Pretty cool TH by a horsetrailer manufacturer

[resmas]

I've seen many discussions on here regarding the build quality of "horse trailers" vs. the build quality of conventional RV toyhaulers. Often, the price of the horse trailers is a downfall, as they are generally much more expensive than the typical TH. But it looks like Sundowner is trying to make a more affordable option... Found this on the website of the Sundowner dealer in OKC that we have bought our last 4 trailers from. It is a NEW 2014 model, not a beat up used model - and it is priced at $54K.

It probably doesn't have the clearance that RV TH's do, nor does it have the tank capacity... But I'd bet you just about anything that it will still be on the road, in great shape, 10, 15, maybe even 20 years from now...

Affordable Sundowner Toyhauler

[Bedlam]

Think of the bath design as a mud room between the living and garage space. This is very efficient use of space to make it a pass through instead of having to sacrifice the space of a dedicated aisle way.

[cutty72]

This is what I'm looking for! I like my Jayco Talon, but don't like the extreme height that makes it more difficult to tow.

Have to contact these guys and see what they can do. If they could add a slide and make it so you didn't have to walk THROUGH the bathroom to get to the garage, it would be about what I want!

[Bedlam]

Strabo wrote:
Camping in a livestock trailer.........Not for me!

A comment like this tells me you not have seen the LQ setups in GN's online or in person. They can be spartan and look like a tack or mud room or elaborate and ornate making you think you stepped into a diesel pusher bus. Honestly, the build quality is better than your Forest River and they are equally or better outfitted.

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/27241589/gotomsg/27247419.cfm#27247419

[DodgeVoltage]

Strabo wrote:
Camping in a livestock trailer.........Not for me!

Yep, with all the cows, horses and goats.

There is really no difference in this Sundowner model and the popular Forrest River Work & Play (except the Sundowner is probably nicer). It doesn't have any of the stall equipment in it. Many horse trailers with living quarters are more refined and upscale than 90% of the campers on the road.

[Strabo]

Camping in a livestock trailer.........Not for me!

[jmtandem]

Go into a high end unit- you will love the styling, the diesel generator, air ride, big tanks, 17.5" or 19" wheels, electric over hydraulic/disc brakes...

Not sure how you do the headroom and walk around bed without it requiring a class 8 sized truck-


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have looked at a few horse trailers with living quarters to use as a toyhauler. From what I could tell the quality differences start with the entry door, the rear door and ramp, and then everything on the sides, top, frame, axles, and inside. Yea, they are expensive and perhaps heavy but they will still be working just like new when the loan is paid off. Some may not like the styling as they are not as fancy on the outside as a conventional RV toyahuler, but inside the quality is there. Maybe not a bath and a half and lofts and some other fancy stuff, but what is there appears to be quality. With some high end toyhaulers north of $75,000 new, the horse trailer approach may in fact not be that expensive especially as it will likely outlast a conventional hauler by a factor of two or more. Kind of like the expensive, but not really expensive in the long term, Airstream trailers.

[Bedlam]

I looked at them also but was only focused on the ones with an aluminum chassis. Feather Lite is another brand and they can be much more upscale with fireplaces, slides and accent lighting.

The other option is car haulers with LQ's. InTech and Millennium Trailers make aluminum chassis haulers with LQ. Millennium is less expensive and uses common RV fittings you would find the big manufacturers while InTech will do custom or off the shelf.

All of these above could put in 100+ gallon fresh tanks and 40+ gallon fuel tanks with good sized generators. What I liked the best was the fact you could choose your overall length and LQ length leaving you with the size garage you needed. The aluminum chassis GN models in a 38' length with slide, AC and generator were about 9000 lbs dry and could be configured with 7000 lb axles in a dual or triple setup. I wanted at least 18' of garage and could not find many conventional TH choices - Those I did find were too heavy for my TV.

[fly-boy]

jmtandem wrote:

This is a decent start- I would want one outfitted by Outlaw but they are on the right track here.

Being able to stand up in the bedroom is nice but you get used to the layout of the horse trailer very quickly. After all, how much time do you really spend in the bedroom?

Other than quality, the best thing about a LQ horse trailer is the lower profile and amount of miles you can cover in day. On long trips I can easily do 800 miles in a day.

For me the features would be an aluminum roof, not rubber; aluminum sides, not filon or gel; axles, wheels and tires up to the job, not barely able. Something that lasts 20 years would be nice. However, there are some things that the manufacturers might still want to work on. The styling, dry baths, big tanks, walk around bed with headroom, etc. But, this is a huge and welcome start if for no other reasons it begins to bring some competition for increased quality to the RV toyhauler marketplace.

Go into a high end unit- you will love the styling, the diesel generator, air ride, big tanks, 17.5" or 19" wheels, electric over hydraulic/disc brakes...

Not sure how you do the headroom and walk around bed without it requiring a class 8 sized truck-

[jmtandem]

This is a decent start- I would want one outfitted by Outlaw but they are on the right track here.

Being able to stand up in the bedroom is nice but you get used to the layout of the horse trailer very quickly. After all, how much time do you really spend in the bedroom?

Other than quality, the best thing about a LQ horse trailer is the lower profile and amount of miles you can cover in day. On long trips I can easily do 800 miles in a day.

For me the features would be an aluminum roof, not rubber; aluminum sides, not filon or gel; axles, wheels and tires up to the job, not barely able. Something that lasts 20 years would be nice. However, there are some things that the manufacturers might still want to work on. The styling, dry baths, big tanks, walk around bed with headroom, etc. But, this is a huge and welcome start if for no other reasons it begins to bring some competition for increased quality to the RV toyhauler marketplace.

[fly-boy]

This is a decent start- I would want one outfitted by Outlaw but they are on the right track here.

Being able to stand up in the bedroom is nice but you get used to the layout of the horse trailer very quickly. After all, how much time do you really spend in the bedroom?

Other than quality, the best thing about a LQ horse trailer is the lower profile and amount of miles you can cover in day. On long trips I can easily do 800 miles in a day.

[Doughboy12]

Yes, I love my throne blocking the door...lol

[resmas]

dbear wrote:

grooveman wrote:
It is nice but it's not a stand up bedroom. That would be a deal breaker for me.

The bathroom leaves a lot to be desired too.

You have to keep in mind that it is built in a frame for a gooseneck horsetrailer, not an RV. So there are going to be height and space differences between the two types of trailer. You aren't going to find all the comforts of a Voltage or Cyclone in a Sundowner, just like you won't find them in a Work n' Play.

I don't want anyone thinking that I think this is the end-all-be-all of toyhaulers, but for the niche that wants a sturdier built hauler, this one is pretty darn perfect.

[dbear]

grooveman wrote:
It is nice but it's not a stand up bedroom. That would be a deal breaker for me.

The bathroom leaves a lot to be desired too.

[grooveman]

It is nice but it's not a stand up bedroom. That would be a deal breaker for me.