Hello everyone!
I'd like to introduce my wife & I to the group; I'm Bob, & my wife is Celeste.
We reside in Middletown, VA which is just south of Winchester, off I-81 in the Northern Shenandoah valley.
(This is going to be lengthy; Let me apologize for that right now , but I'd like to give a complete scenario of how we got in the market for a Sunline).
In the past, we owned a 1992 35' Layton travel trailer and a 1994 19' Aljo. (Both were non-slideout models).
We currently have a 1992 Lance 980 slide-in truck camper on a 1988 Ford F250 Supercab XLT Lariat, 2wd w/351 engine, 5speed manual transmission, with 4:10 limited-slip rear axle, running rear Firestone airbags and 285-75-R16 Goodyear Wrangler tires (to carry the camper weight).
The truck originated from Colorado, with little to no rust; which initially was what attracted me to it.
We've enjoyed the truck camper these past 5 years, but now Celeste feels that, since we're getting older (it's only a number, right?!), it'll soon be time to go back to a travel trailer.
The bunk in the truck camper is getting harder to make; we're not as nimble as we once were...
(but I'm sure gonna miss that onboard generator on the Lance)...
Airstreams (used) and Avions were high on the list, however, we just can't justify the price!
I'm a huge believer of getting the most "bang for the buck", and these two brands are just too pricey for us.
My Dad had an early '80's Sunline he bought new from Restless Wheels in Manassas, VA (I grew up in Sterling) that he loved until trading it for the afore-mentioned Layton in 1992. (I bought the Layton from him in 2002).
I'm somewhat familiar with the Sunline Quality, enough to know they are very highly respected, at least in the Mid-Atlantic states.
So, once we ruled out the previously mentioned travel trailer brands, I remembered the Sunline name, and started researching - which brought me to this site, so I joined last week!
I've been on here almost non-stop, searching and reading, learning about these trailers, from some very knowledgeable people. You all have a wealth of information to share!
After searching the internet, we came across a 2005 Sunline T279SR at an RV dealership in Jersey Shore, PA, and drove up there to take a peek at it. While there, we learned of a T2499 that was just traded, and hadn't even been shown to anyone yet.
After looking through both trailers, we were initially drawn to the T2499 -
it seemed like the perfect floorplan for a "couples trailer; excuse me, I meant to say "coach"!
We liked it so well we put a deposit on it.
The paperwork stated it was a 2004 model year, and after researching the frame episode on this site, I thought we had dodged that bullet!
But, the more I researched and became familiar with the different model years, it became apparent to me this particular trailer was newer - it's actually a 2006 with the 4"tall channel A-frame hitch.
I also read (thanks Mr. John B, & others on here), the "real-world tongue weight" could be as high as 1200lbs.
All this new-found knowledge made us reconsider.
Celeste called the service manager (super nice, down-to-earth man) to express our concerns. He confirmed the T2499 currently in stock is a 2006 model.
I'm not taking anything away from this trailer; I'm shying away from it because I currently have too many "fix-it" projects in the works as it is...
Which brings us to "now"...
After talking it over with the dealership, we transferred the deposit to the trailer we originally looked at; the T279SR.
Not having owned a slide-out trailer before, I'm somewhat skeptical of possible air/water leaks, as well as the slideout mechanism possibly failing. (Probably due to my inexperience & ignorance of the slideout).
The added weight of the trailer with the slide is a possible concern, too.
I'm pretty sure my truck can handle this trailer load wise; I have some reservation about power with the 351w engine, but the low gearing should help offset that to a degree...
Celeste & I both like the color scheme of the black /brown upholstery, and the HUGE bathroom and shower stall, along with the island queen bed that we can actually walk around to make the bed.
We've not seen the slide retracted; does anyone know if it interferes with being able to walk to the kitchen, when in the retracted position?
Does it block the bathroom door access?
From best I can tell, this model was made for two years, 2005-2006; does anyone know much about it?
On the off-chance this particular trailer was owned by someone on this forum, does anyone have any history or knowledge of it?
We're told it was set up on a permanent site and not towed much.
It also appears to have at least one soft spot in the upper left rear corner. There is no staining on the inside, but the ceiling panel "flexes" when pressure is applied.
Reading over JohnB's roof replacement on your son's (Ben) trailer was a huge help in understanding these coaches & the Budboard roofs Sunline utilized. The pictures you post of your "projects" are very helpful!
Not being able to walk on the roof for maintenance is far different from our current Lance that has a latter for access to the roof.
Anyway,
That's our story (for now); any insights into this Sunline T279SR we're seriously considering would be Greatly Appreciated!
