2001 Hi Lo 1701 RK

[Pankaj Singh]

Hello Everyone,
I am new to this forum and new to RVing. I am looking at purchasing a used 2001 Hi Lo 1701 RK which has an awning and also a rooftop air conditioner unit. I want to be able to store this inside my garage which has a standard opening of Height- 83.5 inches and width- 94.5 inches, and depth of 19 feets 6 inches. I would appreciate if some owners of this model RV could answer a couple of my questions,
1. What is the exact width of this particular model. The Hi Lo website says 94", but in my experience its always off by a couple of inches in real life.
2. Can the awning and side marker lights be removed fairly easily, to gain a couple of inches in width?
3. What is the actual height of this trailer in the closed position including the roof top air conditioner unit?
4. Does it come with a swing away hitch as a standard equipment, or is that an upgrade or is that not an option at all.

Any information that one can provide is much appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

Pankaj

 

[JackandJanet]

Welcome, Pankaj! I THINK you'll be OK on the height. The listed tow height is 71" but the air conditioner adds about 11" to that as I recall. So it will be close, but I think you'll just make it. The width though, is likely going to be a problem. The listed width is close to 8', or 94", but I think the outriggers (the things the top sits on when it's down) and the awning will add too much. The side marker lights will be a minor factor - they add no more than an inch each. The swing away hitch was an option on my unit, but I don't have it. I doubt your trailer will have it. It sounds like your garage has a large enough depth if it's 19.5 feet. The overall length of the trailer is pretty close to 17' (add no more than another foot for the spare tire).

The awning is difficult to remove. It's heavy, and repeated removal would weaken the attachment points I think. I would not try to take it off, unless you were replacing or repairing it. You also cannot remove the outriggers, which extend beyond the width of the top sides.

So, my guess is the width is the limiting factor and will probably keep you from putting it in the garage. I built an outside metal "carport" for mine.

- Jack

 

[Pankaj Singh]

Welcome, Pankaj! I THINK you'll be OK on the height. The listed tow height is 71" but the air conditioner adds about 11" to that as I recall. So it will be close, but I think you'll just make it. The width though, is likely going to be a problem. The listed width is close to 8', or 94", but I think the outriggers (the things the top sits on when it's down) and the awning will add too much. The side marker lights will be a minor factor - they add no more than an inch each. The swing away hitch was an option on my unit, but I don't have it. I doubt your trailer will have it. It sounds like your garage has a large enough depth if it's 19.5 feet. The overall length of the trailer is pretty close to 17' (add no more than another foot for the spare tire).

The awning is difficult to remove. It's heavy, and repeated removal would weaken the attachment points I think. I would not try to take it off, unless you were replacing or repairing it. You also cannot remove the outriggers, which extend beyond the width of the top sides.

So, my guess is the width is the limiting factor and will probably keep you from putting it in the garage. I built an outside metal "carport" for mine.

- Jack

Thank you JackandJanet for your quick and extremely informative reply. Its good to know that the height is hopefully okay. Regarding the width, it seems the trailer that I am looking at DOES NOT have the outriggers on them. I am attaching some pictures here too, but I could be wrong. I am going to be calling the dealer or visiting them soon. Regarding the awning removal, you are right that constantly taking them on and off is going to be a hassle and might jeopardize structural integrity, so if I take them off only as last resort and will have them off for good. A small compromise in my opinion for saving storage fees. Building a car port in my neighborhood is unfortunately not allowed. Below I have attached the exterior photos, of the one I am interested in. Does anyone see the outriggers here?
http://az413908.vo.msecnd.net/5/pho...e-871e-4026-9140-ac2028ebe32f.jpg?w=800&h=600
http://az413908.vo.msecnd.net/5/pho...6-f33d-4226-9b36-597c7af7cf9d.jpg?w=800&h=600

And as always thank you so much for your time and input.

Pankaj

 

[sam-HILO]

Welcome to the forum.

We have a very good friendly group of posters. We are here for any questions you may have. Check out the used buyers check list. When you get a chance check out the operational videos.You will want to do some preventive maintenance. I live just across the border in Niagara Falls.USA.I will have to look up where your town is located.

 

[JackandJanet]

Pankaj - I DON'T see the outriggers I was speaking of. It appears your top simply rests on the rear bumper and the front A-Frame.

So, get a tape measure and measure the actual width of the top. I'm almost certain you'll have to take the awning off to get it to fit, and possibly, the running lights (although they add very little).

The difficulty will be in guiding it in if the width clearance is "tight". I think, unless you are VERY expert, that backing it in with your tow vehicle will take tremendous skill - more than I have. I've backed mine through a 9-foot opening, and it was not easy at all. I'd get something like a Trailer Valet https://www.trailervalet.com/, which will allow very fine directional control. They're not TOO expensive (I have a 1000# capacity one) and they work very well.

