newbie looking at a hi-lo camper

I am a newbie going to look at a h-lo camper. I have had several pop-up campers and know a lot of the "little" things to look for (i.e. gas working, elecectric ac/heater working, water, check for roof leaks, etc.). Is there anything in particular to hi-lo camper brand to check. I have already verified the hydraulics work good on ascension and desencsion.

sdf1jbh said:

I am a newbie going to look at a h-lo camper. I have had several pop-up campers and know a lot of the "little" things to look for (i.e. gas working, elecectric ac/heater working, water, check for roof leaks, etc.). Is there anything in particular to hi-lo camper brand to check. I have already verified the hydraulics work good on ascension and desencsion.

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This was taken from NDgent's post here on the forum. It is a great go-by list. You can do a search of "thinking about buying" and find the post to read it first hand.

Basically, start with the visual items –
1. Exterior
• Look for water stains and discoloration on inside walls and around ceiling anywhere vents, skylights, windows, etc. exist.
• Push and prod with your hand on the inside walls for soft spots (which could indicate a water leak and a damaged or rotten interior wall).
• Check for bubbles in the wallpaper (a sign of delimitation or water intrusion)
2. Interior cleanliness of the unit-
• Look for water stains and discoloration on inside walls and around ceiling anywhere vents, skylights, windows, etc. exist.
• Push and prod with your hand on the inside walls for soft spots (which could indicate a water leak and a damaged or rotten interior wall).
• Check for bubbles in the wallpaper (a sign of delimitation or water intrusion)
3. Test appliance functions –
• lights
• fans
• refrigerator
• air conditioner
• heater
• water pump
• range hood
• stovetop
• oven (if equipped)
• microwave (if equipped)
• stereo (if equipped)
4. Lift System-
• Does the unit raise and lower properly
• Check the lift system for hydraulic leaks (puddle under the trailer)
• Check the lift cables to see if they are in good shape and not frayed
• Check the seal between the upper and lower body halves for tears or damage
5. fill the tanks to the top and check for leaks
6. Battery
7. Solar Panel (if equipped)

What to look for in a HiLo

Just a little more specifics. Go in the Br. and press fairly hard on the shower walls to check for soft spots/delamination. If you check out the HiLo and just aren't sure don't be afraid to go back as many times as necessary. Tell the seller you want the ref. on a day before you visit. Run the Ac and the heater. Have them fill the water tank and heat up water. If the seller doesn't want to do these then walk away. HiLo trailers are in good supply/used. Checkm the tires for condition/tread. Pay very close attention to the wt. of the trailer and your hitch wt. Extremely that you match up the HiLo with the correct vehicle to tow it. Know your price. www.NADAguides.com Ask the owner for service records. Actually get up on the roof and check for leaks. See what you think., If need be have an RV dealership check it out for you. Let us know the year and model that you are looking at. It is it a towlite or Classic/heavier model. It is very wise for you to have us experienced owners help you. Sorry about the omission of a few words. My brain goes faster than my typing. Keep us posted. sam

thanks for the tips. I have a question. What happens if the hydraulics malfunction? Can you manually crank it up and down?

Yes.....if it is equipped with the manual lift. That consists of a manual pump that works like a bottle jack. That was an option on many Hi-Lo trailers and standard on some, it depended on the model and year. If you should happen to have a dead battery it is possible to jump from another battery, but it can sometimes be difficult to access the battery.

You asked the question 2 times in 2 thread, about manual lift, some will reply twice, instead I will link to the same answer, which you probably already read...

http://www.hilotrailerforum.com/f17...down-if-hydraulics-malfunction-1190/#post6803