Another Sunline Wannabe

Viking · 01-20-2009, 07:33 PM

Hello!
My first name is Roar. Yes, I have had a few raised eyebrows over that one, but where I grew up, it is a fairly common name.
Looking to upgrade from a 1991 Dutchmen 180, (bought it off my in-laws) thinking that at my age (three score and ten) i deserve to sleep in a real bed, even if we just upgraded from a tent five years ago.
I have read so much positive about Sunline, and I hate the "up on stilts" look of most of the new trailers, which I probably could not afford anyway. I will have to sell a few toys to accomplish this upgrade, but I thought I would try this forum for advice on buying a new trailer.
I think there is a T-2499 for sale within reasonable distance, so I am going to talk the wife into going there to take a look at it as soon as some of all this snow has melted. I think the T-2499 is at the upper end of the size range for us.
Any input will be welcome.
Thanks!

kanyonkitty · 01-20-2009, 08:59 PM

Viking,

I'd like to welcome you & your wife to the group and the decisoin to purchase a Sunline. This is the place to get your information.

If you'd post the info about your tow vhicle, Truck/Suv, engine size, 2 or 4 wheel drive, year, rear axle ratio, gas/diesel, GVWR, Max tow rating, the guys will be along and offer lots of help for you.

Wonderful floor plan on the 2499, I just happen to own one

I also agree with you about other brands looking like they are on stilts, I did have my Sunline lifted 3", but it doesn't look like it's on stilts.

he best way to get the right towing set up it to ask questions, and the guys on here sure know the setup information,

Kitty

**JohnB** · 01-20-2009, 09:46 PM

Hi Roar

Welcome to the club and hope you find a Sunline Coach of your liking.

The T2499 is a very popular layout and a very nice camper. There are a number of T2499 owners here on this site and we have tons of pics.

I have a 2004, T2499 parked inside my garage that I am willing to sell. It is in outstanding condition with several upgrades. I have been traveling for work so much since we acquired our new one that I have not advertized it on the open market yet. (Did not want DW to handle the calls while I am away.) But a fellow Sunliner or Sunliner wanna be is the right kind of camper family to pass this along to.

If there is any interest, PM me on this site and we can exchange more info. Lake Orion to Dublin Ohio is very doable.

And to help a fellow camper regardless of which one you get, what type of truck do you have? The T2499 pending how much you put in the front storage compartment does load tongue heavy. It is a very stable towing camper but it does have a healthy tongue weight when the under the bed and large pass thru cargo hole get’s filled.

Hope you find what you are looking for and again welcome to the club.

John

Viking · 01-21-2009, 01:39 PM

Kitty and John,
Thanks for the welcome!
We were thinking ahead when we bought our tow vehicle with visions of a somewhat roomier trailer in our future.
We have a 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 4X4, 4 speed overdrive automatic transmission, tow package, limited slip rear differential, Quadcab, long bed with a cap, all powered by 600 foot pounds of Cummins turbodiesel torque.
I don't know what the axle ratio is, but the towing capacity is listed as 13100 pounds.
With the size range of trailer we are contemplating, we should have plenty of reserve towing capacity.
We use a hitch with equalizer bars and a friction sway brake. I think those are the correct terms, and it has worked very well for towing the little Dutchmen.
We pretty much use the truck only for towing, and as Ruth, my wife, only retired last June, we only have about 10500 miles on the odometer.
Kitty, can I ask what prompted you to raise your trailer?
Was it a matter of ground clearance when pulling into rough areas?
This forum seems like a nice bunch of like minded people that I think I will enjoy being a part of.
Roar

MACK C-85 · 01-21-2009, 02:06 PM

Welcome to the club!!

We pull an '07 T-276SR with essentially the same truck (short bed).....all I can say about a T2499..you'll have to remind yourself it's back there

The 276-SR is 1300 lbs. heavier dry/ 1600 lbs heavier gross. It is also almost a foot taller.

We have an Equil-lizer hitch setup and no sway issues at all.

PS - Do a little search on our site, you'll find JohnB's T2499 featured and pictured in a lot of his posts, outstanding condition is an understatement!!

**Tweety** · 01-21-2009, 02:42 PM

Anything that has been maintained by JohnB is going to be immaculate

If you buy a Sunline be sure to check out our Meet & Greet section and try to join us at Buttonwood in June!
We raised our 2753 by 4" by flipping the axles. Problem was dragging getting in the driveway, gas stations, and going around switchbacks in the mountains. We didn't lose any mileage at all, and the Tweety still doesn't look like she's on stilts

Welcome to the club!

