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New User
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| I'm looking for a new trailer. Nothing fancy, just a 3 horse aluminum with no bells & whistles. Does anybody have any input on which trailer is better? I've narrowed it down to Featherlite and Sundowner. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks
Edited by JANPALACH 2007-03-14 7:03 PM
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Elite Veteran
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Location: missouri |
Neither. |
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| Why not? |
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Location: Home of Wild Turkey Whiskey | If you are set on all aluminum, go with the Featherlite as most Sundowners are Aluminum over steel. |
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Location: Coconut Creek, FL | The Valuelite Sundowners are aluminum over steel and their sunlite models are all aluminum. Featherlite only makes all aluminum, but they are not of the same quality as a sundowner, but price and budget can make decisions easier. |
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Location: NY | I have friend with featherlite and the year 85 the trailer looks great he love it I would go for the featherlite |
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Location: MO in woods | Sundowner Ya sister hada Freatherlite hada lot problems an traded it off asap.We PROUDLY own 2 Sundowners our Lqs is 1999 an we bought it used.So last summer we went to park/camps and EVERYONE asked why/how did you get another new trailer (had 99 Sundowner Aztec smaller lqs) replied used 1999 just had bigger an alot more options and we knew how well they are made an hold up too.Our old Miley has steel but OLD so last spring at IHF(Indiana Horse Fair)we asked all dealers for best price on 2 horse alum. trailer.Sundowner had best price and went with them since know first hand how their trailers are n made.Just shop around and you'll find deal. |
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Location: Texas | Featherlite, unless you want to pay for a lot of fluff and don't care about added maintenance, then go with sundowner. |
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Location: Southern New Mexico | Featherlite only makes all aluminum Thats not true. I have an all steel featherlite trailer. |
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| Beware of the Sundowner names. All of their models have been called "Sunlite" for some time now. And don't ask the salesperson, because they're trained to call them all "aluminum" trailers.... They do make all-aluminum units, just not very many. |
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Veteran
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Location: MO in woods | If alumium is not gonna bend and give in time.Than we would be making everything out of it unstead of steel!!!!!!Check out resale value of trailers and look at some used ones to Decide for your self, QUALITY does cost more but is well worth it now and in years to come. |
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Location: Coconut Creek, FL | Hey Terri I stand corrected - what year is your steel Featherlite? BP or GN? just curious I wasn't aware they made any steel ones. I did see an FRP one several years back, but they stopped making them. |
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Expert
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Location: Home of Wild Turkey Whiskey | Most Sundowners are aluminum over steel and have been for some time now. Don't pay more for less, unless you just like the cool sticker they put on the front.
Edited by HWBar 2007-03-15 12:32 PM
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Location: Southern New Mexico | It's a 98 20ft 4 horse slant. Gooseneck with a dressing/tack room, 6200lbs with my tack and a couple of bags of feed in it. It's got some rust here and there, but it has held up quite well. Aside from having to replace some calk along the roof seam in the dressing room I haven't had any problems with it. It pulls great, I have to remind myself that it's back there so I don't cut corners to tight. |
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Location: Coconut Creek, FL | steel trailers can last forever in dry climates and make a lot of sense to buy. They just don't seem to hold up as well in humid rich climates such as South Fla where I live.... |
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Location: Southern New Mexico |
Edited by Terri 2007-03-15 3:16 PM
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Location: Southern New Mexico | I know what you mean. We just moved to NM, we were in S. Tx for the last 7 years. We were only 30 miles from the coast so it was always humid, even when it hadn't rained in 4 months. Nothing worse than temps of 110+ with 90% humidity. I'd look out in the pasture and all you'd see is horse/dog heads sticking out of the stock tank(when there was water in it!!). I would always worry that they would fall asleep and drown. Even in those humid conditions it has held up pretty well. |
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Regular
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| There is a lot of mis-information in this thread about both trailers.First of all, there is no such thing as an all aluminum trailer. EVERY manufacturer uses some steel in their trailers for one reason only: strength.Both manufacturers have steel and aluminum framed trailers. I'm not sure if Featherlite still makes a steel trailer, but Sundowner makes a steel trailer in addition to the aluminum trailers. It has nothing to do with the "SunLite" name as all of the Sundowner horse trailers carry that name. The difference is in the model number (727, 720, etc). And there are just as many aluminum framed Sundowners traveling the roads than there are steel framed Sundowners.Sundowner's steel framed trailers are powder coated to prevent rust. Most other manufacturers use painted on enamel that flakes off and doesn't cover every area. In addition, the exterior steel is undercoated or SunCoated (like a bed liner) for added protection. The advantage to going with a steel framed trailer is simply price. Of course, if you have to have an aluminum trailer, like I mentioned before, Sundowner offers a complete line of aluminum framed trailers as well.Featherlite was king back in the 90's but their quality has suffered since being bought out by UTC. Sundowner is the new standard for the 2000s. I don't know who ever came up with the idea that Sundowners require more maintenance... that is simply not true. The entire trailer is designed as such to save you time and money.Sounds like most of you had very poor Sundowner sales reps. I've been around trailers my whole life. There is simply no better trailer on the road currently.
