I sold my C&C and now looking for its replacement ( if there is such a thing - sigh)

This weekend we went to look at a 2001 Sundowner 3H with 8 SW.

The trailer was pristine inside and out except for when we looked underneath the frame just seemed to be disintegrating. You could peel away layers of rust with your fingers.

Before we went to look at this particular Sundowner we called the company and asked about the construction of this 2001 model, they said it was all aluminum - so what does that mean? That whoever answered the phone made a mistake?

Anyway we passed on the trailer.

You will have to conclude if the frame is aluminum or steel and if it was covered with any coatings before you can determine any damage. It will take a close examination with a pocket knife, by scraping a small area of the surface and examining the exposed metal, whether it is steel or aluminum. Any kind of coating can hide many flaws.

Before I would consider a purchase of this trailer, I would ask that the frame be pressure washed and inspected. If you have any reservations at all, or the seller is not cooperative, walk away and don't look back.

There are many good trailers available now, and the purchase of one with a questionable frame is not economically realistic.

BOL  Gard

Sold the C&C because the 11 ft SW was just way too much to haul, and wanted to downsize.

This trailer had one strip of DOT reflective tape.

Gard we passed on it due to the extreme amount of corrosion on the frame.  The coating was peeling off and then you could pick away the rust with your fingers. Didn't need  a knife.

And curiously, it was the frame that runs the long way of the trailer that was so corroded, on both sides.  The cross pieces of the framing were fine.

I was just curious what "all aluminum" frame means.

All aluminum frame trailers will have a short steel frame that the axles are mounted to, and then this short frame is mounted to the aluminum box or aluminum frame work of the trailer. There is some steel in the area of the hitch.

Steel frame-aluminum trailers will have a steel frame or chassis that runs the entire length of the trailer and the aluminum box is mounted to this steel frame. The steel frame trailers tend to be stronger, but are much heaver than the all aluminum trailers.

The "Sundowner" trailers can be reconized at a glance by the red and white DOT tape. A double row or stripe is all aluminum, single row or stripe is the steel frame trailer.

Hope this helps, I'm not very good at "splain'in" things............sometimes!

Jennifer

Aluminum corrosion is not what you described. It is not found in sheets and doesn't peel off. That's why I suspect that it was a coated steel frame.

Aluminum  corrosion (oxidation) is white or grayish, and can be discoloured with black or brown areas. It will crumble to the touch if the entire metal thickness is effected, or a smaller spot will slough off like chalk. It will also be brittle, easily breaking by impact or bending.

Corrosion can only be stopped by a chemical process and the damaged area, if large enough will have to be replaced. On aluminum, this is an expensive process.

You were wise to decide to buy elsewhere. By doing your homework and looking at the structure, you saw past the pretty parts and discovered it's real condition. Good job! Most people shop for trailers by the colour of the microwave or curtains.

As you have seen, brand names mean little with used equipment. There are good trailers and bad ones of every brand. Spending a little extra time looking underneath will determine if you have a bargain or a long term headache.

BOL  Gard

THANK YOU KMARTIN.....Posting pictures of a certain manufactures issues is really not needed......I like Kmartins comment....it boils down to certain individuals maintainance on their trailer...if you don't change the oil in your truck what happens ???....PROBLEMS!!!!!....WELL, we all know you have to maintain your trailer also.....yeah there are some frame rails out there with problems, BUT..Sundowner backs their product better than if not just as good as anyone else in this industry.....Everyone wants to slam Sundowner every chance they get..........how bout slamming *#%ss for their skinning on the S*&#$ models....how bout slamming JOE BLOW on the rough edges on all the welds in the stall area and manger doors....does it matter???...yes it does to an extent..I know Sundowner has replaced ALOT of frame rails under warranty...standing behind the product.......I see posts on here everyday about people and their problems which is good...dealers step up and offer help....I am sure, if the owner of the trailer would have contacted a dealer or the factory the warranty issue would have been taken care of.......How can a company be in business for 30 years and not take care of their product ????....just not possible......SO, in the future remember, if you don't ask for help, then how can anyone know you need help !!!!   

Coltafflyjo, it sounds as if your maintenance has been very complete and you should be enjoying a reliable and good looking trailer.

The only additional item I might recommend is an occasional rinsing of the bottom of your trailer. This will clean off the road salts and urine that seeps through your floorboards. This can be easily accomplished with a garden hose and lawn sprinkler.

A steel frame that is powder coated and then sprayed with an undercoating should not rust out in a few years. We live in the rust belt of the north east and recently sold a steel trailer that we bought new in 1992. There were no rust issues that affected its structural integrity.

 Aluminum frames are not immune to problems and are not maintenance free. It is wise to spend some time looking under your trailer. You can see if there are any problems and anticipate any maintenance before they become a repair. Small rust or corroded spots can be touched up before they require some major attention.

BOL  Gard

Dale....after reading your profile, I now know why you posted what you did.....

If you want to get into a finger pointing match, then game on.....because with the lines that you carry, I would win everytime but the thread would be shut down real quick by Dave and I am not going to go there...

Sundowner versus Exiss...Let's start that thread and see what comes about....floors,welds,skin,warranty,doors,etc,etc.........LOL !!!!...Sundowner versus UTC....that would be another good thread....but we will not go there......;)..Happy trails !!!