Keeping bugs out

[Rainy and Riley]

We have a 2007 17T model. When it is up and you look around the seam between the top and bottom (from the inside) I can look down and see outside in some places like the seal is gone or worn in spots. What can you do to keep bugs out? Is it easy to replace the seal? Let me know what you do.
Thanks, Riley and Rainy

 

[Angel-HILO]

Hello, you can try my solution for this problem. I posted how I did mine using a garage door sweep in-between the two halves from the inside. I purchased the garage door sweep at Lowe's. With this modification (which you can do yourself) you don't have to separate/lift the two halves apart, plus if you DIY you will save a bunch of $$$, versus taking it to an RV repair shop, which may not even want to work on these types of trailers.

Do a search for my post on how I did it.

Angel.

Here is the link: https://www.hilotrailerforum.com/f17/bulb-seal-replacement-7925/

 

[Rainy and Riley]

Bulb Seal Replacement

Thanks Angel.
Our trailer has no screws on the wood for the top piece that comes down and goes up. Did your's have the screws already there? Not sure how we would get ours off.
Do you need a picture?

 

[Angel-HILO]

Thanks Angel.
Our trailer has no screws on the wood for the top piece that comes down and goes up. Did your's have the screws already there? Not sure how we would get ours off.
Do you need a picture?

There is usually a wood trim piece that is fastened down with screws on the upper halve for decorative purpose all the way around, yours may be different. Most models have it.

A picture would help.

 

[Rainy and Riley]

Photos

Hi Angel,
Let me know if this helps.

 

[JackandJanet]

Riley and Rainey - Hi!

Yours is built like mine, there's no obvious way to remove the trim strip on the top half. If you read through the link Angel gave you , you'll see I would simply apply the garage sweep to the top of the trim piece on the top half, then I'd cover that with 1/4" oak that I've found at Home Depot. It would raise the trim area a bit, but it wouldn't be too bad.

- Jack

 

[Rainy and Riley]

Keeping the bugs out

Thanks Jack. Sounds like a good option!

 

[sam-HILO]

Keeping bugs out.

The little bugs come in when you open the door and love to swarm around interior lights. I used a towel on the interior door ledge. Then Dh cut and marked pool noodles to place underneath when the HiLo is in the camping position. We tried to replace the seal and the job did not come out perfect. I made snakes out of bath towels and filled with beans to place on the interior for a better seal. Our our second used HiLo I was able to get the seal professionally replaced. You should be able to use Angel's directions for a cost saving alternative.

 

[Rainy and Riley]

Thanks Sam,
Yes pool noodles was our first thought too, but just wanted to see if there was something better. Where and when did you get the seal replaced on your second HiLo? (Was it just an RV dealer, or a HiLo dealer?) Was it very expensive?

 

[Angel-HILO]

Rainy and Riley,
Yes I see what you mean, yours doesn't have the trim screws like some of the older model do; yours are probably glued down instead. In that case you can still use a garage door sweep and like Jack mentioned, you can then use a thin strip of wood from home depot to cover it. BTW, if you search this forum you will find that some have paid upwards of $1500 at a HiLo repair shop to replace that Bulb Seal that is installed between the two halves...outrageous if you ask me!! Besides most HiLo shops have shut down and original parts are hard to come by; but then again if you want a more professional job done then a repair shop would be the way to go.

 

[sam-HILO]

seal replacement between the halves.

J&R repair shop did the replacement.It took them two days. They have since retired. Nothing is cheap when you have to pay the shop labor rate.

 

[Lwwilltravel]

I was at the Hilo reuion and a person there had one of those Trail Manor campers. On them there is a fabric attached with velco and when they raise it they put this fabric all the way around the section like we all have. I tried to find a link where I could buy that but could not find that as an accessory and I know where one of these is setting in a field but the owner was not to inclined to do anything with it.
If anybody can find that accessory = advise. Possible maybe get something made for it .