New WDH

[JohnB]

Originally Posted by Makers Mark

I have really enjoyed this thread and looking at the Anderson web page. It’s neat seeing something new. Jon had mentioned about the rubber bushings and possibilities of cracking failures. The web site said the bushings were made of urethane. Not being an engineer but I can tell you when I was a young graduate (about a hundred years ago) working in the cost department of a manufacturer of mining and quarry equipment. We sold shaker screens that would size stone aggregates in many levels that would separate the stone to the proper belts. It was amazing how fast the screens would need replacing due to the “stone” blasting. We started to coat these screens with urethane. Even though there were a lot of issues with coating, it was incredible to see how resilient urethane was. My guess is better urethane than rubber compound.
MM

Hi Jay,

Yes your right, if they are using the right urethane it can take a beating. I have never used it like Anderson is doing but have used it on punch press dies as a stripper plate on the punch. It takes a beating in this application. Like this: Closed End Punch Strippers - INCH

I have also used them as stroke stops / shocks absorbers for end of stroke snubbing of air cylinders.

However all those applications where sort of at room temperature. So I thought, gee can this handle towing in the winter?

Well again with the right stuff it is rated at -40 to 160 F. I do not think I will be towing a lot below zero.... Urethane Limitations

Yes, this has been a fun and interesting post. Glad Richard brought it up. The learning about hitch products never stops. Especially in these cold winter times, thinking through this helps the winter blues.

John

[Murphie]

I would like to thank you all for your opinions on this hitch. We just bought a jayco travel trailer jay feather 28u. The dry weight of this trailer is 5300 pounds roughly, with a tongue weight of 740 pounds. I traded my old WDH for a heavier used one that had 800 pound spring bars. I didn't want to put out another pile of money right away for a new hitch. I thought the bars were not rated high enough but the guy in the store convinced me a heavier bar would not give me enough "spring". Knowing it was only a temporary situation I went for it knowing I needed a heavier rated spring bar . We recently bought a 2007 silverado 4x4 crew cab, with the 6 L motor. The only option it doesn't have is heated seats. It had 25k miles on it. Short bed with matching metallic blue canopy. 20 inch wheels with new michelins. Just love this truck . It came with the trailering springs and 7 pin connection. I bought the P3 brake controller for it. The truck is rated to tow 10500 pounds. It also has the upgraded tranny and tranny cooler.
I will buy the Reese dc anti sway WDH. I will get the 1200 pound bars. I think the 1000 lb ones might be ok but that may cutting it too close. I will probably buy the hitch in Washington state but not sure where yet. Btw did you notice that Andersen was selling their hitch for 200 dollars more if you lived in Canada. They sell the Andersen hitch online for 419.00 at hitches dot com or something similar I noticed yesterday.

One last question . I have never seen a Sunline Trailer before. I think I read they went out of business . It sound like they have made good trailers and have loyal customers . What drew you to this trailer if you don't mind me asking.

[Jim-Bev-2363]

John,

When you get through playing with one give us a report. I still think it is Mickey Mouse and unworthy of worry free camping.

Richard,

Glad you found a TT you like and hope you have many miles of good camping experiences.

I bought this T2363 because I liked the front living room floor plan. It will sit four in comfort, sleep four in comfort, has a large enough kitchen and bath and the double bed. The front living room lets us become part of the campground from inside, has good ventilation with lots of windows on all sides and the rear bedroom is private enough if camping with four adults. I don't like the lack of outside storage but it has us only carrying what we need, and no more. Inside has enough storage for long stays.

Glad you dropped in.

jim

[Sunline Fan]

Richard, for me, we've had Sunlines since I first started camping. It was our first trailer. So I bought old Sunlines to fix up before I could even drive. After working through a bunch of used ones, I finally bought one of the last remaining new '07s available. I have no plans to get rid of it. I'm able to store it inside and don't use it much, so it should last me a very long time.

I'm in a position where I got to know Jaycos very well, especially the Jay Flight line. I'd say Sunlines are built probably most similarly to the Jay Flight design wise, but the quality is better with a Sunline. Jayco already has pretty good quality, but Sunline paid more attention to detail and used better components. The Jay Flight line produces somewhere around 20 something units a day IIRC, and I think Sunline was lucky if they got half that out in a day. In the last few years, maybe 2000-2006, they only made between 900 and 1500 units in a production year, total. The Jay Flight line could do close to that many of just one floorplan in a model year.

Sunline, due to their size, was a mostly eastern US company. The majority of the dealers, except like 4-5, were all east of the Mississippi, so naturally not many are seen out west. There were some dealers in Canadian provinces too, but again, mostly in Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick.

Depending on where you are in BC, the closest dealer to you is RV Town NW in Everett, WA, or Outback Country RV in Sherwood Park, AB. RV Town just sold the Que and Transport, which were less common models and it probably means they were a relatively new dealer in 2006 as the Que was a new model for the 2007 model year and Sunline gained a few western US dealers just to carry that model.