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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 599
 
| I'm going to start looking for a used 3H with a werkender pkg (maybe lq). I really just go to local shows, so I need something easy to pull and park.
My 8 year old daughter has special needs and can't be left alone, but my older son is now able to watch her for an extended period of time. She will sit quietly and watch movies for hours, so a couch will be a must.
I currently have a 2H bp Featherlite and like sundowners, but have read that their quality is very poor (makes sense now - they're so much more affordable than other brands). I want good quality, but probably can't afford top-of-the-line (what would that be, though?).
Looking for opinions and suggestions! |
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| Go with what you can afford - if you are staying local and aren't putting miles and miles on, you don't need a top of the line trailer brand. Especially if you aren't hard on things and take care of your stuff. Unfortunately I don't - seems like my things get ruined quickly hahaha.
Sundowners are fine. We have a 3 horse sundowner with LQ and we haven't had issues with it. No, it would not be my first choice of brand- but it was a wedding gift from my MIL because she was getting out of horses and decided to give hers to us. We've been pulling it for almost 3 years and I can't say there's anything I absolutely hate about it. |
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| Sundowners are not poor quality and have never been that I've known. The older ones with the steel frames were a bit heavy to pull and I think that it gave them a bad rap. If you look back through some old trailer threads you will find lots of info on trailers. Sundowners are kind of middle of the road and are a pretty good bang for your buck. They are not a Platinum or Bloomer but they sure ain't a Bison either.
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 I hate cooking and cleaning
Posts: 3314
Location: Jersey Girl | I agree to go with whats in your price range and one that you like the set up. There are alot of older well maintained trailers out there. |
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Duct Tape Bikini Girl
Posts: 2554
| Older Sundowner trailers (12 plus years) were better quality. Sundowner had to get the prices down to avoid bankruptcy, so they're lower quality, but the price reflects it now.
There are many quality brands of LQ trailers out there. It is all going to be about finding one that was taken care of. It's such a throw away society these days! No one takes care of anything anymore.
Watch for Hart, 4 Star, Elite, and Platinum. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Sundowner 2004 or older if it was clean and priced right. |
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| What about an Exiss LQ?
I've seen some with a 6' LQ that might be just the thing but am not sure about the Exiss quality. Opinions? |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 690
Location: Georgia | Are you the DRowe from GA? If so I know you lol
anyway I have a weekender sundowner 00 model. We had problems with rust underneath and had to take it back to the sundowner factory in OK and pay to have the whole bottom replaced. We had heard it was only the 98-01 models with problems but I know of a local lady with an 08 model that is having a HUGE rust problem under her trailer. AND the sundowner dealer sold her the trailer as a ALL aluminum trailer and it is actually on a steel frame. So if you go with Sundowner just be careful and have the trailer well looked over by someone that knows what they are doing.
Other than the rust issue I love our sundowner and have no other problems with it. Now does it compare to my 4 star in quality?? Absolutely not but besides the rust everything has held up fine. |
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  Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | I've been around several Trails West that were really nice and held up great to weekend shows. Comfortable too |
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 Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | wyoming barrel racer - 2017-09-22 7:28 AM I've been around several Trails West that were really nice and held up great to weekend shows. Comfortable too
I agree! I have a 4 horse LQ with slide that is great-it's definitely overkill for what the OP wants but I'm thinking with a 3 horse and a shorter LQ these would be a brand that would fit a price point pretty easily. YES they are steel BUT they are durable and built well!
Don't be afraid to look at older trailers as well-many are not hardly used and if you're concerned take someone knowledgeable in trailers go with you to inspect. When we were looking there was a great little five star made in 2000 that I would have loved if it was just me and another person! |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | We have a '99 SD 4 horse LQ, and we love it. Sean keeps it maintained and well taken care of---bought it in 2011. We take it to a dealership every few years and have it looked at top to bottom tho. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 599
| After trailer shopping for a while, I found an Exiss that will work perfectly for my needs. Wayyyy bigger than my 2H bumper pull. That part makes me nervous, but I'm excited to be able to show more and bring both of my kids along! :) |
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 Witty Enough
Posts: 2954
Location: CTX | dRowe - 2017-10-14 3:47 PM After trailer shopping for a while, I found an Exiss that will work perfectly for my needs. Wayyyy bigger than my 2H bumper pull. That part makes me nervous, but I'm excited to be able to show more and bring both of my kids along! :)
Glad you found something that works! 
