My trailer will not go ip

[Robinvrooman]

I just bought this 1984 hilo trailer A couple months ago. Everything worked good I have only used it a few times. The other day I went to raise the roof and it will not go up. So I checked out the hydrolic system when hit the up switch the there is just a click at the cylinoed the pump will not work. I don't know what to check next . Is there a way to manually raise the roof ? What do I do ?

 

[hilltool]

Some units had a manual function installed. If you have it- there will be a small lever you can insert a short pipe into and pump it up---it looks like a hydrulic bottle jack lying on its side. It takes awhile to do but it will get you there. FIRST, though, I would check to make sure you have a good battery. If you can- try "jumping it" from a good vehicle battery. If it has been sitting for a couple of months the battery may be draining or weak. Or, if you can't get to the battery because the top is down and you can reach a 120v oulet- plug it in for at least overnight, 24hrs is better, to see if a recently charged battery helps. Otherwise- you could have a bad ground or a bad solenoid. . But , the first culprit in usually the battery, nine times out of ten.

Rick

 

[Robinvrooman]

My battery is dead but I thought by pluging in the trailer that it would matter if the battery was dead. Is that not the case ? I will charge the battery over night and hopefully it will work . I really hope so thank you

 

[hilltool]

Yes- plugging it in does not give you enough amperage to raise the trailer. The batterey needs to be charged up. So plug it in over night at the very least. It usually takes me longer to get my battery back up to near full but maybe you will get enough in it to at least you get you part way up so you can get to batteries and jump it. The idea that you can raise it off just shore power is a common mis-understanding. Most of us have been there.

Rick

 

[sam-HILO]

Welcome to the forum

If you can raise the HiLo up enough then you could turn your car around and use jumper cables to jump the battery. Then If you want to find out what voltage your battery is at then take it to a place like Auto zone where they will test it for free.

 

[buckrocker]

If you can raise the HiLo up enough then you could turn your car around and use jumper cables to jump the battery. Then If you want to find out what voltage your battery is at then take it to a place like Auto zone where they will test it for free.

That has worked for me. Since it works off a 12 volt supply the ac connect will not supply the power to raise roof. In future you might want to connect 12 volt battery to a battery tender or similar device to maintain battery. The batteries will also last much longer if charged.