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Member
Posts: 6
Location: hamilton, ohio | If you had a choice would you buy a Bison or Sundowner aluminum trailer? Pros or cons on either one? Thanks |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 720
 
Location: Never miss a good chance to shut up. | I don't think we've ever had a head to head comparison of the two on this board. We should find you a dealer who carries both. Do a search for Bison dealers nationwide and then look for one that carries Sundowner too. Give them a call - and let us know what you discover. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1283
 
Location: Home of Wild Turkey Whiskey | Dave is getting out in front of this one. |
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Veteran
Posts: 150
Location: Farmville, VA | This should be interesting to follow up on. A very close friend of mine sold Sundowners for years and I have always had alumn. Sundowners. When she was looking for a new living qt., she actually ended up buying a new Bison, which dollar for dollar, she felt like was more affordable. I've been in this trailer and it is very nice and well equiped. The question will be if it holds up (long term) as well as a Sundowner. I'm not sure if the Bisons hold their value in the resale markets. With that said, I think if money were no object, I would go the Sundowner route, but to most of us, it is. Bison is a great option for a nice well build and well equipped trailer. Good Luck! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 644
Location: Odenville, Alabama | How many worms will come out of this can??  |
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Member
Posts: 29
Location: Charleston SC | If you don't knock my trailer I won't knock yours. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 644
Location: Odenville, Alabama | I've owned 2 Bison 8312 LQ's. Can't afford a Sundowner. My trailer has all the comforts I want and need, and my horses ride fine in them. After purchasing Bison, I still have enough money left over to fund my motorcycle habit. This trailer will last my life time. |
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Veteran
Posts: 142
Location: KY | You're at two differents end of the spectrum here. If you want to compare a Bison to something comparible try an American Spirit, shadow, etc. A sundowner well they're the most expensive thing out there so just pick one 4 star, elite, bloomer, etc. The Sundowner is by far the better trailer, but its a trade off it is also two or three time the price of the Bison. I'm a former Bison dealer so I can tell you all you want to know about them if interested just send me a private message. |
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Regular
Posts: 72
Location: vanceboro, nc | We bought a sundowner, not a new one by now means, a 95. Its a 4 horse, fully insulated, 13 fr lg, huge bathroom, the works. Couldn't have affored it new. Its great. I love staying in it. My husband will kid me and ask why don't I sleep in it at home. I say, the whole crown will think I'm crazy!!! We really love it. No problems. Took a while to figure out all the buttons and stuff. |
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Veteran
Posts: 285
| I don't think there is one brand of trailer that is absolutely perfect. I am sure each one of them has a quirk. I do wonder when you get up to the more expensive brands if you are sometimes paying more for the trailer just because of the brand name. To me all of them are overpriced and expensive. We own a particular brand and love it and just recently purchased a newer one of the same brand. But I know some people would not give the brand we bought the time of day. My hubby is a welder and knows a lot about trailers and how to look to see how well built they are. It all depends on much money you are willing to spend or if you are lucky find a really good deal. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 792
Location: East Tennessee, USA, Planet Earth | I love my Sundowner 2 horse BP.  |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 792
Location: East Tennessee, USA, Planet Earth | We own a particular brand and love it and just recently purchased a newer one of the same brand. But I know some people would not give the brand we bought the time of day. What trailer brand do you own?  |
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 Regular
Posts: 66
Location: Maryland | My first horse trailer was a Bison, had it for 10 years, just sold it last year and actually sold it for what I paid for it. I got a good deal on it when I bought it new, also took good care of it while I owned it. I planned on starting at that price, but having to come down. The second person that looked at it, bought it, and loves it. It really was a well built trailer, and I never had any problems with it. |
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Veteran
Posts: 150
Location: Farmville, VA | Dixie, Hoping you might can help. I love my Sundowner Sunlite! (2 horse, 4' sw, ramp, lots of facotry extras!), BUT, I need a walkthru door and cant afford the $1200 from Sundowner. Got any suggestions? Thanks! |
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Veteran
Posts: 285
| We own a Featherlite. We bought our first one 3 years ago and decided we needed to go bigger and looked at other brands of trailers but decided we wanted another Featherlite. On a another board I got a lot of bashing on this brand that was why I was reluctant to say what it was. We looked at the Bisons and I really like the features on it, but it just so happened we found the 04 Featherlite with a lot of extras on it and we got a really good deal on it. |