Edited by Covert Cowboy 2007-03-16 9:19 AM
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Member
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| There is more misinformation in your post convertcowboy. Featherlite does not make a steel framed trailer. They either make an all aluminum (as close as anyone can come to an "all aluminum" as you say) or an all steel trailer. As far as quality since being bought out by UTC. Nothing has changed. They are being built at the same factories with the same people with the same amount of quality and integrity as before. Rather than relying on their name to sell trailers, Featherlite has invested in engineering and technology. The above statement I do know to be true; as far as Sundowner just do your research JANPALACH there has been enough discussed about them on this board in previous threads to help you with your decision. |
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Location: Home of Wild Turkey Whiskey | Originally written by Covert Cowboy on 2007-03-16 9:01 AM There is a lot of mis-information in this thread about both trailers. And there are just as many aluminum framed Sundowners traveling the roads than there are steel framed Sundowners. Featherlite was king back in the 90's but their quality has suffered since being bought out by UTC. I've been around trailers my whole life. There is simply no better trailer on the road currently. I agree with the first statement. The second statement is probley true for now, but at the rate Sundowner is selling the steel framed trailers it won't be for long. False, UTC has had no effect on the quality of Featherlites. The last statement is ridiculous, nobody is going to believe that Sundowner is in the same class with 4 Star/Bloomer. Well maybe a Sundowner salesman would. |
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Regular
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| Originally written by dustnem on 2007-03-16 9:39 AM
Featherlite does not make a steel framed trailer. They either make an all aluminum (as close as anyone can come to an "all aluminum" as you say) or an all steel trailer.
You're right. I was thinking one thing and typing another. I meant that Featherlite used to make an all steel trailer (not steel framed). No idea if they still do... As far as coming the closest to "all aluminum" as anyone, what do you base that on? All of the major players use, for the most part, the same amount of steel.
As far as Sundowner not being in the same league as 4-Star and Bloomer... Are we talking about brand new trailers here or older trailers? Sundowner has grown by leaps and bounds especially since 2000. If you sat similarly equipped 2007 4 Star, Bloomer, and Sundowner trailers side by side the Sundowner will easily hold its own. For every 10 things you show me that you like on a 4-Star or Bloomer I will show you 10 things I like on a Sundowner.
And let's not forget about the warranty. I have copies of every major manufacturer's warranty in a binder. No one even comes close to a Sundowner warranty.
Edited by Covert Cowboy 2007-03-16 10:08 AM
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Location: Midwest USA | Oh HW....I see you are still putting down the Sundowner name and product....some things will never change I guess......Sundowner has been in business for 30 years..family owned and operated...Featherlite was just bought out and the trailers will probably be cheapened up just like UT did with Sooner when they bought them out.....SO HW...instead of always putting the product down, why not tell people that Sundowner has one of the highest re-sale values in the market...why don't you tell people that Sundowner has a TRUE 3 year hitch to bumper warranty with NO LOOP HOLES.Every light,latch,hinge etc,etc,for 3 years....why don't you tell people that Sundowner has THE ONLY TRANSFERABLE 8 YEAR STRUCTUAL WARRANTY in the industry today....Yeah the Valuelite was a aluminum over steel trailer just like the 727 is today...but why don't you tell people that Sundowner puts (2) applications over the steel to protect it....OH by the way, Sundowner salespeople are not trained to lie to the customer, it is common knowledge thru the training of all salespeople that any model number ending in "7" is a steel super structure trailer...if the model number ends in "0".."5".."8" and it has 2 rows of DOT tape along the bottom it is all aluminum construction..If someone is misleading someone, then that is an individual doing it ,not Sundowner.. ..SO..to all the customers who are looking at that 2002--2003--2004 etc, Sundowner used unit, let it be known that you have the balance of the TRANSFERABLE 8 YEAR STRUCTUAL WARRANTY.....does your trailer have that HW ???..I bet not !!!...ALSO...is there truely an "all aluminum" trailer on the market??..Nope!!...there is steel somewhere and we all know it...others just want to say "all aluminum"....now who is misleading who ???? |
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Location: Home of Wild Turkey Whiskey | Originally written by 3yrHitch2Bumper on 2007-03-16 10:31 AM Oh HW....I see you are still putting down the Sundowner name and product....some things will never change I guess...... SO HW...instead of always putting the product down, I haven't put "Your Product" down in any way. The OP wanted to know about the two brands, I having owned both brands previously offered her an opinion on both. You all are the polished salemen not I. |
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Location: Youngstown, OH | I've got to disagree with you whole-hearted endorsement of Sundowner. I believe they are the result of master-marketing and not top-notch construction. If you don't ask the right questions you will find yourself with a steel frame trailer, that you paid too much for and will be upside down in when you go to trade. They are a decent trailer, but certainly not in the leauge of a 4-Star or Elite. However, I do agree with you that Featherlite was once a quality trailer, but has slipped quite a bit in the last few years. Their acquisition by UTC certainly would improve their quality issues. |
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Location: Rocky Mount N.C. | Thanks 3yrbumperhitchtobumper person,,,,for that info on the model #'s matching "steel frame" vs "aluminum frame or all aluminum". I've been to dealers and asked if a certain trailer was a steel frame or all aluminum and they had to go to the office and look it up. While they were gone I would slide out of my wheelchair, pull myself under the trailer to take a look at the trailers frame/chassis..........All along not realizing that my pants or shorts (I'm one that wears shorts in the winter) had caught on the front casters of the chair and were still attached to the chair rather than being attached to me! Always wondered what those 7, 5, 8, and 0's were all about! No more having to crawl under to see for myself! |
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| Originally written by reinergirl on 2007-03-16 11:59 AM I believe they are the result of master-marketing and not top-notch construction. If you don't ask the right questions you will find yourself with a steel frame trailer, that you paid too much for and will be upside down in when you go to trade.
