How is the gap between upper and lower the rest of the way around the trailer? Is it even width? There shouldn't be any more than about a half inch anywhere or less than about a quarter of an inch, in my guestimation.

Are the 2x4s cut to 8in? Need help thanks bob.

cut to 8in of what? Help

I realize this is kinda late for the question... but just in case others are looking, here's a pic from the manual showing what the gap should be and how far up or down the top should be:

Fishermark,

Thanks for inserting that proper seal fit illustration. We just did the leveling procedure on our 2704T... only to find that the top half is about 1/2 inch longer than it should be! With the top level and the side gaskets engaged as in the illustration, our trailer still has a 1/4" gap in both the front and back. The seal gasket is still round, spongy and in good shape even though it is 8 years old.

Oh well... my redneck quick-fix was to go to big orange and get two 8 foot lengths of very flexible 5/8"D braided rope, which I push into the gap (from the inside) in the front and back, when the trailer is up. Most of the time a little 1/4" gap and air leakage just doesn't matter in our country, but I'm thinking of the night-time skeeter and no-see-em factor when we travel east into bug country. Gotta keep those critters out.

Jim

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1967 17' Hi-Lo Bon Voyage (1967-1969)
1969 19' Hi-Lo Bon Voyage (1969-2011)
2004 27' Hi-Lo TowLite (2010-present)
2007 Chevy Suburban

Jim, the error in the length of your top half is kinda on a par with the error in positioning my axle. I wonder if the QC at HiLo was going down the drain long before they closed?

Don't get me wrong, I still like the thing. But, errors like this DO make me wonder.

- Jack

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Hi-Lo 1707T
2005 F150 4x4 KR SCrew

Jack,

Have to admit that I've had the same thoughts after reading some of the issues expressed in this Forum, including your own (which I found appalling).

I can state, without reservation, that our 1969 Bon Voyage is MUCH, MUCH better made than our 2704T. Parking them side-by-side, the difference in craftsmanship is clearly obvious. Regarding construction materials, well as I've stated elsewhere in the HTF, even keeping it in the high/dry desert of southern Idaho, our 2704T won't last even close to the 42 years (and still ticking) of our 1969... and our 1969 spent years in humid Michigan, Florida and rainy western Oregon! I've already drilled/repaired stress cracks on the four corners of both of our 2704T end caps.

In all fairness to Hi-Lo, what I don't know is if the drop in quality is/was industry-wide. Could be that Hi-lo put out a very good product relative to the competition.

Even with the flaws, as you conclude, I still like the thing!

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1967 17' Hi-Lo Bon Voyage (1967-1969)
1969 19' Hi-Lo Bon Voyage (1969-2011)
2004 27' Hi-Lo TowLite (2010-present)
2007 Chevy Suburban

This is not meant to cause a major ruckus. We just love our 90 classic HiLo..The interior has the "wow" factor" and it is built like a tank. It should last for many more years. No matter what goes wrong It can be fixed/rebuilt. I don,t see the quality in the newer HiLos yet they were charging top dollar for inferior parts. Something to be said for tried and true. If HiLo would listen to the feedback from their customers maybe they wouldn,t have gone out of business. I heard from owners that there was engineering problems with the 31 and 33 ft models. sam

Sam,
We have a 2004 31ft Classic Hi-Lo and have not had one ounce of trouble with it. We also have a 1996 26ft and not had any problems with it either. The 1996 is as you said built like a tank.... The 2004 is also built very well. We noticed the quality slipping quite alot starting with the 2006 models.

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Nebraska
2004 31ft Classic Hi-Lo (Hubby & I) 2004-to present
1996 26ft RD Classic Hi-Lo (Our children & grandkids borrow from us) 1996-to present