My husband and I are looking for a 2-horse straight load gooseneck trailer for our 2 dressage horses.  We have found 2 trailers that are somewhat comparably equipped - a Sundowner and a 4-Star.  They both have 5200# axles, 16-inch tires, same height, width, drop down windows on walk through doors, ramp, etc.

I don't particularly want a Sundowner trailer; I'd rather have the 4-Star.  But the quote we have is $3K less for the Sundowner than the 4-Star.

Does anyone have any reasoning as to the 4-Star is really the better deal despite the price difference?  Or is the Sundowner the better deal for the price?

Thanks,

Charlotte

HWBar,

We have an 94 model Sundowner sunlite that is all aluminum, With the usual exceptions of coarse. Sundowner does manufacture a steel framed/ aluminum skinned trailer. It used to be called a Valuelite, not sure what the name of them is now.

I would love to see a 4-star up close and see what the construction is like, so many people say that they're one of the best but I haven't looked at one firsthand so I really can't say.

Two things that I can say are that I don't have any complaints about our Sundowner and that it seems that people really looking at the various brands all have the same opinions, none of them are made as well as they where in the recent past.Thinner walls,floors,stud spacing etc. but allot thicker price!

                                    ,Ardly

We sell the 4-Star and normally it is the other way around, the sundowner comes in higher than us and with less options and having the steel frame VS the all alum. trailer. I would have to see the quote option for option and compare the two.

Not sure what the comment about having a twisted frame or something not being right means.

If you are saying that Sundowners are priced higher than 4 Stars in your market you must be enjoying some good sales numbers because if they are truely looking at both trailers you should be doing a ton of sales.

Buy either one, as long as you stay far away from a ?. That is unless You like to spend good money on junk!

                             ,Ardly

We do very well with the straight load trailers both in gooseneck and bumper pull, we are the largest stocking dealer for 4-Star and that is the only brand we carry.

Charlotte,

I would be more than happy to give you a quote on one so you can compare, the options you listed are what we order all of ours with, right now I have 5 on order and normally keep that many in stock but we sold them before most of them came in, we are also the offical trailer dealer for the Houston Dressage Society and that is who uses the trailers the most.

BLM - thanks your your response.  My 4-Star quote is from Gulf Coast 4-Star.

Charlotte,

I sent you a PM.

Let's air this out in public, you are either the dealer you said you are "Sundowner is always higher than us" or your not. No PM's needed here. I'm a 4 Star owner you shouldn't have anything to hide.

Thats why I only have 5 post on this chat room in a couple of years we have been on it, I tend not to get involved because I do see some things get twisted and turned and the one that is looking for help does not get it.

I need to say ''not always'' get twisted and turned because ther has been a lot of good come from this chat room and this site has been a great tool for us, I also need to correct 5 to 8 on the # of post.

Also, thanks for the positive remarks about 4-Star.

 Go for the 4-Star- NO CONTEST!!  Having just been to Congress I saw them up close and they are extremely well built.  I also saw a 2004 Sundowner777 I believe was the model- was SHOCKED at how poorly it had held up from mats pulling off ramp and walls, to hardware, to corroding roof (inside).  Even if this trailer was beat it was only 2-3 years old.  They are VERY expensive for what you get- Just my opinion!!!  I have also seen several 4-Stars from 1991 to 2003 models-they had ALL been holding up well.  Pay the extra money and you'll be happier in the long run and NO I am not a dealer!

Good luck!!

G

My husband likes the idea of the "SunCoat" that Sundowner offers, especially to coat the underside of the trailer.  Is this really something that is beneficial, that we will even notice a difference down the road?

Charlotte

Just my opinion about my area, cant speak for others nor different areas of the states from where I am at..............I recently bought a trailer, and the Sundowner quote I recieved was higher than the 4 Star.  I think it depends as to where you are as to which trailers sell the best and that reflects in price. 

As far as which trailer is made better, consider that 4 Star is a custom built and Sundowner is not.  Sundowner will let you make some changes but it strays away from the assembly line they have and they get VERY expensive when you want to do that.  Also most of the time it seems when something is custom made there is a little more attention paid to detail.  For me, there was no decision, I wanted specific things that had to be custom and price was a factor so I ordered a custom trailer.

That being said, I have friends that pull Sundowners and MOST say they are happy with their trailers.  But I have noticed the 4Star people keep their trailers for a long time and the Sundowner owners alot of times get new trailers every 5 or so years.  Just a personal observation I have made. 

I actually talked to a Sundowner dealer about this, or should I say listened.   It is a product developed with Rhinoliner- nothing more than a coating over the steel to inhibit rust and create a barrier between the steel and alum. to help prevent electrolysis (sp?).  4-Star is all alum. and wouldn't need this except as a preference on the floor- they call it WERM which is way different than a sprayed on coating.  "Sun Coat" appears to be a copyright they use for this coating?- Not sure, either way I'd still go for the 4 Star any day. 

Hard to find negative attibutes of 4-Star as far as quality and fit and finish.  Good Luck

Kiefer Built Genesis models also have a 3yr hitch to bumper and 8yr structure warranty that is transferable. they also warranty against leaks during the 3yr hitch to bumper period--no one else will waranty against leaks in writing. if you compare 4-star and sundowners all aluminum line (not the 727 model) you would then be comparing closer on an apples to apples basis.

I have to say that all of your replies that are more about the dealer who responded, rather than to my original question, are a distraction from the point of my thread.

I have nothing bad at all to say about Gulf Coast 4-Star.  My dealings with them have been nothing but good.  I was just trying to get as much information as possible before making a big decision.

Thanks,

Charlotte

What's to defend?  The quote I received from Gulf Coast 4-Star was higher than the Sundowner quote I received, like I said for "comparably equipped" trailers.  I was not trying to indicate that I thought the quote was inflated.  I would like to purchase from them, but I was just trying to get info to justify the cost.

Charlotte

Every bit as strong?! They warranty 1 model out of like 8. lol!  

Have a great day

Just like a sundowner person always exaggerating!  Kiefer has really only 4 lines of trailers.   1. all steel (which sundowner doesn't offer) 2. steel frame aluminum skin fiberglass roof--XLA series (again sundowner doesn't offer) 3.  high end steel frame aluminum skin--evolution series(comparable to the 727 models-which kiefer should offer the 3/8 warranty on but does not)4.  and the genesis all aluminum line(which has the 3/8 warranty that is transferable)  within each of these 4 lines are several models from a stock trailer to a nice LQ trailer.  which in my opinion looks like Kiefer is a very well rounded company trying to take care of every customers needs.  not just the high end customer

For those of you who responded to my original question, thank you.  Having said that, I think we have decided to go with Elite.

cbstotts

Congrats on your trailer purchase and welcome to this forum where everyone tries to agree to disagree or along those lines.