I will admit... if I got the type of salespeople that some of you guys are describing I would think less of the product, too. But therein lies the problem and doesn't make it correct. You all need to find better dealers that actually know something about what they're selling. You should be asked if you want a steel framed trailer or an aluminum framed trailer. But be prepared to be asked why you want an aluminum trailer... you'd be surprised how many people don't know why they want an aluminum trailer. The fact is that you can save money by buy a steel framed trailer and with the resale value of Sundowner trailers as high as it is you will not be upside down. If you want an aluminum trailer thats fine. You should be told the positives and negatives of both. Why would any salesperson purposely steer someone towards a steel framed trailer when they are going to make more money on an aluminum trailer anyway?
On the issue of construction... Why do you suppose that Sundowner has the best warranty of any trailer manufacturer? Simple. Because they can. What sense would it make to warrant a trailer like they do and not build it to hold up? That is counter-productive. Case in point: Sundowner stopped using rubber lining on the walls because the rubber wouldn't hold up to match the warranty so they developed SunCoat to replace it. And yes, Sundowner does/did cover warranty claims on the rubber. Sundowner includes wear items in the 3 year warranty coverage. |
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Extreme Veteran
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Location: Albany, Oregon | I bought a 2004 Featherlite 8541 3 horse G/N with the NW rear doors and the Platinum horse area package 200 miles from home because they had one the way I wanted it. On the way home I relized it was having brake issues. Like they were barely there. The Featherlite guys sent me to the local Featherlite dealer and they fixed it like they sold it to me. Service is a big seller to me! I have had no problems at all, would buy another. |
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Expert
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Location: Home of Wild Turkey Whiskey | Originally written by reinergirl on 2007-03-16 11:59 AM I believe they are the result of master-marketing and not top-notch construction. They are a decent trailer, but certainly not in the leauge of a 4-Star or Elite. I will bet you five cans of beer that 9 out of 10 folks down at the roping pen tommorrow morning will tell you that same quote. I can't bet six, my brother-in-law only left 5 in my cooler.
Edited by HWBar 2007-03-16 1:31 PM
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| It's the same thing with Ford vs. Chevy vs. Dodge. Everyone thinks they know it all about the other brand and the other brand can never do anything right.
Do any of these people have experience with all of these trailers? I highly doubt it. I will make the same wager that I can go down to our local reining show and get the same opinion about Sundowner trailers. And almost all of them are pulling Sundowner trailers.
I doubt any of those people have many experiences with other brands, either. Just because they pull a horse trailer doesn't make them experts in the field. I for one would never base a $30,000 decision on what a small group of people have to say. I like to look at the bigger picture.
Everyone in my town drives a Dodge and everyone will tell you Dodge is superior. Does that make it right?
By the way, just so we're clear I'm not trying to start a flame war or anything. I just enjoy a good civil debate.
Edited by Covert Cowboy 2007-03-16 1:54 PM
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Location: Texas | There are more than twice as many Sundowners for sale on this site alone than all of the 4 Star, Elite, C&C, Bloomer and Stidham combined. Wonder why? |
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| Sundowner is the largest trailer manufacturer in the country (with the possible exception of UTC but they would be close). They probably build almost twice as many trailers as these other manufacturers. There are 3 times as many Fords on AutoTrader. Its because they sell more trucks than Dodge and GM combined.
