I am considering a 3 horse 95 Sundowner with an 8 ft shortwall. This is my first trailer with living quarters and before I purchase it I wanted to ask if this trailer was in the group that had the problem with rusting. I plan to get it checked but was not sure which models had the problems. Thank you!
Posted 2016-01-25 11:22 PM (#165948 - in reply to #165947) Subject: RE: 1995 Sundowner
Expert
Posts: 1989 Location: South Central OK
Does this trailer have the Valuelite name on it? Does it have a steel frame with Aluminum skin over it. When you walk into the dressing room can you see painted steel frame pieces or are the mill finish Aluminum? Please see the thread below that has Sundowner 777 2+1 for more details about what to look for...
Posted 2016-01-28 8:12 PM (#165961 - in reply to #165947) Subject: RE: 1995 Sundowner
New User
Posts: 2
I was mistaken. The trailer is a 97 model. I went back and looked at it today. It is well maintained. The owner has updated many things. No rust is evident. I am hesitating about the purchase because it is almost 20 years old but it is very solid and well taken care of. New two way refrig, lots of storage, 8 foot short wall, 8 wide, 3 horse with toilet shower and the bench table/bed combo. Lots of storage, electric jack, new tires, long awning (replaced two years ago), ramp, flip out saddle racks, manger, really nice for the age. Any thoughts on a fair price? Oh it is a Sundowner Siesta? Can you tell I am new at this:) Thoughts please.
Posted 2016-02-01 10:13 AM (#165973 - in reply to #165961) Subject: RE: 1995 Sundowner
Elite Veteran
Posts: 610 Location: Northern CA
Just went to look at an 2006 sundowner "Stampede" model. These also have the same rust problem as the valuelite models. Dealer told me so himself. Trailer was in bad shape. The floor is aluminum but all the framework is steel coated in that black paint that looked like rhino liner. You could see that the rust was traveling up the vertical posts as well from the floor area. My friend that was with me said that he would bet that the rust was going up inside those vertical posts as well as the outside of them. Bad news
Posted 2016-02-01 7:32 PM (#165980 - in reply to #165973) Subject: RE: 1995 Sundowner
Member
Posts: 18
Location: Leslie Mi
jackbrat not to hijack this thread , but am curious on that 2006 stampede how could you see the vertical posts in the trailer to see the rust from the floor up? Is the wall frame in that model trailer not double sided? Thanks, Tim
Posted 2016-02-02 2:42 AM (#165987 - in reply to #165980) Subject: RE: 1995 Sundowner
Elite Veteran
Posts: 610 Location: Northern CA
Tim and time,Wish i would have taken pics. I am going back tuesday to pick up a trailer. will try to get pics. You could see immediately, the lighter color all around the floor edges. It was moving upward...from the floor....up the wall posts. (The corrosion.) It was not double walled. Not in the horse compartment anyways. The front area in gooseneck....was double walled in areas. What was so bad was the horse compartment.
Posted 2016-02-28 6:35 PM (#166258 - in reply to #165947) Subject: RE: 1995 Sundowner
Veteran
Posts: 112 Location: Bow, NH
I will take an older Sundowner over most newer model of any brand. Yes, beware of the aluminum skin steel frames but the all steel and all aluminum older models are great. We have a 96 Sunlite Siesta that is holding up great.
1995 Sundowner