Thanks for having us on the site,
Bob & Celeste
I'd like to introduce my wife & I to the group; I'm Bob, & my wife is Celeste.
We reside in Middletown, VA which is just south of Winchester, off I-81 in the Northern Shenandoah valley.
(This is going to be lengthy; Let me apologize for that right now , but I'd like to give a complete scenario of how we got in the market for a Sunline).
In the past, we owned a 1992 35' Layton travel trailer and a 1994 19' Aljo. (Both were non-slideout models).
We currently have a 1992 Lance 980 slide-in truck camper on a 1988 Ford F250 Supercab XLT Lariat, 2wd w/351 engine, 5speed manual transmission, with 4:10 limited-slip rear axle, running rear Firestone airbags and 285-75-R16 Goodyear Wrangler tires (to carry the camper weight).
The truck originated from Colorado, with little to no rust; which initially was what attracted me to it.
We've enjoyed the truck camper these past 5 years, but now Celeste feels that, since we're getting older (it's only a number, right?!), it'll soon be time to go back to a travel trailer.
The bunk in the truck camper is getting harder to make; we're not as nimble as we once were...
(but I'm sure gonna miss that onboard generator on the Lance)...
Airstreams (used) and Avions were high on the list, however, we just can't justify the price!
I'm a huge believer of getting the most "bang for the buck", and these two brands are just too pricey for us.
My Dad had an early '80's Sunline he bought new from Restless Wheels in Manassas, VA (I grew up in Sterling) that he loved until trading it for the afore-mentioned Layton in 1992. (I bought the Layton from him in 2002).
I'm somewhat familiar with the Sunline Quality, enough to know they are very highly respected, at least in the Mid-Atlantic states.
So, once we ruled out the previously mentioned travel trailer brands, I remembered the Sunline name, and started researching - which brought me to this site, so I joined last week!
I've been on here almost non-stop, searching and reading, learning about these trailers, from some very knowledgeable people. You all have a wealth of information to share!
After searching the internet, we came across a 2005 Sunline T279SR at an RV dealership in Jersey Shore, PA, and drove up there to take a peek at it. While there, we learned of a T2499 that was just traded, and hadn't even been shown to anyone yet.
After looking through both trailers, we were initially drawn to the T2499 -
it seemed like the perfect floorplan for a "couples trailer; excuse me, I meant to say "coach"!
We liked it so well we put a deposit on it.
The paperwork stated it was a 2004 model year, and after researching the frame episode on this site, I thought we had dodged that bullet!
But, the more I researched and became familiar with the different model years, it became apparent to me this particular trailer was newer - it's actually a 2006 with the 4"tall channel A-frame hitch.
I also read (thanks Mr. John B, & others on here), the "real-world tongue weight" could be as high as 1200lbs.
All this new-found knowledge made us reconsider.
Celeste called the service manager (super nice, down-to-earth man) to express our concerns. He confirmed the T2499 currently in stock is a 2006 model.
I'm not taking anything away from this trailer; I'm shying away from it because I currently have too many "fix-it" projects in the works as it is...
Which brings us to "now"...
After talking it over with the dealership, we transferred the deposit to the trailer we originally looked at; the T279SR.
Not having owned a slide-out trailer before, I'm somewhat skeptical of possible air/water leaks, as well as the slideout mechanism possibly failing. (Probably due to my inexperience & ignorance of the slideout).
The added weight of the trailer with the slide is a possible concern, too.
I'm pretty sure my truck can handle this trailer load wise; I have some reservation about power with the 351w engine, but the low gearing should help offset that to a degree...
Celeste & I both like the color scheme of the black /brown upholstery, and the HUGE bathroom and shower stall, along with the island queen bed that we can actually walk around to make the bed.
We've not seen the slide retracted; does anyone know if it interferes with being able to walk to the kitchen, when in the retracted position?
Does it block the bathroom door access?
From best I can tell, this model was made for two years, 2005-2006; does anyone know much about it?
On the off-chance this particular trailer was owned by someone on this forum, does anyone have any history or knowledge of it?
We're told it was set up on a permanent site and not towed much.
It also appears to have at least one soft spot in the upper left rear corner. There is no staining on the inside, but the ceiling panel "flexes" when pressure is applied.
Reading over JohnB's roof replacement on your son's (Ben) trailer was a huge help in understanding these coaches & the Budboard roofs Sunline utilized. The pictures you post of your "projects" are very helpful!
Not being able to walk on the roof for maintenance is far different from our current Lance that has a latter for access to the roof.
Anyway,
That's our story (for now); any insights into this Sunline T279SR we're seriously considering would be Greatly Appreciated!
Thanks for having us on the site,
Bob & Celeste