thinking of a buying a used Hi-Lo, but not sure now

Hi! I am really new to Hi-Lo's. Used to camp with a pop-up (a really OLD pop-up). I have been offered a Hi-Lo really, really cheap. It goes up and down and I didn't see any leaks, but it is fairly old - I'd say early 80s. The person showing it to me was not the owner and thus did not know the age. I really like the low profile when towing. I was extremely excited to run across a Hi-Lo that I could afford until I found out the factory is closing. Now I don't know about finding replacement parts. Any thoughts?

the only thing that is hi-lo is the body,every thing else you can get from the makers.

If the Hi-Lo your looking at is in fact, that old, the factory probably wouldn't have any repair parts on hand anyway. After about the first 7 or 8 years of ownership, I was my own for locating repair parts for our 1969 Hi-Lo Bon Voyage. The good news is, as kwdstalker says, most all the parts in a Hi-Lo aren't made by Hi-Lo, and can be purchased "off the shelf" at RV service and parts centers.

Having written this, I have to admit that during the 40 years we've had our Hi-Lo, I've never had a lift system problem. Although this is a good endorsement for the system's reliability, correct operation, and regular preventive maintenance, it also means that I've never had to locate a lift cable, hydraulic pump, ram seals, etc... (The stuff not carried by an RV service and parts center.)

I'd be very interested in finding alternative sources for parts like these that truly are unique to Hi-Lo trailers, just in case.

Thanks for the reassurance!

I feel better. I am a widowed mother of 2 young daughters and while the pop-up wasn't that big of a deal to set up, it just seemed so after, well, losing my husband. So I sold it. But the girls have been begging to go camping for the last year. I just can't do the tent thing. A Hi-Lo seemed the best way to go with its easy set-up and low profile towing, but finding a used one cheap enough has been a little difficult until I realized a friend of mine had a connection to one. I don't mind doing some work myself and I have a mechanic friend that is pretty handy with stuff.

Thanks again for your comments. I think the girls and I will be getting a camper soon.

Check the roof well

I have owned 2 Hi Lo's in the last 6 years, bought both used. On thing to watch for is the roof. It is aluminum and on both of my units it rusted or corroded from the inside out.

The unit I have now (31' with slide out) I bought cheap enough that I took it ti the factory and had the whole roof replaced. When I was at J & R (the old Hi Lo repair shop) they indicated to me that this was/is not uncommon. The problem seems to be that when the trailers are put away in the fall (if they have been used as the weather is getting cooler) the moisture in the camper from cooking and just living in it condensates and settles on the underside of the roof.

Check the roof over for little spots that look like bubbles, you will not see the corrosion until the bubble "pops". If you see any spots like that take your fingernail and see if you can "pop" the bubble. If so, you will have problems.

You can re-cover the roof with a sealant but first you need to know you have a problem.

Otherwise the Hi Lo's I have owned anre very well constructed and a unit that is as trouble free as any camper on the market that I have been around.

I just make sure I air it out real well in the fall before it is put into storage. I have one of those vent covers that I can leave the vent open without letting rain in. I usually leave this vent open for a couple weeks in the late fall/early winter before the snow flies.

Good Luck to you and your daughters!

the best way to get moisture out would be to run the a/c for a day or so then put it down

Thanks so much! Everyone is being so helpful.

Thanks, rdkono, for the info. Will definitely take a closer look at the roof. And thanks kwdstalker for the idea of running the air.

I never have been one to post to a site, but this has been really helpful. Thanks again!

RE: moisture in the trailer

You can also run a dehumidifier in the trailer for a week or so, remember the moisture is between the ceiling and roof and it will take a while to get that moisture out, if there is any.