1995 23FLL won't raise and no interior lights

[Kai-HILO]

I just recently purchased a '95 23FLL from a family member who used it all the time without any major problems. Brought the camper home and it will not raise and the interior lights don't come on either. Had the battery checked and no problems there. Everything else in and on the camper seems to work properly, including the fridge and microwave. Checked the wiring and connections, but everything seems to be in order.
Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

 

[JackandJanet]

I just recently purchased a '95 23FLL from a family member who used it all the time without any major problems. Brought the camper home and it will not raise and the interior lights don't come on either. Had the battery checked and no problems there. Everything else in and on the camper seems to work properly, including the fridge and microwave. Checked the wiring and connections, but everything seems to be in order.
Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

Sounds like the Master Switch is in the middle (neutral) position. Press in on the bottom of the switch and then try to raise the top.

- Jack

 

[Kai-HILO]

Sounds like the Master Switch is in the middle (neutral) position. Press in on the bottom of the switch and then try to raise the top.

- Jack

I've looked everywhere and I can't seem to locate the Master Switch. One of the previous owners had work done to it and perhaps eliminated that particular switch!? I went ahead and raised the top by hand via the hydraulic jack to get better access to everything. Still trying to fix the issue.

 

[JackandJanet]

I've looked everywhere and I can't seem to locate the Master Switch. One of the previous owners had work done to it and perhaps eliminated that particular switch!? I went ahead and raised the top by hand via the hydraulic jack to get better access to everything. Still trying to fix the issue.

OK just inside the door, near the floor, you should see a wire lanyard, possibly behind a covering flap. Next to it, there should be two switches:

1. The Up/Down three position toggle switch that is spring loaded to a "center", Off position.
2. The Master Switch which is a three position switch that stays in whatever position you put it. Normally, if you press in on the top, you have full interior power to the trailer, but the top will not raise or lower. If the switch is in the center "traveling" position, the refrigerator and refrigerator fan work but nothing else works. If you press in the bottom of that switch, the top raising motor can be actuated with the other Up/Down switch, and the refrigerator and fan continue to receive power. (This switch COULD be wired backwards.)​

Here's a link to a video that shows what I'm talking about:

There's a whole series of these videos starting with this one:

You should review them all.

Edit: But, it's great that you've learned how to raise the top if the battery is dead! Many owners don't know how to do that ahead of time.

- Jack

 

[charlie b-HILO]

My 94 Towlite does not have a master switch, and it looks like it never did. the lowering switch is just inside the door.

 

[Kai-HILO]

There are only the lanyard and the switch to raise and lower, no master switch to be found anywhere. I've looked high and low, no pun intended.

 

[RichR]

I believe that's the way they should be. The master switch didn't come until later, maybe late 90's.

 

[JackandJanet]

OK, I didn't know they were ever made that way. I wonder if you have a blown fuse somewhere? It would have to be a high Amp rated fuse, possibly over 100 Amps. It might be inline and in the battery compartment.

- Jack

 

[RichR]

If you look in the old manuals you will see in the wiring diagram only the one switch plus the safety bar indicator light. The switch was fed from a 15 amp fuse in the fuse panel. The switch only energizes the solenoid and doesn't carry any heavy current.

http://www.hilotrailerforum.com/f49/owners-manual-95-96-towlight-621/

 

[JackandJanet]

If you look in the old manuals you will see in the wiring diagram only the one switch plus the safety bar indicator light. The switch was fed from a 15 amp fuse in the fuse panel. The switch only energizes the solenoid and doesn't carry any heavy current.

http://www.hilotrailerforum.com/f49/owners-manual-95-96-towlight-621/

I thought possibly the power circuit from the solenoid to the lift motor might be fused also, which is why I suggested a very heavy duty fuse.

If that's not the case, check all the fuses in the fuse panel.

- Jack

 

[Kai-HILO]

I thought possibly the power circuit from the solenoid to the lift motor might be fused also, which is why I suggested a very heavy duty fuse.

If that's not the case, check all the fuses in the fuse panel.

- Jack

I found one fuse panel under the bunk, but none of the fuses were tripped. Furthermore, I can't seem to find a wiring diagram for the camper anywhere, which may help rooting out the issue. Once more, one of the prior owners had some work done, a new hydraulic pump for one and replaced the cable system. What baffles me is that neither the raise switch nor the interior lights work. Everything else appears to be working just fine.
Thanks for all the pointers thus far. I am starting to get a little frustrated tho.

 

[sam-HILO]

No interior lights

Hang in there. I will ask DH tomorrow for suggestions for you. We have a 1990 Classic and have had loss of interior lights two times. He recently had to replace the lifting toggle switch.

 

[Kai-HILO]

All right, thought I give y'all an update on the situation. A storm came through last night and this morning the lights in the camper were on (I guess I missed turning a couple off when I was trying to figure out what was going on). Is it possible that either 1) the rain washed dirt or dust of some connection, or 2) the wind shook the camper to make a connection which is either lose or shortened out? Any thoughts?
In addition, where would I be able to find a wiring diagram?

 

[RCREYES]

All right, thought I give y'all an update on the situation. A storm came through last night and this morning the lights in the camper were on (I guess I missed turning a couple off when I was trying to figure out what was going on). Is it possible that either 1) the rain washed dirt or dust of some connection, or 2) the wind shook the camper to make a connection which is either lose or shortened out? Any thoughts?
In addition, where would I be able to find a wiring diagram?

There may be some minor differences....

http://www.hilotrailerforum.com/f51/hi-lo-2306-primary-wiring-116/

 

[betty stevens]

Ours did that once and we finally figured out it was the ground wire from the battery to the frame.