I can name several places off the top of my head near me that I can buy a Sundowner. I can name one Bloomer dealer, one Elite dealer, (both out of state) and I have no idea where to buy a 4-Star near me.
Edited by Covert Cowboy 2007-03-16 2:33 PM
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Location: Texas | I undestand they are a high volume, mass production operation with a high dealer margin and a huge advertising budget, but why are there so many used ones for sale? |
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| Originally written by Tx. Vaquero on 2007-03-16 2:56 PM
high volume, mass production operation
You just answered your own question. The more that are out there the more that are going to be sold used. Again, refer to the above example about Ford.
Don't kid yourself into thinking Sundowner doesn't do custom work, though. Sundowner will customize any trailer with anything you can dream up as long as it doesn't effect the structural integrity of the trailer. They have an engineering department specifically devoted to custom trailers.
Edited by Covert Cowboy 2007-03-16 3:09 PM
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Location: Texas | I had a dose of one of their super, duper custom jobs. It still seems there are a lot of people trying to get out of their sundowners, considering the long warranties. Could there be an underlying problem? |
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Location: Home of Wild Turkey Whiskey | Originally written by Tx. Vaquero on 2007-03-16 3:13 PM
I had a dose of one of their super, duper custom jobs. It still seems there are a lot of people trying to get out of their sundowners, considering the long warranties. Could there be an underlying problem? Buyers Remorse? You know like the real hot chick from afar, then you get the nerve to go talk to her and she only has three teeth. Might not be so bad after the 5 Milwalkees Best that have been rolling around in my cooler for a week.
Edited by HWBar 2007-03-16 4:27 PM
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Location: Texas | Yep, been there, went on with it anyhow. Just like the sundowner, wasn't worth it. |
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Expert
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Location: michigan | Foget all the petty bickering- figure out what you want( the neat-o, creature comfort stuff) and need ( this features you really must have and can't live without) in your next trailer then buy the one which closely matches the list and at a price you can afford. Either one, you'll be fine. I bought a used Exiss. It has a weekender package- small dinette, fridge, AC, and sink. I travel alone so i didn't need lots of room or gadgets.It had what i needed plus stuff I wanted at a price I was willing to pay. Now there are some on this board that will go and on about how crappy Exiss are. They are full of it. Ignore most of this stuff posted. The vast majority of trailers bulit are fine- some are just a bit finer and with that, you'll end up paying more for it. If money wasn't an issue, I'd buy a trailer with a solid gold toilet but alas, its not to be. |
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Location: Home of Wild Turkey Whiskey | Originally written by farmbabe on 2007-03-16 7:55 PM If money wasn't an issue, I'd buy a trailer with a solid gold toilet but alas, its not to be. What is it about Gold Toilets that gets you excited? If money was not an issue, I would probley have the walls filled with Tequilla.
Edited by HWBar 2007-03-17 5:15 AM
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Location: Southern New Mexico | Now ya'll have got the right idea. I'd want a frig that would never run out of the "essentials" and a self cleaning trailer. No more scooping horse poop, cleaning toilets, sweeping...... |
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Location: West Coast | Originally written by reinergirl on 2007-03-16 9:59 AM I've got to disagree with you whole-hearted endorsement of Sundowner. I believe they are the result of master-marketing and not top-notch construction. If you don't ask the right questions you will find yourself with a steel frame trailer, that you paid too much for and will be upside down in when you go to trade. They are a decent trailer, but certainly not in the leauge of a 4-Star or Elite. I agree with you on your "master marketing" quote on the sundowners. Sundowner has done a great job marketing their trailers. But... if you compare the stuff you cannot easily see, like the space between floor supports, or the thickness of the aluminum there are other trailer brands I would buy before a Sundowner. In my opinion, for the kind of money you pay for a Sundowner, there are better quality trailers in the same price range. When getting ready to buy a trailer, I don't rely soley on what other people tell me. I do a lot of research, paying special attention to the structural elements of trailer. I think it's the best way to know what you are buying.
Edited by RoperChick 2007-03-18 8:40 AM
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Extreme Veteran
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Location: Columbia, TN | Roper Chick I think you summed it up well and alot of us have owned a Sundowner in the past and have moved on to something else. I will say I liked Sundowner's horse compartment and rear tack but not their LQ
Edited by iCE CRM 2007-03-19 8:35 PM
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Location: Albany, Oregon | The Question was....................... Originally written by JANPALACH on 2007-03-14 5:01 PM I'm looking for a new trailer. Nothing fancy, just a 3 horse aluminum with no bells & whistles. Does anybody have any input on which trailer is better? I've narrowed it down to Featherlite and Sundowner. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks I don't think they even want a living quarters trailer. I personaly prefer a no bells and whistles Featherlite. I keep my tequila in my tack box with a roll of TP!
Edited by xyzer 2007-03-19 11:38 PM
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FEATHERLITE OR SUNDOWNER
