New to Hi-Lo

[CelticRennie]

Hello all. I am new to Hi-Lo.
I just bought a used '95 26br I believe is its Model... paid 3300 for it.
I know virtually nothing about it... it has some quirks - but it's overall in pretty good shape I think. If there are ANY tips that anyone can provide to me - I would be greatly appreciative.
I will soon be going on the road to travel w/ the ren-fair circuit around the nation. I have been very concerned w/ what will tow this trailer. It says on the title that the dry weight is 5000 lbs. I have a 1994 Dodge Ram Conversion w/ a 250, 318 v-8. I'll be carrying literally everything I need to live - with me - I'm going to guess effectively increasing the weight to around 6500-ish. Will this Van tow that? Dodge has absolutely no information on this van any longer even before the conversion. They apparently have purged all documentation prior to 2000.
Also- it does have a strong odor - kind of sweet - but not really mildewy - doesn't seem to want to go away.
It needs a new water heater, possibly a black water tank, and leveling jacks.
Any tips on these items? Can the jacks be installed myself? What about the tank?
Also, the mid-seal seems to be super tight on one side (back) and very loose (you can see daylight through it) on the side w/ the door. I'm wondering if that's because the leveling jacks are not in use due to one of them being broken - but it's possible that something may be out of alignment... what would I look for to repair this? In the interim I've used plumber’s insulation tubing and wedged in the gap.
Is there any way to get the 120v outlets to run off of the DC power?

I'm very happy to be a part of this family now! I love the trailer and every minute I spend in it - I love it even more. I will be LIVING in it full time. And I have about 2-3 months before that happens. I'd like to have everything in ship shape by then. Any advice/ costs etc...

Thank you all! I'll look forward to hearing back.
Make it a great day!
Jon. @

 

[sam-HILO]

Celtic Rennie

Welcome to the forum!! I,m sure you will get all your questions answered.

 

[JMDoering]

Hi Jon,

Welcome to the Hi-Lo community, and welcome to the Hi-Lo Trailer Forum (HTF)! If convenient, please post some pictures of you new rig!

WOW! You packed a LOT of queries into one post! It’s almost overwhelming!

The HTF has accumulated an enormous amount of shared knowledge; based not only in what is written in the many manuals available in the Forum library, but also on the years of operational and repair experience of HTF members. My suggestion is that you research the information already available here, to find if you can first answer some of your own questions. In fact, that's part of the fun of being an HTF member! Elsewhere in the HTF, in great detail, you'll find step-by-step procedures for lift cable adjustments; discussions on hitch systems, practical formulas for determining towing capacities, and references (with hot links) to magazines that list vehicle-towing capacities. Most of your good questions have already herein been answered. Use the “Search,” feature, its very good.

I've written the above at the risk of you thinking this is a blow off. It's not... and I think you'll find, in reading other answers in other HTF threads that we all really try to help each other. If you don't find an answer here, you'll find that we'll really try to help you too.

Hope this helps,

Jim

 

[vannooch-HILO]

Hi Jon, this site has tow rating down to 1999, they may be similar to yours. They are rating a 1999 ram van 2500 with a 5.2 at 7900 lbs. with a four speed automatic transmission with overdrive, and 4.09/4.10:1 axle ratio.
I tow my 2693 RD with a savanna 1500 with a 5.7 with 3.73:1 axle ratio, with a motorcycle in the van and everything needed for a week or so. My van is rated at 6600 lbs for towing.

Hope that helps

Annual Towing Guides

Welcome to the forum!

David

 

[sam-HILO]

Celtic Rennie95 26ft.

Had a thought for any one new to the Hi-Lo trailer. I'm pretty sure if you buy parts at your local RV dealer that they might give you a nice thick catalog of parts for your RV if you ask. Some charge $ Get what you can at Walmart,reasonable prices. Another good source would be a Master catalog from camping world. Ask for two copies,one for home and one to keep in the Hi-Lo. The catalog is about 120 pages. Camping world offers the Presidents club for a small fee for one year. You get lower prices with this. Camping puts out sale flyers and mails them to you. Most of the parts on the Hi-lo are common to other RVS. Many people search the internet for the best price on RV parts. Camping World-1.800.626.5944 or Camping World.com Take Care Sam

 

[JMDoering]

Sam has a good idea. Expanding on that thought, another generic source of VERY hard to find hardware, some of which could very well be used in Hi-Lo's as replacement parts, or upgrades, is McMaster-Carr. They also have an on-line catalog at: McMaster-Carr

I've gone to them to find most of the gasket materials used in our Hi-Lo's.

Jim

 

[CelticRennie]

Thank you all!

Wow - Thank you all for the info! Not sure where to start now! lol @