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Old 09-09-2018, 11:49 AM   #1
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Smile New to trailer camping

My wife and I just purchased a 1989 Sunline Saturn T-1661 in very good original condition. We're both in our 50's and are ready to hit the open road (even if it's only a few hours away). We know very little about trailer camping and are looking forward to learning all we can in this forum.
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Old 09-09-2018, 01:06 PM   #2
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Congratulations on your Saturn. Good luck with it. This site is the Sunline information superhighway. If you need to know something about anything, someone on here will probably have the answer. No question too small here.
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Old 09-09-2018, 09:00 PM   #3
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Welcome and congrats! I like the floor plan of the T1661.
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Old 09-10-2018, 12:39 PM   #4
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Welcome and congrats! I wonder if this is the trailer that used to be owned by Wagonman76, there aren't many of this year and model in Michigan and I seem to recall he sold it a few years ago. He added a third brake light to it:

http://www.sunlineclub.com/forums/f6...html#post85852
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2007 T-286SR Cherry/Granola, #6236, original owner, current mileage: 9473.8 (as of 6/18/21)
1997 T-2653 Blue Denim, #5471
1979 12 1/2' MC, Beige & Avocado, #4639
Past Sunlines: '97 T-2653 #5089, '94 T-2251, '86 T-1550, '94 T-2363, '98 T-270SR
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Old 09-10-2018, 02:39 PM   #5
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We bought this from a couple in Ludington. The trailer was originally sold by Northtown Motor Homes in Rockford. There is no third brake light though.
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Old 09-10-2018, 03:46 PM   #6
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Thank you all for the warm welcome. We were very surprised to see that the T1661 has so much useable storage space and features found in the larger units. It tows very nicely behind our Grand Caravan SXT. Thanks to this forum, I have found downloads for nearly everything I had questions about. The trailer was winterized when we bought it two weeks ago by the previous owner. We would like to take it out at least once or twice yet this year. My question is, do we have to completely dewinterize the water system in order to use the toilet or is there a way around that. The place we want to go has full hookups. Any advice would be greatly appreciated
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Old 09-10-2018, 04:14 PM   #7
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New to trailer camping

I personally would de-winterize the camper now. Then test the entire water system checking for leaks. Best to find that out at home as opposed to a campground. Then when your done for the season you can winterize it yourself and know it’s done right. It’s not that difficult.
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Old 09-11-2018, 08:15 AM   #8
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Agreed with Johnny. But to answer your question, unless your trailer was retrofitted with a stand alone porta-pottie (unlikely), it's an all or nothing case for the water system. In order to use the toilet with running water, the whole system will fill, including the water heater tank.
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2007 T-286SR Cherry/Granola, #6236, original owner, current mileage: 9473.8 (as of 6/18/21)
1997 T-2653 Blue Denim, #5471
1979 12 1/2' MC, Beige & Avocado, #4639
Past Sunlines: '97 T-2653 #5089, '94 T-2251, '86 T-1550, '94 T-2363, '98 T-270SR
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Old 09-11-2018, 11:49 AM   #9
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I agree with Johnny and SunlineFan. The previous owner of our Sunny said he had winterized the water system. I found out that that was not true. The water heater was half filled with water and the waste pipes had water in them. Luckily, the water heater did not crack over the winter. Not so lucky with the black water pipe which is now cracked and needs to be replaced or repaired..
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Old 09-11-2018, 04:34 PM   #10
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Thank you all for your advice. Better at home than at the campground. We'll get the hang of this yet !!
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Old 09-11-2018, 07:10 PM   #11
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Can you install a water heater bypass kit? This will save you some money on antifreeze when winterizing.
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Old 09-12-2018, 05:03 PM   #12
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Thank you, that's an interesting idea. If we were to do that though, I would probably take it somewhere to have it done
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Old 09-14-2018, 12:51 PM   #13
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You will find it quite easy to bypass the water heater in the 1661..look in that bottom cabinet where your water heater is and check out the files on bypassing it right here on this site.I had this model and bypassed mine just because I dont use them ( less problems,lol!)
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Old 09-16-2018, 04:50 PM   #14
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Thank you...I found the download about bypassing the water heater. This forum is so full of good stuff and good folks! I found the tank and have enough room to work on it so I just have to find the right plumbing. I do have another issue if you would be so kind. I want to hook up the battery on the tongue of the trailer. There is a red lead which I assume is the positive and a white lead that must be the ground. Are my assumptions correct?
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Old 09-16-2018, 05:27 PM   #15
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Should be a yes, but follow the white lead and see where it goes. It should ground under the trailer. You can also add a battery cutoff switch if you desire. Run the red to one side of the switch, and add a piece to go from the other side of the switch to the battery. When I'm parked at home, I switch the cutoff to isolate the battery, and keep it charged with a battery tender. I like to think it saves wear and tear on the onboard charger.
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Old 09-17-2018, 04:17 PM   #16
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It does ground right behind the tongue. Probably was a silly question but I'm used to seeing a black wire. Thanks for the response
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Old 09-17-2018, 04:40 PM   #17
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No silly questions here. It seems that wire color is irrelevant sometimes. Better to ask than act hastily. The results could be expensive.
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Old 02-08-2019, 11:00 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sunline Fan View Post
Welcome and congrats! I wonder if this is the trailer that used to be owned by Wagonman76, there aren't many of this year and model in Michigan and I seem to recall he sold it a few years ago. He added a third brake light to it:

http://www.sunlineclub.com/forums/f6...html#post85852
Nice to see another T-1661. Seems I see a lot more T-1550s, nothing wrong with those though.

It's been awhile, but I still have my T-1661. Yes it has the 3rd brake light, and disc brakes that still work well. In 2013 the Hydrastar actuator was sticking, so I tore it down and cleaned it up and it works great again.

I used it every summer until after 2014.

About 3 years ago I finally moved to a property with no HOA where I can keep it in my yard year round. But I was with someone who threw a fit whenever I wanted to go camping so I didn't. Well she's gone now and I've been thinking about going this summer. Still have a lot to take care of from the last few years though.

Except the last year I parked it elsewhere to appease the HOA, I think it picked up termites. I've never actually seen them so I don't know for sure, but every now and then I go in and find a few poop trails on the counter and tables. I've kept it parked far away from the house so they hopefully don't migrate. Hoping when it gets warm I can run some foggers.
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Old 02-11-2019, 09:22 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wagonman76 View Post
Nice to see another T-1661. Seems I see a lot more T-1550s, nothing wrong with those though.

It's been awhile, but I still have my T-1661. Yes it has the 3rd brake light, and disc brakes that still work well. In 2013 the Hydrastar actuator was sticking, so I tore it down and cleaned it up and it works great again.

I used it every summer until after 2014.

About 3 years ago I finally moved to a property with no HOA where I can keep it in my yard year round. But I was with someone who threw a fit whenever I wanted to go camping so I didn't. Well she's gone now and I've been thinking about going this summer. Still have a lot to take care of from the last few years though.

Except the last year I parked it elsewhere to appease the HOA, I think it picked up termites. I've never actually seen them so I don't know for sure, but every now and then I go in and find a few poop trails on the counter and tables. I've kept it parked far away from the house so they hopefully don't migrate. Hoping when it gets warm I can run some foggers.
Welcome back Wagonman!
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2007 T-286SR Cherry/Granola, #6236, original owner, current mileage: 9473.8 (as of 6/18/21)
1997 T-2653 Blue Denim, #5471
1979 12 1/2' MC, Beige & Avocado, #4639
Past Sunlines: '97 T-2653 #5089, '94 T-2251, '86 T-1550, '94 T-2363, '98 T-270SR
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Old 02-12-2019, 06:54 AM   #20
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Originally Posted by camper4two View Post
It does ground right behind the tongue. Probably was a silly question but I'm used to seeing a black wire. Thanks for the response
Sunline kind of followed the standard 120 volt wiring colors.
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