Introducing myself

I must apologize to you zookeeper and hilltoll, just looked at the 1998 F150 manual and it does say the tow rating is 7,000 lbs. For a 4.6 engine, 4x2 Super Cab, auto trans and a 3:55 axle ratio. The trailer life list must have an error. I should have done this sooner when there was a large difference.
What is wrong with the trailer, how was it miss represented?
 
PopRichie77 said:
I must apologize to you zookeeper and hilltoll, just looked at the 1998 F150 manual and it does say the tow rating is 7,000 lbs. For a 4.6 engine, 4x2 Super Cab, auto trans and a 3:55 axle ratio. The trailer life list must have an error. I should have done this sooner when there was a large difference.
What is wrong with the trailer, how was it miss represented?[/QUOTE

No problem :) I was just confused because I thought i must be reading it wrong. I asked about water damage and he said there was a SMALL patch on the ceiling but the roof had been repaired. Well if you mean small as in a quarter of the ceiling on that side and the wall beneath it then I guess he was right! I'm very sensitive to smells and the mold smell is still in my nostrils!
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Yes, that is one to stay away from, unless you get it very cheap and have the time to repair, but a 31 ft would be a very large repair project. Look in the Library there are smaller Hi-Lo s that come with a full size bed. I almost bought a 2209 with a factor installed full size bed where the couch is. But then I found the one that I bought cheaper, I have removed the couch and put a twin mattress in it's place. the other one didn't suit anyway as we don't sleep together.
 
Thinking of looking at a 2003 24' towlite with a tipout now. It doesn't have the rear bedroom I really wanted but my thinking now is that maybe we will camp in this for a few years, see how my husband likes towing it and if I REALLY still want a rear bedroom - selling it if a good deal comes along.

A couple questions - any problems with a tipout? And I don't think it has a weight distributing hitch. It is a 6-7 hour drive and I want to be as sure as possible that we will purchase it! Is the WD hitch something we could buy and add once we get there?
 
Yes, A WD hitch doesn't come with a trailer, unless the previous owner has one that goes with it. Any RV dealer sells them. If you go to look at it be sure to get a demonstration of everything. There is a movie on you tube for new owners, it was from Hi-Lo and gives good instructions on operating , and the tip out. You should look at it. http://www.hilotrailerforum.com/f49/hilo-video-owners-manuals-youtube-1233/
 
Buying a HiLo.

Look on craigs list or Ebay or similar sited for a used wdh. I would not recommend towing it home without one. Perhaps your local Rv dealer has a line on a used one. Great idea to view the you tube video. I don't have a tipout so I can't tell you about any problems. Ask JR about any potential problems with the tipouts.
 
zookeeper said:
Thinking of looking at a 2003 24' towlite with a tipout now. It doesn't have the rear bedroom I really wanted but my thinking now is that maybe we will camp in this for a few years, see how my husband likes towing it and if I REALLY still want a rear bedroom - selling it if a good deal comes along.

A couple questions - any problems with a tipout? And I don't think it has a weight distributing hitch. It is a 6-7 hour drive and I want to be as sure as possible that we will purchase it! Is the WD hitch something we could buy and add once we get there?
Click to expand...

Anything over 17', wdh is recommended. The only problem I had with my tipout was when the top settled, it wouldn't retract. I performed the maintenance for the creep and haven't had that problem since.

http://www.hilotrailerforum.com/f61/how-fix-top-half-creep-your-hilo-trailer-129/
 
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Decided to pass on it. Didn't want to deal with the hassle of trying to get a wd hitch in a short time frame down there. Found a couple used ones on Craigslist (thanks for the suggestion) but not really knowing how to hook them up didn't want to deal with that either. The guy kept trying to convince me I didn't need one but no way did we want tow it that far without one. If it had one we would be on our way to PA right now (even though i'm kinda relieved we aren't making that trip). Oh well, back to searching and hope we can find one a little closer! In the meantime I'll peruse the suggested you tube videos. Thanks.
 
Ok I thought you were supposed to get wiser as you get older ;) what I am about to do could classify me as certifiably crazy lol. We are leaving about 2 today (hubby would prefer to leave as early as possible but there is work he has to get get done this morning if he wants to keep this customer) for Ohio. It is about a 6 hour drive with no breaks and you know there are gonna be a few of those! Staying in a holiday inn in athens over night with one of our dogs that is too old (and cranky) to be boarded. Meeting the hilo owner in the morning who has agreed to drive from wv to meet us (what a guy!) We are going to purchase a 1998 31 footer with a tipout (just what I wanted) Or at least I at the moment. This trip might change that! Lol. Driving straight to the campground to camp with the family then coming home Sunday to prep for a procedure Monday and major surgery on Tuesday. Like I said, crazy! Feeling very anxious and nervous but also excited at the same time :)
 
Exciting road trip

Best of luck with your road trip. I will keep you in my prayers that all goes well with your surgery and recovery. Who is having surgery? You or your wife?
 
Thanks sam! I'm having surgery - I am the wife :) Its my second in 3 months and my 3rd hospitalization in as many months. I was really looking forward to a relaxing weekend camping with the family before the big day. Well it won't exactly be relaxing but it should be fun - and challenging!
 
PopRichie77 said:
Best of luck with this one. We won't comment on the crazy. LOL
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Thanks! Forgot to mention hubby noticed a leak under the rearend while at lowes last night and went right to a friend's and they found a pinhole leak in the differential cover. They replaced it. Hope that isn't a bad omen!
 
