I'm looking at a 2000 Sundowner 8010 and trying to determine if it is one that would have the steel frame/aluminum body problems....  Sorry that I am bringing this up again but I got really confused reading the old threads.  My main question would be....is it only the ones with the steel frame that are going to have the powdercoat problems?  The VIN # on it is 13SLD3728Y1LA2821 and I also have a registration # of 123470004682 if that means anything.  Thank anybody who reponds for your patience with me.....

   If you look at the vin on the trailer or title the last 6 of the vin will have 2 letters. VA or ZA are steel frame and LA or AA are all aluminum. This will always be correct until 09

 Quote.. The VIN # on it is 13SLD3728Y1LA2821

Looks like you have a winner!!!

YAY!!!  Thank you!  I'm in love with it and I hated to have to say good bye before I bought it. 

The Sunlite portion in '00 referred to the trailer model, probably a 720. The Siesta was the name of the menu-driven interior that was common in the 6-10' shortwall sizes. 

Thank you so much!!

This thread is very timely.  In 2009 we bought a custom made trailer from Sundowner that cost just shy of $100k.  We're downsizing to a smaller trailer as my wife and daughter are no longer going to compete.  My wife also doesn't feel like driving such a big rig around.  (I can't go with her all the time due to this thing called work).  In the process of selling it I looked under it to find:

1.  It's not all aluminum but there is a major steel frame.  As discussed above it has the serial notation showing it is all aluminum, but is not.

2.  Almost all of the steel frame paint has peeled off and the frame is rusting substantially. 

This isn't an older version but a newer one, is only 5 years old and has never seen salt spray in its life.  The rust is not only under the stalls but is on the rest of the frame, also. 

I called the Sundowner headquarters in Oklahoma to discuss it with them.  I thought it would be fixed under the 8 year structural warranty.  I spoke with Anthony Holder of customer service.  He said send pictures.  I did.  I then called back for two weeks before he returned my call.  He had looked at the photos and suggested I get it sandblasted and repainted.  I asked if they would cover it and he said no, the paint is warranted under the 3 year bumper to bumper but not under the structural.  I posed the question that if it rusted thru and collapsed before the 8 years were up would that be considered a structural failure?  He said no, that would be a paint failure.  Then I tried to throw some weight around and suggested it might be in his best interest to fix it as we were pretty well known within our competitions and we would spread such news around.  That didn't faze him. 

My only recourse at this time will be to go through small claims court here and sue the local Sundowner facility.

Here's what's really frustrating.  I am a structural engineer and pretty well versed in corrosion paints for both bridges and sewage treatment plants.  This kind of corrosion shouldn't happen if they spent a few dollars during fabrication.  All cars now have excellent resistance to corrosion.  Many have 12 year warranty's now.  The process is to sandblast the metal thoroughly and then hot dip galvanize it to a thick coating.  On bridges we also sandblast and use three part epoxy zinc paint.  Both work very well.  Sundowner does not sandblast and then only uses the powder paint.  That's not much better than nothing at all.  Any paint applied over steel that is not sandblasted is pretty well doomed.  Also, the paint must be excellent (usually with 3 different type coats) or the galvanizing must be thick.

Also, the aluminum decking could also be coated to almost eliminate corrosion.  In essence, those items subjected to aggressive corrosion could be coated so the limiting factor on the trailer like would be when it is crashed.

Unfortunately, this is not just a Sundowner problem (although they are in the forefront for neglegence) but is pervasive throughout the industry.  At present the industry line is to insist we clean the trailer of every ounce of urine/manure every time we use it.  Pretty impractical and not altogether possible.  I would believe that everyone looking at this post would be willing to pay another $500 if it guaranteed we didn't need to wash it every time we hauled a horse 10 miles for the life of the trailer (which could then be long).

All that said, here's my solution to my present problem.  The frame has sufficient remaining capacity and can and will be saved.  I took it to Dan's Painting here in Georgia.  They have done over 100 (what does that tell you) trailer painting/repairs.  A large proportional amount being Sundowner.  He sandblasts the frame and the aluminum decking.  For the steel frame he uses multiple coatings of the good epoxy paint.  For the aluminum decking he uses something similar to the truck bed coatings typically used except it is tougher and much, much thicker.  The deck will be completely sealed.  Any flow of urine will flow out the back end of the trailer and on to the ground and none of it will touch the deck or frame.

In regards to selling it how could I sell it in a rusty condition to someone for such an expensive price knowing what I know.  We had a lady who was willing to buy it sight unseen because she knew and trusted us.  No one could sell it as such with a conscience.  I have to fix it and let the chips fall as they may.

The point of all this is it can be protected.  The industry should get their act together on this issue.  We should insist that corrosion warranty's be given. 

If I were buying a new, very expensive trailer again I would spend the money having it protected.

My two bits....