Looking for a way to get the couch drawer out. - Hi-Lo camper travel trailer forum

lacelady · 02-27-2018, 10:54 PM

Hi! Tim and Bertie here. We are new here and just purchased a 1992 Hi-Lo. We are currently trying to clean it up and need to know how to remove the center drawer under the couch. We tried picking it up in the front (as most drawers do) but it does not disengage. Is there a lock or lever somewhere that we can't see? Anyone got any ideas? Thanks for any advice.

Great forum!! we've found some very useful information so far.

JackandJanet · 02-28-2018, 10:36 AM

Hi and welcome! My couch doesn't have drawers under it, but if they slide out on metal tracks, look for a plastic lever inside the track on the drawer (on both sides). If you lift up or push down on that lever, it will release the drawer (if it's on tracks). You may have to lift one side and push down on the other.

- Jack

lacelady · 02-28-2018, 10:57 AM

Thanks, Jack! We'll check that out.

sam · 02-28-2018, 11:51 PM

Do you have a Classic or a Towlite? Perhaps someone with the same model can answer your question.

garyk52 · 03-02-2018, 09:21 PM

I have a drawer under my couch and I don't see any way to release the drawer either,

thatguy · 03-07-2018, 02:44 PM

bump same here, can't find how to get drawer out

JackandJanet · 03-07-2018, 03:44 PM

To all of you that can't get it out: There HAS to be a way, since it was put IN. Possibly, if you remove the top part of the couch that covers the drawer, you'll see how it's assembled. I'm still betting on metal tracks though.

- Jack

garyk52 · 03-07-2018, 04:55 PM

Just went out and looked again. There is no place to push, pull, yank, twist, unscrew on the slides to get them off. There is not even enough room on the one side for a skinny little kid to get to the slides with his hands. The only thing I found is 2 screws on the bottom of the front of the couch that may loosen the front, however getting to the back if there is screws there would take some doing. Jack they are metal tracks mounted on wood to the floor and the side of the drawer.

lacelady · 03-08-2018, 11:44 PM

Yup, that looks just like ours. We have decided to give up on taking the drawer out. Thought it would be easier to put the new flooring in without it but not worth the trouble. It would be worse to break the drawer or make it unable to be used. Thanks for your help everyone! We'll be back with more questions, I'm sure.

KnottyRig · 03-10-2018, 01:00 PM

With those type of drawer slides, there’s either a catch to release them, OR you can just pull them out.

If the pull-out type, pull drawer out till it stops, then firmly (but gently) pull some more. Don’t yank - just pull. If it’s this type, you’ll feel it start to give, then it’ll just release. There’s basically a bump the rollers have to go over to be released.

JackandJanet · 03-10-2018, 01:37 PM

Those slides are very similar to the ones I have on my computer desk. Mine have a black plastic lever at the first joint (closest one) you see in the second picture posted. I don't see this lever in your picture. I wonder if the drawer can't be pulled out enough to expose it?

Or try KnottyRig's idea. I KNOW there IS a way to release it.

- Jack

marininn · 03-19-2018, 09:19 PM

I have removed my couch and drawer and sitting all in garage. I think I took it all out together (drawer and slides) so do not remember taking slides apart. Hit me up if you are desperate and I can inspect it, since mine is easy to see.

lacelady · 03-20-2018, 12:24 AM

Thanks marininn but we are working around the drawer situation. Found a way to put in the new floor without taking the drawer out.

marininn · 03-26-2018, 04:14 PM

For anyone wondering the same thing.
Yes, these are just like the big box hardware store drawer slides. The "full pull" ones,
there is a small black lever you either push up or down to let the drawer slides slide past the stop and disconnect.
When you pull the drawer out as far as it can, feel back on the outside of the slide for the lever. It should just get exposed when the drawer is extended all the way. Push both at same time to pull drawer out.
do internet search, but never use the big G for a search….

thatguy · 03-26-2018, 05:50 PM

Thanks for the info that was it! Here is why I wanted it out!

marininn · 03-26-2018, 09:07 PM

That's a gigantic inverter!
Are you running just the one battery that came on camper? One might not be enough unless you just invert for a few seconds. How did it work so far?
I have two additional and separate batteries to run the camper (stock one just for the lift), and a smaller 1,000/2,000 inverter which I almost never use.
Also, just to sound m opinion…
That's a pretty small cord. Is cord the DC supply line? Seems you'dneed a heavier gauge for big inverting.

thatguy · 03-27-2018, 01:51 PM

I'm running two 6v golf cart batteries in series marininn. That wire you see is a "remote" to turn on and off the inverter. I have much heavier gauge to and from the batteries.

So happy a microwave even fits underneath! yay!