- Jack

 

[s205designs]

Hi Pankaj,

Welcome to the Forum! I have a 07 17 just like Jack and I store it in a 83"garage. It sounds like you are in almost the exact same situation as me, although I had to fit my hilo in my 2 car side. Like Jack, I'm just not that good at backing up a trailer to fit and I don't think the awning will make it if you keep it on. I have been very tempted to get a trailer valet but my 17 has a WD hitch which doesn't seem to permit the standard Trailer Valet. (Jack correct me if I'm wrong)

In regards to height, depending on if I have water in it and also the height of the tow vehicle I've brushed the top of my garage door gasket, which is 81". I've come to just have faith that it wont hit as watching it made me too nervous. I have a upward sloping driveway so that does compound the issue but overall if your garage door is 83 and you have the same AC, same tires, and nothing else is different should be OK.

I can't comment on the swing away hitch, no experience.

 

[Pankaj Singh]

Thank you so much Jack for the trailer valet info. That does seem like a must have for some one in my situation. I will also keep in mind about the WD hitch that s205 designs mentioned, related to the trailer valet.
Thanks again folks.

 

[Pankaj Singh]

We have a very good friendly group of posters. We are here for any questions you may have. Check out the used buyers check list. When you get a chance check out the operational videos.You will want to do some preventive maintenance. I live just across the border in Niagara Falls.USA.I will have to look up where your town is located.

Hello Sam,
I am at Newmarket which is 40 minutes north of Toronto. Not too far from Niagara Falls, NY.

 

[JackandJanet]

Pankaj and s205, if you have the XL Trailer Valet like I have, the Weight Distributing hardware does not interfere with its use. It's pictured on this page: https://www.trailervalet.com/xl/ It uses a ball that is the same size as your tongue ball receptacle and there is a collar that you screw up by hand that forms a rigid coupling to the trailer. It can turn to steer the trailer, but there is no "slop" that would make the assembly unsafe. It can be powered by the included hand crank or by an 18V battery operated drill, which provides quicker and easier movement.

The cheaper version, that handles a 500# tongue does not play nicely with the WDH brackets on the trailer tongue, which is why I didn't get it.

The Trailer Valet is a quality product, and it easily moves my trailer. It has one drawback though, if your driveway is gravel or dirt, and you try to move the trailer up a small incline, the Trailer Valet's wheels will dig into the ground and you won't go anywhere. It would work fine on concrete or blacktop though. My solution, since my drive is gravel, is to use boards under the TV's wheels. This prevents them from digging in and there is more than enough power to move the trailer.

- Jack

 

[RichR]

You may want to check out a trailer dolly. Harbor Freight sells them:https://www.harborfreight.com/600-lb-heavy-duty-trailer-dolly-60533.html

I have used one when helping my dealer friend at RV shows. The main thing you have to keep in mind is the ball height on the dolly and compared to the hitch height of the trailer when down to its lowest position. The dolly height has to be high enough to lift the trailer tongue jack foot off the ground.

 

[Treeclimber]

WOW! Looking at that, seems you would need 6 men and a boy to push or pull a Hi Lo!

 

[JackandJanet]

For what it's worth, Rich - I bought one of those and found it to be fairly useless for my 17 ft TowLight. It would lift the tongue jack foot off the ground OK, but then the trailer was so heavy it could only be moved safely on absolutely level ground.

It would certainly work for a small utility trailer though.

- Jack

 

[s205designs]

Jack and all,

Thanks for confirming which model you use. I was curious if you had the xl or found some way around the wd system. I have been off and on looking at those trailer vallets. For now I'll just settle for practice in backing up my trailer. I actually do use the harbor freight tow dolly with mine but it's usually only to move the trailer a few inches and really to position the tongue once it's in it's final parking spot. I certainly would not want to move he 17t very far with just a tow dolly. With a friend it may be ok but still pretty marginal. I vote for a trailer vallet xl!

 

[JackandJanet]

s205 - the thing that really turned me off on the Harbor Freight one was what happened when Janet held the handle of the device while I tried to push the trailer back. I moved the trailer a bit, but Janet didn't move with me which caused the dolly to tilt backwards just a little and then the weight of the trailer tongue snapped the handle of the dolly upwards causing a bruising injury to Janet.

The XL, once properly installed on the tongue is VERY rigid and the brake that is applied when the handle is lifted is super positive.

- Jack

 

[RichR]

For what it's worth, Rich - I bought one of those and found it to be fairly useless for my 17 ft TowLight. It would lift the tongue jack foot off the ground OK, but then the trailer was so heavy it could only be moved safely on absolutely level ground.

It would certainly work for a small utility trailer though.

- Jack

Thanks for the info. Apparently the one my friend had was a bit more heavy duty than the harbor freight one. I should have added that the dollies work best on smooth level surfaces. We moved trailers around into position at RV shows. Getting trailers into and out of shows was most interesting. My most interesting place was when I had to pull trailers into and out of the Millcreek Mall in Erie. I never thought that I would get to drive through a shopping mall.

 

[Mrtoner]

Welcome! We too have a 2001 Hi Lo 1701 RK! Since it is my wife and I, we didn’t need a large unit, and I wanted to be able to park it in my garage (pesky HOA). I did a lot of research and measuring to figure out what to look for, and found exactly what we needed. It fits perfectly and still leaves room to park a second vehicle (just not my Tahoe).

See attached images.

Good luck and enjoy!