Vehicle troubles and surgery

Your story sounds exactly like our family. Lots of truck repairs this year. Three leaks that all got fixed. I have had three surgeries and three hospitalizations. My left arm is still sore and I can,t lift much and can't raise it all the way. Oh well! I;m glad my right arm is 100% well. I hope this next operation gets you totally well and out of the Hosp. the whole year so you can enjoy your new to you trailer.
 
sam said:
Your story sounds exactly like our family. Lots of truck repairs this year. Three leaks that all got fixed. I have had three surgeries and three hospitalizations. My left arm is still sore and I can,t lift much and can't raise it all the way. Oh well! I;m glad my right arm is 100% well. I hope this next operation gets you totally well and out of the Hosp. the whole year so you can enjoy your new to you trailer.
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Yikes. I hope things improve for you as well. Well we made it to the campground and then home safe and sound. Dh had a little trouble hooking up the wd hitch to head home but other than that no problems to speak of. Got some questions for the group but not in the frame of mind to address them right now. There will be plenty of time for that as I recover from surgery. Expected length of stay this time is 1 week and it is extremely boring with lousy tv service lol
 
Glad your road trip was uneventful

Just concentrate on getting better. My last hospital stay was ten days,boring. I always get a private room due to my medical diagnosis. Nice I don't have to pay for this. If you are getting lousy Tv ask them to switch your room or fix the TV. Write down your HiLo questions. We are here when you are ready. The nurses always joke with me that because I am a frequent flyer they aregoing to put my name on a room. This okay with me as long as I get to pick out the paint color!! Anyway, I hope you are at least getting some decent food. OH ya,DH found another leak on our 97 truck (sm). Fourth leak this year.
 
Was released yesterday from the hospital recovery was a little more difficult than anticipated as I ended up having 3 procedures rolled into one (colostomy reversal, hernia repair, appendectomy - I know tmi lol). Consequently didn't do much of what I had planned on. Maybe as I continue my recovery although unfortunately I have other more pressing research to do for one of our cats who will be having surgery. We actually were at the emergency vet the night before my surgery. Got home at 3:00 grabbed a couple hours sleep and got to the hospital at 6:00 iyiyiy

Anyways- didn't get much of a chance to really check out the hilo on our brief camping trip but hope to really go over it before a tentatively planned trip in august I.e maintenance and/or repair needed. I like it so far as did the rest of the family. The tipout and back bedroom made it nice for our 18 month old grandson who enjoyed running all over the hilo and climbing on the back bed lol. My dd liked it too as she spent most of the time she wasn't outside with him there too as it was easier to occupy him

I plan on getting all new tires in the spring and somewhere down the line the awning will need to be replaced. I immediately noticed that the ac dripped down it in one spot where it had been repaired so this is obviously an ongoing problem. Any tips on how to correct this? Also in the back bedroom there seems to be an odd plank under the carpet on the one side of the bed. Definite trip hazard. What the heck is it? I would like to replace all the carpet but hesitate to pull it up before I know what I'm getting into. Any difficulties in replacing the floor covering especially with a tipout?


replacing the
 
Post hospital report.

Glad to hear you made it home from the hospital! What a deal you had with three surgeries in one. I'm glad to hear they were able to reverse the colostomy for you. Give yourself permission to sleep when ever you want,take your pain RX and let others give you the VIP treatment. Don't eat anything with whole wheat when you are recuperating from abd. surgery. When you feel up to it watch the You Tube videos by Sting 32 on all aspects of HiLo ownership and maintenance. Sorry I can't answer many of your HioLo questions. Hopefuly other will be able to help you out. Our unit doesn't have a tipout. I would guess that the carpet would be replaceable with washable durable flooring. When you or dh get a chance post pictures of your problem areas so we can help you better. I went for my six week check up on my shoulder and the PA was amazed that I had such good range of motion. She doesn't get it that I can't spend $800.00 on copays for physical therapy. I had the exact surgery on my Right shoulder and have the paper work/home exercise directions. Correction ,she comprehends english very well and just thinks I can make my ssd check bigger. What ever happened to patients right to refuse treatment? Nurses are the worst patients sometimes!!
 
sam said:
Glad to hear you made it home from the hospital! What a deal you had with three surgeries in one. I'm glad to hear they were able to reverse the colostomy for you. Give yourself permission to sleep when ever you want,take your pain RX and let others give you the VIP treatment. Don't eat anything with whole wheat when you are recuperating from abd. surgery. When you feel up to it watch the You Tube videos by Sting 32 on all aspects of HiLo ownership and maintenance. Sorry I can't answer many of your HioLo questions. Hopefuly other will be able to help you out. Our unit doesn't have a tipout. I would guess that the carpet would be replaceable with washable durable flooring. When you or dh get a chance post pictures of your problem areas so we can help you better. I went for my six week check up on my shoulder and the PA was amazed that I had such good range of motion. She doesn't get it that I can't spend $800.00 on copays for physical therapy. I had the exact surgery on my Right shoulder and have the paper work/home exercise directions. Correction ,she comprehends english very well and just thinks I can make my ssd check bigger. What ever happened to patients right to refuse treatment? Nurses are the worst patients sometimes!!
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I generally have a hard time doing little when there is so much to be done :) Today tho I made myself something to eat (dh had to work) and then had to take a nap lol and it was just toasting something! That's great about your rom on your arm! It's funny that you said that about refusing treatment. During my first hospitalization I used those exact words as I pulled out my ng tube ;) I did try to go the proper route and get orders from the doc to have it removed but it was the middle of the night and first they didn't want to call him and then when I insisted he didn't want to give the order because he was just covering for my dr. I had a cold and sore throat and it felt like knives cutting into my throat. Couldn't take one more minute of it. I usually try to be a compliant patient but we all have our limits!
 
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