**Sunline Fan** · 01-21-2009, 02:52 PM

Howdy Neighbor!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tweety

If you buy a Sunline be sure to check out our Meet & Greet section and try to join us at Buttonwood in June!

Also check out the Midwest M&G in May, down this way. It's still in the planning stages, but hopefully as soon as some of this snow melts, I can go down and check the CG out.

Jon

kanyonkitty · 01-21-2009, 02:54 PM

Sorry

Viking · 01-21-2009, 06:10 PM

Thanks Kitty, Jon, Pam & Steve and Mack C-85,
I am learning stuff already!
As mentioned in my first posting, some toys have to be sold in order to finance a trailer upgrade. I am getting too old for 100 hp+ motorcycles anyway, but with all the snow around, this is not a good time of year to sell motorcycles, so I don't expect I'll be able to execute a trailer upgrade for a while. That is unless you all come storming in to buy them and overbidding each other and make me a wealthy man.
I appreciate the invitation, but this May and June is going to be busy and camping will not happen until later.
Have one grand son graduating in Kalkaska, MI. A grand daughter graduating from an agricultural college in Norway. Another grand son is graduating from high school in Sweden.
The thought of meeting some or all of you at a meet in a nice Sunline some day sure seems attractive.
Roar

kanyonkitty · 01-21-2009, 07:44 PM

Hi Roar,

Well, my first reply went to cyber space, and we all know when that happens, it's never seen again.

OK, Why did I have Sunny lifted ? I have Alko Rubber-Ryde axles, and the height of the trailer is determined by what degree the "trailing Arm" is set at the factory. Once the trailing arm is set into the axle, it can't be altered, The degree that my trailing arm was set allowed Sunny to sit low.

My largest culprit for dragging was my own driveway. Bent the crap out of 2, yes 2 skid bars, and I thought about the wheels, BUT, since I constantly drag here at home, even with the wheels, I would have been putting "odd" forces on the frame. I seldom had problems entering or exiting stores, fuel stations or campgrounds, just my driveway

SO, I had a 3" lift installed, and it's great not dragging the driveway.

This is Sunny lifted:

Sunny before the lift:

I think I still need to tweek the hitch a tad, but, I'm waiting for the shorter draw bar to come in, as the one I'm using now is 16.5" long and HEAVY, going down to a 14" long one. I might still have to lower the nose of Sunny a bit. If you look at the bottom line of the trailer in relationship with the rims, that is where you can see the difference.

Now, if you are really considering a T-2499, the one that JohnB has is an exceptional unit, with many upgrades on it, and was a garage kept baby.

Also, with JohnBs' 2499 you would avoid the tongue/frame issue that has plagued those of us with 2005 & newer units.

Good Luck with your deciion,

Kitty

**Sunline Fan** · 01-21-2009, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kanyonkitty

Now, if you are really considering a T-2499, the one that JohnB has is an exceptional unit, with many upgrades on it, and was a garage kept baby.

Also, with JohnBs' 2499 you would avoid the tongue/frame issue that has plagued those of us with 2005 & newer units.

Not to mention John's coach I'm sure would come with one-on-one hitch setup and tweaking to the specs of the coach, 900% better than what you could get at a dealer!

Jon

**JohnB** · 01-21-2009, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Viking

Kitty and John,

We have a 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 4X4, 4 speed overdrive automatic transmission, tow package, limited slip rear differential, Quadcab, long bed with a cap, all powered by 600 foot pounds of Cummins turbodiesel torque.
I don't know what the axle ratio is, but the towing capacity is listed as 13100 pounds.
With the size range of trailer we are contemplating, we should have plenty of reserve towing capacity.
We use a hitch with equalizer bars and a friction sway brake. I think those are the correct terms, and it has worked very well for towing the little Dutchmen.

Roar

Roar

OK you have a good truck for any of the 7,000# GVWR Sunlines or even the larger ones. Hitch setup is important even on a truck of that good size. If and when you get to the upgrading phase and need any hitch setup tips or anything else, ask away. We do have a really good bunch of folks here willing to help with anything the best they can, all for just asking. Our cyber camp fire burns strong.