As for the bigger part, just take it slow! The more you haul it the better you get, but if you feel you get in a pickle, just slow down, take your time and use all the space on the road you can find, big turns and all that.
I went from a 3 horse with 6' sw to a 4 horse with an 10' sw and I have to say it was easier pulling the bigger one. Backing up is definitely easier the longer the trailer... I still can't back up a 2H bumper pull but can back our big gn in just about any place. 
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| cranky B4 10am - 2017-10-14 4:05 PM
dRowe - 2017-10-14 3:47 PM After trailer shopping for a while, I found an Exiss that will work perfectly for my needs. Wayyyy bigger than my 2H bumper pull. That part makes me nervous, but I'm excited to be able to show more and bring both of my kids along! :)
Glad you found something that works! As for the bigger part, just take it slow! The more you haul it the better you get, but if you feel you get in a pickle, just slow down, take your time and use all the space on the road you can find, big turns and all that.
I went from a 3 horse with 6' sw to a 4 horse with an 10' sw and I have to say it was easier pulling the bigger one. Backing up is definitely easier the longer the trailer... I still can't back up a 2H bumper pull but can back our big gn in just about any place.
Congrats!!!
Assuming the new trailer is a gooseneck you’ll learn to back pretty quick! I’m pretty sure if you put me in a bumper pull today I’d be a hot mess. I’m getting pretty darn good at our LQ, just have to slow down sometimes and remember which way the wheel swings the butt, then I’m golden. It pulls way nice too!!! |
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 I Don't Brag
Posts: 6960
| mandita8907 - 2017-09-22 7:22 AM
Are you the DRowe from GA? If so I know you lol
anyway I have a weekender sundowner 00 model. We had problems with rust underneath and had to take it back to the sundowner factory in OK and pay to have the whole bottom replaced. We had heard it was only the 98-01 models with problems but I know of a local lady with an 08 model that is having a HUGE rust problem under her trailer. AND the sundowner dealer sold her the trailer as a ALL aluminum trailer and it is actually on a steel frame. So if you go with Sundowner just be careful and have the trailer well looked over by someone that knows what they are doing.
Other than the rust issue I love our sundowner and have no other problems with it. Now does it compare to my 4 star in quality?? Absolutely not but besides the rust everything has held up fine.
All trailers have some steel in the frame. In my 4Star it has a steel sub frame and the gooseneck hitch and landing gear are steel. In those cases you have to watch for corrosion from electrolysis of steel on aluminum. The two metals need to be insulated from each other or it's kinda like rust. I had to replace the axles and entire subframe two or 3 years ago on my 1993 4Star. When it was 11 years old I had to replace all of the aluminum cross members attached to the subframe because of above electrolysis issues. Despite those two major repairs it has the original aluminum flooring in it.
I personally would not consider a Sundowner because the 1990 steel bumper pull we bought at one year old was a huge piece of crap and unsafe to haul any animal in before it was 5 years old and Sundowner basically said it sucks to be you. And some time after I saw a horse kick right through the wall of one of their aluminum trailers (smooth skin). When I ordered my 4 Star I got the variegated aluminum for strength instead of smooth skinned for pretty.
Don't be too afraid of the older, well made trailers but make sure you get someone knowledgeable look it over AND under. Some of the older ones are made better than the newer.
Edited to add: I see you found one, congrats! After a few times pulling the gooseneck you will hate going back to a bumper pull...they handle so much better.
Edited by rodeoveteran 2017-10-16 4:55 PM
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Expert
Posts: 1409
Location: Oklahoma | If you have always wanted a certain one get that one! I waited bout 15 years to get mine, but I knew that I wanted an elite. I don't have full lq but it did have a/c, and electric already run and it was a 2006. It has mangers. The best thing that I love bout my trailer and it will be my forever trailer even if I upgrade later is the huge windows for horses! and lights all around it for to saddle or just need lights on. which you can add outside lights. but the windows are my fav! |
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