Have had a truck top camper so my questions at first will be confined to asking about stuff that is new to me. Bought a 2011 Sunnybrook Harmony M-21FBS travel trailer today. The trailer was bought new in 2011 then pulled from New Mexico to Texas and parked. It has never been used otherise or slept in as claimed by the PO. The tags on the blinds are still in place and there is a big sticker in the middle of the floor so I tend to believe her. The ties are the roginals: ST205/75D 14. The tires were down in pressure a tad and didn't appear dry rotted. Are new tires in order? I am kind of thinking they are. If I do buy new tires, how does this work? Jack it up and take off the rims and take them to a tire place or do folks pull the trailer to a tire shop? Does anyone have an owner's manual for this model or the Sunnybrook Harmony family from 2011? I looked on the Winnebego site and they have an archives but it didn't contain anything for this model family. The batteries are the original so I suspect they are sulfated and I will have to buy two new batteries but will get them load tested first. If the tanks never held gray/black or water, what should I look for there? Roof has never been touched. The black sealer used around vents and such is fully intact but has some surface crazing from the sun; do these need to be re-sealed?Last dumb question... the trailer sat and south side is nasty; can I safely pressure wash or should I use silicon or some other sealer around windows and other factory sealed areas?Thanks in advance... be gentle. wg

You could remove the tires and take to your local Discount Tire, Americas Tire, Costco, Walmart or other supplier but you may want to call and see if they have trailer tires in your size as they may need to order them.The tires now are 6 years old at best and should be replaced regardless of milage. Tire companies warn of keeping tires over 5 years or so because of possible internal breakdown of the structural members.Black, Gray and Fresh tanks should be good to go but you will want to sterilize the Fresh with a chlorine bleach mix and run it thru the system first though. Pressure washing shouldn't be a problem but don't get closer than 8-10" especially around windows.You might want to wash by hand afterwards.

New tires for sure.As for the cruddy exterior, go to Dollar Tree and buy several bottles of Awsome cleaner. Use it liberally along with a soft scrub brush followed by lots of water and a good wax job. Pressure washer unless you are really comfortable with one could create more problems that good.

I can answer a few questions. I had 3 year old tires on my used fifth wheel when I bought it. Thought I was good to go. Thunk wrong. Tires looked good, but had 2 blowouts, same trip. Towed fifth wheel to dealer, they installed 4 new tires on it and upgraded the load range by one letter. Tired aged out.Batteries...most likely gone. Check water level? Dried out, plates showing?Think new batteries.I would not pressure wash...could damage decals and the decals are kind of iffy anyway. I use a rv wash brush on my trailer with a rv wash soap. Rinse good.Roof needs to be inspected thoroughly and new caulking applied where needed. I have taken old caulking off and put all new on areas which looked questionable.Tanks if no water in them, slide valves could stick when pulling handle. I would try to coat the slide hand with silicone spray...if the slides valves are close by, maybe try to shoot them some spray, too. Spray the rubber in the toilet bowl, also. Here again, I use silicone spray. Add some water, see if it holds in the bowl. Not knowing what could be in the tanks, connect a sewer hose to an outlet first. Yes, I am a solo rver now and have to keep up with maintenance... Good luck.

I didn't need to hear the info regarding the tires as I guess I knew it already. I am cheap but not suicidal so new tires it is... thanks! I just wanted some reinforcement... I read over some of the old threads on this forum regarding tires and there is a lot of controvery as to use ST or LT tires and Carlise tires seem especially hated by some with reports of blow outs and such common. The decals are already kind of sketchy with a bit of fading and pealing. They don't seem to actually be decals but seem to be vinyl stick ons I think. If the trailer comes with a jack (it has four leveling jacks on the corners), do I jack up one side, take them in, then the other? I do have jackstands but placing them under an axle and having them support the trailer weight makes me uneasy. Dry weight is 3820 lbs and the jack stands are rated 2K lbs I think (bought them for my trike to raise the rear and hold it for service). Is there a clever way to remove all four tires/rims for replacement at a tire place?Should I go LT or ST when I buy the tires? Tirees are standard ST205/75D14; any brand preferences from the lighter trailer folks; GVWR is 5500.

LadyRVer wrote:I can answer a few questions. I had 3 year old tires on my used fifth wheel when I bought it. Thought I was good to go. Thunk wrong. Tires looked good, but had 2 blowouts, same trip. Towed fifth wheel to dealer, they installed 4 new tires on it and upgraded the load range by one letter. Tired aged out.Batteries...most likely gone. Check water level? Dried out, plates showing?Think new batteries.I would not pressure wash...could damage decals and the decals are kind of iffy anyway. I use a rv wash brush on my trailer with a rv wash soap. Rinse good.Roof needs to be inspected thoroughly and new caulking applied where needed. I have taken old caulking off and put all new on areas which looked questionable.Tanks if no water in them, slide valves could stick when pulling handle. I would try to coat the slide hand with silicone spray...if the slides valves are close by, maybe try to shoot them some spray, too. Spray the rubber in the toilet bowl, also. Here again, I use silicone spray. Add some water, see if it holds in the bowl. Not knowing what could be in the tanks, connect a sewer hose to an outlet first. Yes, I am a solo rver now and have to keep up with maintenance... Good luck.Your comments regarding slide valves have me puzzled. Are you refering to the dump valves for the gray and black tanks? I told you I was a newb hehe Also the rubber in the toilet? I am not sure I know where any rubber would be. I didn't take the lid off but do you mean the flapper valve? Last, the shower is two-part; pan and sides (has glass door). There didn't seem to be any silicon on the juncture between pan and sides. Is this normal?

