Hi all - Hi-Lo camper travel trailer forum

dirtfan · 05-23-2011, 10:17 PM

Been lurking the forum since the first of the year and now own a 85 22 footer, needs some work on the walls and maybe a spot or two on the roof but hey only paid $800 for it and it came with a weight distribution hitch and a sway bar, the old guy paid $8000 for 10 years ago

Yes i'm going to have a few questions along the way and will be taking photos of the work

JMDoering · 05-24-2011, 12:08 AM

Dirtfan,

Welcome to Hi-Lo trailers and the HTF! Great looking rig, amazing that you found it for such a low price.

Just curious, did you look for and buy a Hi-Lo because of this Forum?

As you've read already, the HTF is a great source of information. My one suggestion is that, before asking a question, first see if its already been asked and answered before. Use the search feature... a huge body of information and collective knowledge has accumulated in the HTF, and its really pretty easy to access. After that, please ask away!

Take care.
Jim

RCREYES · 05-24-2011, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirtfan

Been lurking the forum since the first of the year and now own a 85 22 footer, needs some work on the walls and maybe a spot or two on the roof but hey only paid $800 for it and it came with a weight distribution hitch and a sway bar, the old guy paid $8000 for 10 years ago

Yes i'm going to have a few questions along the way and will be taking photos of the work

Welcome to the forum. Nice looking rig. Sounds like you got it for a steal. What kind of work does it need?

sam · 05-24-2011, 08:24 PM

Welcome to the forum. Love your bargain HiLo. Looks in really great shape. Glad you have been reading the forum for a while. Ask any questions and we will help you. Sam

vannooch · 05-24-2011, 09:31 PM

Welcme aboard Dirtfan!

dirtfan · 05-24-2011, 10:27 PM

OK your heard the good now here are a few things that will catch your attention, first of all when I asked the person who I bought it off when was the last time he repacked the bearings he said it was done when he purchased the trailer, that was 10 years ago, there was one year where he did go camping twice but it mostly sat in his back yard all the time, the tires look good but I know they do need to replaced, we have a tire machine at work so changing them out won't be a problem, the kitchen window was taken out and resealed but the front one needs some work and the rear corner near the shower seems to be soft also, I may do alot of reading and just remove the whole wall and start with new paneling on that side, the other side seems to be in decent shape, just need to reseal the window as I don't think there is any damage on that side, also need to find more seal or just silicone the windows where the old seals have shrunk, there was some water in one window after I gave the camper a good scrub, there was alot of dirt on the outside as it looked like it was stored underneath a tree, oh did I mention that I work for a featherlite dealership so I do have access to parts from them and other manufactures. I took a look underneath and the lift cylinder is leaking but if I look hard enough I just may have the parts right at work to reseal it.

So right now i'm looking at a flat panel TV for the kids as I did promise them i would get a TV for the camper when we got a bigger one, we also have a 8 foot popup that I redid the roof in it as there was water damage there also, i'll take some photos of the progress

Rick

JackandJanet · 05-24-2011, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirtfan

OK your heard the good now here are a few things that will catch your attention, first of all when I asked the person who I bought it off when was the last time he repacked the bearings he said it was done when he purchased the trailer, that was 10 years ago, there was one year where he did go camping twice but it mostly sat in his back yard all the time, the tires look good but I know they do need to replaced, we have a tire machine at work so changing them out won't be a problem, the kitchen window was taken out and resealed but the front one needs some work and the rear corner near the shower seems to be soft also, I may do alot of reading and just remove the whole wall and start with new paneling on that side, the other side seems to be in decent shape, just need to reseal the window as I don't think there is any damage on that side, also need to find more seal or just silicone the windows where the old seals have shrunk, there was some water in one window after I gave the camper a good scrub, there was alot of dirt on the outside as it looked like it was stored underneath a tree, oh did I mention that I work for a featherlite dealership so I do have access to parts from them and other manufactures. I took a look underneath and the lift cylinder is leaking but if I look hard enough I just may have the parts right at work to reseal it.

So right now i'm looking at a flat panel TV for the kids as I did promise them i would get a TV for the camper when we got a bigger one, we also have a 8 foot popup that I redid the roof in it as there was water damage there also, i'll take some photos of the progress

Rick

If the trailer "sat", the bearings are probably fine. They just need cleaning and repacking. Tires are a constant problem on trailers - 3-5 year life.

The other things, well, they are probably repairable. The trailer really looks good to me.

- Jack

dirtfan · 05-24-2011, 10:53 PM

Oh yeah received a call from the person who I bought it from, he did find the TV antenna today

sam · 05-25-2011, 12:54 AM

No wonder the trailer looked so good. You washed it. You probably know this Water is the worst thing to get into a trailer. I would consider taking out the window that leaked when you washed it. It needs to be reinstalled with butyl tape and then caulked on the outside. Sounds like when you get time you will rebuild the walls. You probably can camp with your unit as is. I know we had several posts on the leaking lift cylinder. If you can't find we will help you. What city,state are you located in. Take lots of pictures as you repair. Next year my hubby is going to repair our delaminated walls. He worries that he will make the walls worse. I have confidence he can do this to our 90 25ft classic. He is a semiretired sheet metal fabricator. Sam

RCREYES · 05-25-2011, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirtfan

OK your heard the good now here are a few things that will catch your attention, first of all when I asked the person who I bought it off when was the last time he repacked the bearings he said it was done when he purchased the trailer, that was 10 years ago, there was one year where he did go camping twice but it mostly sat in his back yard all the time, the tires look good but I know they do need to replaced, we have a tire machine at work so changing them out won't be a problem, the kitchen window was taken out and resealed but the front one needs some work and the rear corner near the shower seems to be soft also, I may do alot of reading and just remove the whole wall and start with new paneling on that side, the other side seems to be in decent shape, just need to reseal the window as I don't think there is any damage on that side, also need to find more seal or just silicone the windows where the old seals have shrunk, there was some water in one window after I gave the camper a good scrub, there was alot of dirt on the outside as it looked like it was stored underneath a tree, oh did I mention that I work for a featherlite dealership so I do have access to parts from them and other manufactures. I took a look underneath and the lift cylinder is leaking but if I look hard enough I just may have the parts right at work to reseal it.

So right now i'm looking at a flat panel TV for the kids as I did promise them i would get a TV for the camper when we got a bigger one, we also have a 8 foot popup that I redid the roof in it as there was water damage there also, i'll take some photos of the progress

Rick

The exterior looks great. You should have no problems finding the parts and pieces to make that trailer great once again. Please post some interior pictures.

dirtfan · 05-25-2011, 08:08 PM

Sam, i'm aware of what water can do, I just finished my basement 3 weeks ago after the sump pump failed, the outside photos that you see were taken BEFORE I washed the camper so it does look better now

Jack i'm going to have the trailer guy at work go thru the bearings and brakes, that is the first place i'm going to start, no sense putting work into it if it needs a new axle or two.

JMDoering reading about the hilo's did sway me in this direction, they do weigh less than a traditional travel trailer.

We have a new service manager at the place I work at and guess what he was a service manager at one of the trailer sales place in town for 10 years so he does know a thing or two about them, I do have access to most catalogs and the wholesale price that goes along with them.

Now for the leaking cylinder I do know that I have to watch the fluid level until it gets fixed correctly.

Now any suggestions on where to mount the TV from the roof and i'm also thinking about installing a 12 volt car stereo, any idea on where I should put this in?

Now I do remember seeing a video on where they took the side of the camperl off but did a search and cannot come up with the link, can somebody help me on this?

Thanks