… then I started reading all this stuff. The trailer I found, a 2006 Sunlite 777 was in the range of the ones with the problem frames. I got the VIN # and called Sundowner to see if there were any recalls or warranty work done.
Of course, Sundowner is not going to admit to any issues or verify that it was a manufacturing issues He said that frame rotting was was the fault of the owners for not performing regular maintenance and if I were considering this trailer it should be inspected by a Sundowner dealer…so that tells me that I am sure they are very difficult to deal with and to start looking for something else!

[avance7]

I have owned a Sundowner (aluminum over metal frame) for several years and never had a problem with the frame so maybe we are just lucky. We do ALWAYS remove manure and shavings or wash out any urine. We have it checked annually and never had any problems.

[Pennywell_Bay]

I have a 1999 that is still pristine, thank goodness. Sorry for everyone’s troubles. I had an issue w/ the hinges and SD fixed it immediately.

[Guilherme]

The brand is a notice of potential issues. But each trailer stands on its own.

Spend some time with any trailer using your flashlight to go “where the Sun doesn’t shine.” What do you see? Some road crud is to be expected. Don’t expect “factory new.” But what about the welds? Were they done correctly? What’s the condition of wiring? How about any signs of frame deformation? Does any spot look better than it should (suggesting a prior repair)? Do you see any signs of corrosion? What about the floor?

I’m not a Sundowner fan but I’d do this inspection on any trailer I’d evaluate.

G.

[mroades]

My BO used her trailer maybe a dozen times in as many years…kept under a shed and in a low rust area. Frame is almost rusted through…

[Grataan]

[QUOTE=avance7;6129393]
I have owned a Sundowner (aluminum over metal frame) for several years and never had a problem with the frame so maybe we are just lucky. We do ALWAYS remove manure and shavings or wash out any urine. We have it checked annually and never had any problems.[/QUOTE]

When you have it checked, do you have someone crawl underneath, clean off the dirt and road grime, and inspect the frame and framerails? Most places don’t do that-they lift up the mats, check the lights, inspect the tires, and pull off a wheel or two to check the brakes.

[avance7]

[QUOTE=Grataan;6130208]
When you have it checked, do you have someone crawl underneath, clean off the dirt and road grime, and inspect the frame and framerails? Most places don’t do that-they lift up the mats, check the lights, inspect the tires, and pull off a wheel or two to check the brakes.[/QUOTE]

Yes they did all that. And then my hubby crawled under and double checked it after them. Like I said before maybe we just got lucky but I think upkeep and maintenance is key to any vehicle or trailer lasting, not just Sundowner.

[oliverreed]

Sheesh. Just read this thread. I just bought a 2010 Hawk, does anybody know if there are any problems with recent vintage Hawks?

[Grataan]

I don’t think so Oliver, the problems with the Sundowners stem from an improper frame powder coat with bubbles and holes that basically sucked water down to the steel and trapped it there, accelerating the rust process.

[Pennywell_Bay]

[QUOTE=Guilherme;6130022]
The brand is a notice of potential issues. But each trailer stands on its own.

Spend some time with any trailer using your flashlight to go “where the Sun doesn’t shine.” What do you see? Some road crud is to be expected. Don’t expect “factory new.” But what about the welds? Were they done correctly? What’s the condition of wiring? How about any signs of frame deformation? Does any spot look better than it should (suggesting a prior repair)? Do you see any signs of corrosion? What about the floor?

I’m not a Sundowner fan but I’d do this inspection on any trailer I’d evaluate.

G.[/QUOTE]

Agreed. When I bought the trailer, it was a nice, new trailer and I don’t believe these issues had come to light.

I had my mechanic and the horse trailer dealer (an independent one, not associated with any brand) go over mine when these issues were brought forth.

I always suggest people perform due diligence at least 2ce a year. We do it more when we are trailer more. Minimally, when we change the batteries in our smoke detector at daylight savings. Check tires, use the grease gun, etc

Then of course, when you get it inspected, ask your guy to give it an extensive look-over.

It is better to take 30 minutes a few times a year to go over your trailer than to be sitting on the highway, with 2 baby horses, in rush hour, waiting for help (ask me how I know…)

[SuckerForHorses]

[QUOTE=mroades;6130058]
My BO used her trailer maybe a dozen times in as many years…kept under a shed and in a low rust area. Frame is almost rusted through…[/QUOTE]

I’m not sure about trailers (and it does seem that Sundowner has additional issues that are helping to create this rusting frame problem)…but I know with vehicles and such, its not recommended to just park them, because they can deteriorate quicker if not in a climate controlled environment. It seems that if your BO used the trailer 12 times in 12 years, it did a lot of sitting around. What type of flooring was it kept on (concrete, wood, grass)?

[annbhiking]

Has anything become of this?

[QUOTE=RAyers;5532918]
Regretfully, Sundowner has managed to drag the issues so far out that many folks are just simply getting rid of their trailers.

I would be happy to support a lawsuit as I have specimens taken from my 1999 Valulite trailer and have conducted a pretty thorough analysis of the powder coating (found major processing errors/failures) using SEM/EDS and standard ASTM test methods. I will donate my time and I am an expert witness in metal/materials failure. All that is needed is people willing to initiate a suit (I just don’t have the resources).

Reed[/QUOTE]

Has anything been done about this? I have my trailer inspected every year. When it was new, someone told me there was an issue with Sundowner, but mine wasn’t part of it. Now I am told my 2006 Sundowner Sunlite 777 won’t last another 3 years. I see these trailers all over the place… Is it just random ones that are affected?

[high_hat]

I have a Sundowner Sunlite and about 3 years ago I paid to have the ‘trusses’ under the floor replaced. It was a costly repair. (around $1500) That solved the issues. I just had mine in this past week and was told I had many good years left.

It was/is worth it to me to have repaired the issue. I was the 2nd owner and got a good deal on the trailer.