looking to buy a 2004 sunline solaris

Buddha · 03-20-2013, 05:24 PM

Going on Friday 3/22/2013 to look at a 2004 sunline solaris 330Sr they are asking 12,998. is it to much and what should i look for. Who better to ask then people that use them all the time. Thanks for all your help in advance.

**JohnB** · 03-20-2013, 08:31 PM

Nada says this, What kind of shape it is in and how well cared for can shift this a lot. Is it a private sale or dealer?

2004 Sunline SR Series M-330 Standard Equipment, Prices & Specs - NADAguides

That T330SR is one nice camper. Here is a brochure on it in case you did not find one

Sunline Coach Owner's Club - Sunline Owner's Files - 2004 Sunline Solaris Travel Trailers

My opinion, that camper needs a 3/4 ton suspension tow vehicle minimum if you plan on towing it. It is a 10,000# GVWR camper and when fully loaded can have a 1,400 to 1,500# loaded tongue weight. That one is a little longer than mine but mine is as heavy loaded. You really want a 3\4 ton or larger truck to tow it camping.

Here is one thing to watch out for. It is not a deal breaker in my mind but is a price negotiation point if yours has the problem. If the build date is most like much before ~ April 2004, odds are high your still has the Darco slide floors. The VIN tag on the front left of the camper has the manufacture date on it. Easy to check for slide floor rot once you know where to look.

http://www.sunlineclub.com/forums/f7...eck-11086.html

Bring a step ladder that you can get up to 8 to 9 feet tall. Inspect all the roof caulking all the way around the edges. You can see most all of it from the edge. Do not walk on the roof as most are not walk on roofs unless ordered special. You are looking for large splits and cracks in the caulk. These are suppose to be caulk shut every year so do not get nervous on seeing the caulk, just heads up if the is a split and no caulk.

Fine hair lines splits need to get fixed the minute you get the camper but large, 1/32" wide or wider means, heads up go inside in that split area and sniff up close at the ceiling for damp musty, wet dog type of smell. Bring a flash light and look down the crack if you can. Some time they are not deep other time 1/8" or more, well ... If the camper was garaged a lot of its life OR the owner took really good care of it, then no problem. Water damage can be the harder thing to overcome.

Tires, check the dates codes. Believe it or not, it might have the original tires on it. If you need help on how to decode the DOT date code, let us know. Point is, it may need new tires, again a price thing or if it has new tires, wow that is a good thing. Check the spare too..

If it is in really good shape and well cared for, that camper is light years ahead of many new ones in quality and construction.

Good luck and hope this helps. Let us know how you made out and if you do buy it, take lots of pics and share with us

We like seeing Sunlines and I have never seen the inside of that bath/rear bedroom setup.

John

Buddha · 03-20-2013, 08:59 PM

Thank you very much for the info it is a dealer. Haylettautoandrv.com the stock #A1-2097. they have a few pic of it looks in good shape. thanks again

**Sunline Fan** · 03-20-2013, 11:45 PM

Ah, so you're down near Coldwater, VERY close to the Michigan meet and greet in June! You should check it out if you buy this!

I saw the original owner trying to sell this coach for probably a year and a half or so, locally to Haylett. Nothing stands out in my mind as seeming wrong with it, but I do remember the pictures were outside a barn, so it's possible it was kept inside for most of its life.

Buddha · 03-21-2013, 07:30 AM

Thanks for the info what i have seen she looks good. We are hoping that every thing works out and we can get her. All of you have been very help full thanks again.

**JohnB** · 03-21-2013, 09:28 PM

While it needs some cleaning up on the outside, that is a nice looking camper.

2004 - Sunline - Solaris - 330SR - Travel Trailer - Coldwater - MI - Unit Details - Auto RV Horse & Cargo Trailers - Michigan Indiana Ohio

Boy, Sunline sure made nice campers... Wish we could still get new ones.
That dealer is not a long ways from where we bought our first new Sunline in 2004.

BTW, I can see that that the build date will have the Darco black membrane slide floors. And there is no slide toppers. Check the slide floors on the ends for soft spots outside pushing up on the slide floor. If it is hard as a rock, you good. Soggy, well you know about it now. Dealer may not even know there is a problem. But now you know where to go looking.

I can also tell it has not been out side all it's life. The arrow decals on the side strips look to be in good shape. Yes the rear Sunline is peeling but the sides are pretty good. Mine has lived outside all it life, so far, may get inside this year. My arrow decals are really going bad. I save the front Sun and replaced the back one already.

Also, just remembered, Sunline got in a bad batch of roof vents in the 2004 time frame. By the time they realized they had a problem they had shipped a bunch of them. Our 1st new 2004 camper, Sunline sent me replacements free. The 2nd 2004 camper, the one we have now, I had to replace them on my own right after I got it. Sunline was gone by then.

Odds are high by now if that one had the problem ones, they would of replaced. In 2007 when I bought this T310, they were already crumbing into dust and the metal roof flanges rusted bad even under Maxx air covers. There is almost no way the originals could have lasted until 2013. They are not a bid deal to replace, just a heads up to look.

Good luck and hope it works out for you.

John

Buddha · 03-22-2013, 08:40 PM

First i would like to thank every one for all the help. We got her to day T-330SR. Every one that saw her said that it is a very nice TT. Was able to check all the things that i was told to look for and the boards under the slides were all solid very lucky on that one. She needs a bath and some wax but not in to bad of shape. Just cant get pic to post on here. I grew up in Pa. so now i will have a little bit of Pa. with me. How i miss it.She was made in oct. of 2003 but is a 2004 model. Thanks one more time you all did me good with what you all told me a lot of very nice people here.

**Sunline Fan** · 03-22-2013, 08:49 PM

Awesome, congrats!! The 330SR is basically an all grown up version of mine, with the larger bathroom, larger bedroom, and bedroom slide.

Do you plan to travel around with it, or are you going to park it somewhere as a seasonal?

**JohnB** · 03-22-2013, 10:36 PM

Great and congrats on your new coach!!!!

How to post a pic, see here. Go all the way to the end, more ways on how to post

http://www.sunlineclub.com/forums/f6...club-7650.html

If you need more help, let us know. Glad to help so we can see

When the dust settles and before a lot longer, we can help on how to seal up the holes in the slide floor so no water can get in. Since yours is hard now, need to keep it that way...

Happy cleaning. Every time I clean mine....I say, WOW the T2499 was not this long...

Yours was built the same month as mine. The 2004 model year started somewhere in 2003.

John

**Sunline Fan** · 03-22-2013, 11:45 PM

Also, some Awesome cleaner from the dollar store and some Mr. Clean magic erasers will make quick and quality work out of cleaning the outside.