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Veteran
Posts: 142
Location: KY | You can try an aftermarket walk through or a walk through from another manufacturer because if you don't have one then you don't have the frame work either so it doesn't have to be a Sundowner door. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 274
Location: MO in woods | They certainly are in Not made of similar quality at all.We own 2 Sundowners and never had problem with either.Had smaller Sundowner living quarters and sold it after 7 years and in all we took $4200 less than what we bought new for.In end get what pay for. |
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Regular
Posts: 50
Location: SC | Sundowners had serious welding problems a few years ago..... Affected a lot of folks, to include our farm. Ramps falling off, bad welds, leaks, etc. Do a little reasearch before buying a used one..... I am assuming they fixed the problems in their newer models? I have never given them the time of day since to check. |
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Veteran
Posts: 142
Location: KY | Agreed there are so many more brands out there besides Sundowner and Bison do some research. Myself I would stay away from Bison, but just look around. |
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Veteran
Posts: 196
Location: WI | Originally written by classygirl98 on 2007-11-13 11:55 AM
We own a Featherlite. We bought our first one 3 years ago and decided we needed to go bigger and looked at other brands of trailers but decided we wanted another Featherlite. On a another board I got a lot of bashing on this brand that was why I was reluctant to say what it was. We looked at the Bisons and I really like the features on it, but it just so happened we found the 04 Featherlite with a lot of extras on it and we got a really good deal on it. Aw heck, around here you get looked at funny if you DON'T own a Featherlite. Buy what you like and what you can afford. All of them have their good and bad points, and I'm sure if we pick at it long enough, we can find fault with all of them.
Edited by Hank 2007-11-14 1:55 PM
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Veteran
Posts: 285
| We actually looked at high priced name brand trailer and were disappointed because it was not that well built. There a lot of well built trailers out there at decent prices if you will just shop around. We got a lot more bang for the buck when buying used but we shopped for 6 months trying to find it. I went to every trailer site i knew once or twice a day trying to find what we were looking for. |
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New User
Posts: 1
Location: Parker, CO | Like others have mentioned, you don't usually compare Sundowner and Bison to one another. Bang for your buck the Bison is hard to beat. Sundowner on the other hand is going to be one of your highest priced trailers. How often do you plan to use your trailer? Take a look around feel free to contact me personally with any questions. |
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Expert
Posts: 1989
Location: South Central OK | Look at a Stidham or Merhow and get a quality trailer for a fair price. |
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Veteran
Posts: 129
Location: Northwest Ohio | NCSUACD: Can you tell me what model years you're referring to? We bought a 1999 Sundowner 8012 3H earlier this year.
Edited by Candy girl 2007-11-14 3:47 PM
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Veteran
Posts: 142
Location: KY | Check out a Kiefer Built its a whole lot more trailer than a Bison and has the best warranty in the industry. If you're interested in a Kiefer get in touch with me and I maybe I can help or check with your local Kiefer dealer. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 252
Location: Hunting Valley, Ohio |
The Bison Alumasport SE is the best buy.
Alum. skin, Steel frame and wood floor.
Just add a couple of options to the std. trailer
and you've got a doable unit.
Dollar for dollar hard to beat.
http://www.bisontrailer.com/
Aerodynamic stainless steel nose Stainless 60/40 rear doors Pre-finished aluminum skin Aluminum camper step w/lighted grab handle Single piece aluminum roof Graphics Fully enclosed gooseneck Spare tire w/rack Easy access removable saddle tree Drop-down feed windows Escape-door first stall Sofa or dinette sleeper Paneled/wainscot walls & ceiling Solid oak cabinet doors Refrigerator 2-burner cook top On-demand water pump Large capacity fresh, grey & black holding tanks Built-in step in carpeted gooseneck 18,000 BTU furnace Dual LP tanks TV prep/antenna
Electric or hydraulic lift 8,000 lb. Axle w/”H” range tires Mangers Stud wall - front stall Hay rack w/ladder Aluminum ramp Lined/insulated horse ceilings Generator prep or pkg. Drop windows hip wall Slide-out w/awning Deluxe light package Ducted roof A/C (Non-ducted 6’8” models) 3-burner cook top 3-burner cook top w/oven DSI water heater AM/FM stereo CD w/exterior marine speakers Awning Glass shower
Note: An 8' wide trailer gives the horses more room and it makes a difference in the LQ - people room. That extra foot makes a big Difference, great option. A 4 horse w/ Mid Tack & Generator and a few
of the options listed above can be done
for around 60k...and again that is alot of trailer
for the money.
KCW 
karl1952@email.com
The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.
Edited by KCW 2007-12-12 8:49 AM
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Bison or Sundowner
