Potential but flood victim

[Bluecarpenter22]

I’m a newbie here as far as the Hilo campers go. Couple years ago I build a teardrop camper but wasn’t big enough for all three of us. I’ve got a regular 22 foot RV at my in-laws farm but it’s not in real good shape and I don’t like towing it so I’m looking at getting a Hilo camper. I found three that are potential first one I’m looking at apparently is in very good shape no roof leaks or anything like that but last fall it was in a flash flood underwater for about 24 hours it only had about 9 inches of water on the floor but it still looks in decent shape at the moment. She’s not sure if it will power up and down it was in the up position at the time. Would that one be one that would be worth looking at? I’ve replaced floors in a couple different campers over the years so that’s not a big issue to me. another one I am looking at Had a tree branch fall and make a hole in the roof so it’s caused some damage there to the ceiling and the walls one of the cabinets is even down not sure if it was because of the tree branch falling or it was taken down. And then the third one I’m looking at the AC unit has been taking off the roof poorly patched hole which has A little bit of damage and the previous owner took off quite a few of the panels on the inside I also took out one of the windows and had put in a window AC unit. They are all around the thousand dollar mark. The one I am leaning towards the one that had been flooded for 24 hours simply because I think little bit of cleaning in that one would be ready to go right now granted might have to do something with the floor here a little later on not sure on that one yeah it just concerns me slightly due to the fact that she’s not sure if it will go down I wouldn’t think it would take much to get it motorized down was a good charge the battery. Can you all give me some insight on what y’all‘s opinion would be thanks Mark

 

[JackandJanet]

Blue, welcome to the forum!

Besides the floor, you might have damage to the lower part of the walls. These can all be repaired of course, but you'd need to decide on that for yourself.

Unfortunately, if there was 9" of water inside, the lift pump and motor were also underwater. Electrical components don't like to be submerged, so the motor may well be damaged to the point that it would need to be replaced. Check that the top lowers and raises too. The motor is used to raise the top, it lowers by just releasing hydraulic fluid back to the reservoir.

You could also have some damage to the furnace, the hot water heater and especially the refrigerator if the water was high enough. Do a thorough check of these items.

Good luck!

- Jack

 

[Bluecarpenter22]

Yeah I kind of figure that the furnace refrigerator and possibly water heater may be damaged somehow. Nice thing about it is I’ve got an almost brand new water heater from my other camper that I am limping along with can go in there also soak in the furnace refrigerator is a bit big but I’m not too concerned about that right now. Yes I also figured there’s probably some lower wall damage but that is definitely fixable. Just wasn’t sure if I can get it to raise slightly so I can disengage the safety and then lower it by using the manual valve release or can I get the safety removed and get it lowered down without raising it up by the motor I’m not real concerned about the motor as if I need to I’ll put a new one in it for the price I can’t beat the price

 

[JackandJanet]

You won't know if it will lift till you try! If there's any juice left in the battery, it should open the lowering valve. Four strong men might lift it off the safety bar if it's binding and the motor won't do it.

I would not try to move it with the top up. HiLos are not designed for the stresses that would impose.

- Jack

 

[Bluecarpenter22]

It’s a bit of a drive for me to get there to look at it. But I’m not too concerned about it. I definitely will not tow it with it in the up position. I was also wondering if a couple high lift jacks could lift it up just enough to get it off the safety rod and then it would come down. Push come to shove when I get home I’ll be able to work on it and if I had to buy a new pump for it. For hook up a jumper cable to it to see how it would lift. Just reading everything I can on the forum it seems like it would be granite maybe not the simplest in the world but it’s not that big a deal I don’t think

 

[JackandJanet]

Possibly, two jacks placed diagonally might lift it enough to get the top of the safety bar. I don't know, and you DO risk distorting the top this way. It would be better to try connecting jumper cables to the trailer's battery to insure sufficient power to the lift motor first (as you suggested). This might also give you a clue to the condition of the lift motor itself.

- Jack

 

[sam-HILO]

What one to buy?

I would pass on the flooded trailer. I would pass on all of them for a trailer in better condition. I base my experience on doing major renovations to our 1990 HiLo. Our water damage came from not realizing that the windows needed to be taken out and reinstalled. This happened after several years of ownership.