Newbie - Hi-Lo camper travel trailer forum

PartTimers · 10-10-2010, 12:30 AM

Been thinking about a camper for a year or so. Loved the concept of HiLo but never saw them for sale. Began looking at Hybrids...didn't want a huge camper having never towed one before and have limited towing capacity vehicle. HiLo suddenly showed up on Craig's List, only 5 miles from my house. Didn't know how to check it out, really, so took their word that it works and bought it!
It's a 2002 and has a fold out side which seems pretty cool. They had a little trouble with the up and down. It worked but they blamed it on a low battery. Battery looked like the original so it probably needs replacing. Question: They had it plugged in to 110V. When plugged in, should that have run the hydraulics even with a low battery or does it need a good battery for up/down?
Wife and I know NOTHING about camping, so if you see two folks with a HiLo in a campground, scratching their heads and looking bewildered, stop and offer to help!! Great forum and encouraging to see everyone loves their HiLo and there are few serious problems, even with very old ones.

kwdstalker · 10-10-2010, 10:37 AM

It needs a good battery the power converter is like a trickle charger

campthewestcoast · 10-10-2010, 01:27 PM

I always try to have fully charged batteries before leaving for a camping trip. It does take battery power to raise and lower(unlock safety bar). I always carry jumper cables to jump from the truck battery to the trailer battery (if the trailer battery goes dead. Towing, I run the refrigerator on 12 volts. Check this forum for charging battery while towing. I had to upgrade my system. Also, I leave the trailer pluged in to 110 volts until I see the whites of my wifes eyes (she has gotten delayed at work before and my battery almost went dead).

Congrats on the trailer, your adventure has just begun!!! If you have questions, we are here to help fellow Hi-lo-er's. Many of us have done mods to are trailers, it's either we have some form of OCD or we (like me) are banned from making any more holes in the sheetrock in our home after the remodel.