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wiredgeorge
Explorer
Mar 06, 2017
LadyRVer wrote:
I can answer a few questions. I had 3 year old tires on my used fifth wheel when I bought it. Thought I was good to go. Thunk wrong. Tires looked good, but had 2 blowouts, same trip. Towed fifth wheel to dealer, they installed 4 new tires on it and upgraded the load range by one letter. Tired aged out.

Batteries...most likely gone. Check water level? Dried out, plates showing?
Think new batteries.

I would not pressure wash...could damage decals and the decals are kind of iffy anyway. I use a rv wash brush on my trailer with a rv wash soap. Rinse good.

Roof needs to be inspected thoroughly and new caulking applied where needed. I have taken old caulking off and put all new on areas which looked questionable.

Tanks if no water in them, slide valves could stick when pulling handle. I would try to coat the slide hand with silicone spray...if the slides valves are close by, maybe try to shoot them some spray, too. Spray the rubber in the toilet bowl, also. Here again, I use silicone spray. Add some water, see if it holds in the bowl. Not knowing what could be in the tanks, connect a sewer hose to an outlet first.

Yes, I am a solo rver now and have to keep up with maintenance...

Good luck.

Your comments regarding slide valves have me puzzled. Are you refering to the dump valves for the gray and black tanks? I told you I was a newb hehe Also the rubber in the toilet? I am not sure I know where any rubber would be. I didn't take the lid off but do you mean the flapper valve? Last, the shower is two-part; pan and sides (has glass door). There didn't seem to be any silicon on the juncture between pan and sides. Is this normal?
wiredgeorge
Explorer
Mar 06, 2017
I didn't need to hear the info regarding the tires as I guess I knew it already. I am cheap but not suicidal so new tires it is... thanks! I just wanted some reinforcement... I read over some of the old threads on this forum regarding tires and there is a lot of controvery as to use ST or LT tires and Carlise tires seem especially hated by some with reports of blow outs and such common.

The decals are already kind of sketchy with a bit of fading and pealing. They don't seem to actually be decals but seem to be vinyl stick ons I think.

If the trailer comes with a jack (it has four leveling jacks on the corners), do I jack up one side, take them in, then the other? I do have jackstands but placing them under an axle and having them support the trailer weight makes me uneasy. Dry weight is 3820 lbs and the jack stands are rated 2K lbs I think (bought them for my trike to raise the rear and hold it for service). Is there a clever way to remove all four tires/rims for replacement at a tire place?

Should I go LT or ST when I buy the tires? Tirees are standard ST205/75D14; any brand preferences from the lighter trailer folks; GVWR is 5500.
LadyRVer
Explorer II
Mar 05, 2017
I can answer a few questions. I had 3 year old tires on my used fifth wheel when I bought it. Thought I was good to go. Thunk wrong. Tires looked good, but had 2 blowouts, same trip. Towed fifth wheel to dealer, they installed 4 new tires on it and upgraded the load range by one letter. Tired aged out.

Batteries...most likely gone. Check water level? Dried out, plates showing?
Think new batteries.

I would not pressure wash...could damage decals and the decals are kind of iffy anyway. I use a rv wash brush on my trailer with a rv wash soap. Rinse good.

Roof needs to be inspected thoroughly and new caulking applied where needed. I have taken old caulking off and put all new on areas which looked questionable.

Tanks if no water in them, slide valves could stick when pulling handle. I would try to coat the slide hand with silicone spray...if the slides valves are close by, maybe try to shoot them some spray, too. Spray the rubber in the toilet bowl, also. Here again, I use silicone spray. Add some water, see if it holds in the bowl. Not knowing what could be in the tanks, connect a sewer hose to an outlet first.

Yes, I am a solo rver now and have to keep up with maintenance...

Good luck.
donn0128
Explorer II
Mar 05, 2017
New tires for sure.
As for the cruddy exterior, go to Dollar Tree and buy several bottles of Awsome cleaner. Use it liberally along with a soft scrub brush followed by lots of water and a good wax job. Pressure washer unless you are really comfortable with one could create more problems that good.
1320Fastback
Explorer
Mar 05, 2017
You could remove the tires and take to your local Discount Tire, Americas Tire, Costco, Walmart or other supplier but you may want to call and see if they have trailer tires in your size as they may need to order them.

The tires now are 6 years old at best and should be replaced regardless of milage. Tire companies warn of keeping tires over 5 years or so because of possible internal breakdown of the structural members.

Black, Gray and Fresh tanks should be good to go but you will want to sterilize the Fresh with a chlorine bleach mix and run it thru the system first though.

Pressure washing shouldn't be a problem but don't get closer than 8-10" especially around windows.
You might want to wash by hand afterwards.

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