New Old School Life

javelinman74 · 05-17-2020, 01:50 PM

Greetings from Michigan!
Wife and I camped long ago when we were first married and kids were young. Now retired we can start all over again. In searching and looking at nothing worth buying, came across our new beauty and yes, we're excited about it!
Brought home a 1981 SunLite 15' self contained camper! Pristine condition, really. Our 1st self contained so looking forward to this group to answer questions.
In reality we are Old School in our heart. I bought my 1st American Motors 1974 Javelin in 1995. Fell in Love again and have been driving AMC's daily ever since!?! My website is www.a70sthingautomobilia.com and yes, all AMC there too.
With the new normal coming about, and daughter and family living in WA, we're not in any hurry to fly out anymore, so the need for a camper is it! Figured the gas spent out there and back equal to our plane tickets of the past. Flight and airport time was always around 5 1/2 hours to Seattle then a 3 hour drive to Wenachee.

Now that Lori's retired, I finally realized that, Hey, we can travel. So 32 hour drive time doesn't seem bad now that we can stop whenever or wherever along the way.
Looking forward to meeting new folks along the way. Hope all are doing well and Stay Safe!

Blessings
Richard & Lori Estermyer

**JohnB** · 05-18-2020, 07:34 AM

Welcome Richard!

Glad to have you with us. Fun days ahead with the camper.

You mentioned you found a 1981 "SunLite" camper, by chance did you make a typo on the brand? SunLite is a brand of camper but not associated with Sunline.

Assuming you do have a Sunline, do you know the model of it?

A pristine condition 81 camper, was it stored in a barn by chance? Great find.

Happy camping this year once you are able to get out. We look forward to hearing and seeing about our Sunline adventures. We like pics!

John

javelinman74 · 05-18-2020, 01:13 PM

Thanks, yes brain typo it is a SunLine, Thanks! From what I found it is a 15 SC? there's no other name around and I found the list online.
Not sure about storage, but since you mentioned it, the bottom is surprisingly clean. It's kinda weird that there's no immediate need, just to make it our. Also looking at it and finding that I see it has a small ball for a stabilizer?, probably wouldn't hurt to add one?

Blessings
Richard

**JohnB** · 05-18-2020, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by javelinman74

Also looking at it and finding that I see it has a small ball for a stabilizer?, probably wouldn't hurt to add one?

The mini ball is most likely for an anti sway friction sway bar. It is a good idea to use one for when bad towing conditions come around. If you need help setting it up, ask away. Glad to help.

This is one of the many anti sway friction bar setups with a weight distributing hitch.

Do you have a weight distributing hitch? Depending on the size of your tow vehicle, it may or may not need one. The anti sway bar can be added to a non weight distribution hitch also.

John

javelinman74 · 05-19-2020, 06:59 AM

No regular hitch, but like you say doubt that we may need one. We're pulling primarily with a 2002 Saturn Vue.
Blessings
Richard

**JohnB** · 05-20-2020, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by javelinman74

No regular hitch, but like you say doubt that we may need one. We're pulling primarily with a 2002 Saturn Vue.
Blessings
Richard

Hi Richard,

Sorry if you misunderstood me, I was saying you may or may not need an anti sway bar "depending" on the tow vehicle.

With a 2002 Saturn Vue, a tow vehicle that small could greatly benefit from an anti sway bar on a 15 ft long travel trailer that is rated to be an approx. 2,700# max loaded camper. The 1981 15SC could have a 250 to 275lb loaded tongue weight once all your camping gear, a battery and LP gas in the tank. You will need to watch the weight of the camper tongue and any gear in the back of the Vue to not accidentally overload the truck when using a standard on the ball non weight distribution hitch.

I looked a little on line and cannot find much on the Vue, but it seems they offered a 4 cylinder and a 6 cylinder. The 4 cylinder rated to tow 1,500# and the 6 cylinder to tow 2,500#. Not sure which you have, but the camper will put the Vue at or above it's max towing depending which you have. Your owners manual will show the max trailer it can tow and that is often an open utility trailer not enclosed travel trailer. There is a lot of fine print that also derates the tow rating.

If you want us to look closer how the camper lines up with your Vue, let us know. We will need more info on the truck and I'll go into more detail then if wanted.

Hope this helps

John