Okay, folks, I need a little help. I used to consider my knowledge of Sundowner horse trailers to be pretty good. My first real horse trailer was a late 80s 2 horse GN Charter all steel. At some point I ended up with a 97 all aluminum 2 horse bp slant load (heavy as heck tongue weight as a side note) which was labeled "Sunlite" . In looking at the 97 it screamed "aluminum" in appearance. At some point I also had a 2001 2 horse GN Valuelite (thankfully I lost that trailer in a divorce). So, here's my question, my girlfriend has a 1996 3 horse GN LQ Sundowner that I can't figure out what it's made of. It carries the labels "Sunlite" and "Siesta". I know the Siesta is the LQ package. I thought back in 96 the Sunlite designation meant it was all aluminum but the finish on this trailer does not look like any aluminum trailer I've seen. That said, it really doesn't look like my old steel Sundowner either. Anyone have any ideas? Is this a rare specimen that Sundowner is dying to get back for historical purposes and will give us a brand new one in exchange or is it some material that I am unaware of? Thanks in advance!!
Posted 2016-02-29 5:00 PM (#166282 - in reply to #166259) Subject: RE: 1996 Sundowner Sunlite
Veteran
Posts: 112 Location: Bow, NH
Hi Paul, No, that's the strange thing. My 97 Sunlite looked like the link you sent me but our 96 does not have extruded sides and appears to be a painted grey. I actually talked with Sundowner today and he provided me a key to interpreting the VIN. According to Sundowner the VIN will start with 13S_____ If the letter following is a Z or V it is a Valulite (I didn't realize they made Valulites that far back) otherwise it is all aluminum. Our VIN reads 13SAK so I am going with the thought it is all aluminum. I've never seen such a flat finish on aluminum.
Posted 2016-02-29 9:00 PM (#166289 - in reply to #166259) Subject: RE: 1996 Sundowner Sunlite
Expert
Posts: 1989 Location: South Central OK
Maybe someone acid etched the paint without knowing what they were doing, possibly to prep it for new paint or a spray on bed liner? Given the chance most people will do some really dumb stuff...I used to teach Chemistry and I always thought to myself how are you not dead yet?
1996 Sundowner Sunlite