Good luck in your search

John

Viking · 01-22-2009, 04:47 PM

Hello All!
Very nice looking Sunlines you have posted pictures of.
Dragging is a problem we have not had. I guess that is the advantage of total length being under 20 ft, even if the Dutchmen sits fairly low.
I have the hitch adjusted so that the trailer sits just about dead level when hooked up with levelers tightened.
Surprised to see your T-2499 with only one door, Kitty. Was that a special order? Not that it matters, since the factory is no longer. Just curious!
Was the metal roof also a special order, and what are the advantages over a rubber roof? Ours has a metal roof, but my impression is that rubber now seems to be the industry standard. I don't know when that changed.
Do Sunlines all come with rubber torsion axles, and while I'm on the subject, do they have, or have provisions for mounting, shock absorbers?
Jon, you list yours as an '08, and I thought the plant shut down in '06. I'm puzzled!
Mack, is that Dodge Atlantic Blue with a silver bottom? If so, I have to complement you on your choice. Guess what ours is!
I tried to send you a "PM", JohnB, but I don't know if it ever reached you.
I also noticed that I have not been inundated with inquiries about my motorcycles for sale! What are my chances of becoming a proud Sunline owner any time soon that way?
I realize that my questions may have been discussed under other subject headings, but bear with me. Some day I'll get the hang of this and become more familiar with the forum.
Y'all have a good one, and thanks again for the warm welcome!
Roar

**Sunline Fan** · 01-22-2009, 04:54 PM

Hi Roar,

Quote:

Originally Posted by Viking

Jon, you list yours as an '08, and I thought the plant shut down in '06. I'm puzzled!

I hate to spoil Kitty's fun, but here goes. My '08 is only about 16" long:

http://www.sunlineclub.com/forums/ph...pic.php?t=2094

Jon

Viking · 01-22-2009, 06:42 PM

Jon,
I think I am catching on.
What scale is it?
I had plans to get into HO some day, but plans have been derailed
( pun definitely intended).
Roar

**JohnB** · 01-22-2009, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Viking

Hello All!

I tried to send you a "PM", JohnB, but I don't know if it ever reached you.
I also noticed that I have not been inundated with inquiries about my motorcycles for sale! What are my chances of becoming a proud Sunline owner any time soon that way?

Y'all have a good one, and thanks again for the warm welcome!
Roar

Roar, your PM did not come thru but I did PM you with an email address if you can't get the PM to work. And we can help you get the PM to work for future anyway.

John

MACK C-85 · 01-23-2009, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Mack, is that Dodge Atlantic Blue with a silver bottom? If so, I have to complement you on your choice. Guess what ours is!

Yes, it, aka "Mack", is Atlantic Blue and it matches "Sunnie" very nicely.

We bought it used through a dealer in PA. Had 51K on it and appeared to be be very good shape. It was Chrysler Certified used with a 3K bumper to bumper warranty, which came in handy when it needed $1,000 in front end work to get MD inspected!

Oh yeah, I did have to replace the two P rated tires the dealer put on to cover the up the front end problem with LT's (LT's were on rear). They were the same manufacturer and model of tire so I didn't look at the markings to tell to difference.

Anyhow, since that was fixed it has been perfect and we love it!

PS: The '01, aka "Big Blue" is "Intense Blue" and it matches Sunnie pretty well too!!

Viking · 01-23-2009, 08:54 PM

Hello Mack,
I thought it looked like the same color as ours, but you can never be sure about color reproduction on the monitor screen.
As I am retired from Chrysler, we got a pretty good price on ours, so we ordered ours with Atlantic Blue and silver gray. Very nice combination, and we love our truck.
The downside is that repairs can be expensive on the 4X4 front ends.
So far we get around 14 to 15 mpg towing a small trailer, 18 foot Dutchmen, But my son, who bought a well broken in 3500, does a lot better. I am hopeful ours will improve some as the Cummins loosens up some. I have been told it takes about 30000 miles.
Our Dodge Ram was built in Mexico.
I visited that plant outside Saltillo just before it was ready to start production. Very interesting place.
I would venture to guess yours was made there too, as it is my impression practically all the 2500 and 3500 Rams are built there.
Regards,
Roar

HappyCampers · 01-24-2009, 09:02 AM

I may be mistaken, but I think my 2004.5 Ram 3500 has a sticker that says it was built in North Carolina, is this possible? I'll have to double check, I have been wrong in the past, just ask the DW.

Viking · 01-24-2009, 10:23 AM

Hello Happy Campers,
I am not aware of a Dodge truck plant in NC.
Other than Saltillo, Mexico, I think there is one in or near St. Louis, MO and in Warren, MI.
I'll look into it and let you know if I learn something.
Roar