Posted 2007-03-14 7:01 PM (#57078) Subject: FEATHERLITE OR SUNDOWNER
New User
Posts: 4
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.
Posted 2007-03-15 10:08 AM (#57097 - in reply to #57078) Subject: RE: FEATHERLITE OR SUNDOWNER
Veteran
Posts: 274 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.
Posted 2007-03-15 11:12 AM (#57102 - in reply to #57078) Subject: RE: FEATHERLITE OR SUNDOWNER
Elite Veteran
Posts: 720
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.
Posted 2007-03-15 11:19 AM (#57103 - in reply to #57078) Subject: RE: FEATHERLITE OR SUNDOWNER
Veteran
Posts: 274 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.
Posted 2007-03-15 12:02 PM (#57105 - in reply to #57078) Subject: RE: FEATHERLITE OR SUNDOWNER
Elite Veteran
Posts: 648 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.
Posted 2007-03-15 12:31 PM (#57106 - in reply to #57078) Subject: RE: FEATHERLITE OR SUNDOWNER
Expert
Posts: 1283 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.
Posted 2007-03-15 12:57 PM (#57108 - in reply to #57105) Subject: RE: FEATHERLITE OR SUNDOWNER
Expert
Posts: 2828 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.
Posted 2007-03-15 3:04 PM (#57117 - in reply to #57078) Subject: RE: FEATHERLITE OR SUNDOWNER
Elite Veteran
Posts: 648 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....
Posted 2007-03-15 3:14 PM (#57119 - in reply to #57117) Subject: RE: FEATHERLITE OR SUNDOWNER
Expert
Posts: 2828 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.
Posted 2007-03-16 9:01 AM (#57148 - in reply to #57078) Subject: RE: FEATHERLITE OR SUNDOWNER
Regular
Posts: 79
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.
Posted 2007-03-16 9:39 AM (#57153 - in reply to #57078) Subject: RE: FEATHERLITE OR SUNDOWNER
Member
Posts: 14
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.
Posted 2007-03-16 9:41 AM (#57154 - in reply to #57148) Subject: RE: FEATHERLITE OR SUNDOWNER
Expert
Posts: 1283 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.
Posted 2007-03-16 10:06 AM (#57157 - in reply to #57153) Subject: RE: FEATHERLITE OR SUNDOWNER
Regular
Posts: 79
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.
Posted 2007-03-16 10:31 AM (#57161 - in reply to #57106) Subject: RE: FEATHERLITE OR SUNDOWNER
Regular
Posts: 98 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 ????
Posted 2007-03-16 11:40 AM (#57165 - in reply to #57161) Subject: RE: FEATHERLITE OR SUNDOWNER
Expert
Posts: 1283 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.
Posted 2007-03-16 11:59 AM (#57166 - in reply to #57148) Subject: RE: FEATHERLITE OR SUNDOWNER
Regular
Posts: 88 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.
Posted 2007-03-16 12:04 PM (#57168 - in reply to #57078) Subject: RE: FEATHERLITE OR SUNDOWNER
Expert
Posts: 3802 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!
FEATHERLITE OR SUNDOWNER
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