Lift Kit Installed - Hi-Lo camper travel trailer forum

camperD · 08-07-2015, 01:18 PM

After crunching the skirting on my 2307C, I decided to raise the trailer. I got the lift kit from J&R Trailer Repairs, Mount Vernon, OH and had it installed locally. So I thought I’d share the information I learned.

The lift kit is quite stout and high quality. The fabricator was the same one that HiLo sub-contracted with to make the lift kits they offered as a modification. It was made to the HiLo specs. Now that I have seen it, I am confident it could have been fabricated locally equally well.

There were 2 lift heights offered: 2-1/2” and 5” and I chose the 5”. The lift kit was 4 pcs, two for each axle …. Each piece was 11” long, made of two 2-1/2” square steel tubes (6mm thick) with 2-1/2” angle iron (1/4” thick); all stacked up and welded together. 4-12mm holes spaced 8” apart lengthwise and 5-1/4" heightwise were drilled in the angle iron and lower steel tube. So the actual lift is 5-1/4". The extra 1/4” comes from the thickness of the angle iron. I’ve attached some pics (2-before, 3-lift kit piece, 2-after) .

Cost for the 5” lift was $380 for the lift kit and $140 for the installation. There will be some additional cost for the extra 5” including a higher rise hitch shank ($90) and adding a third step (still brainstorming that one).

J&R was very knowledgeable and helpful but they relied on a subcontractor on this, and it made for a long delivery (a month and a half). The local installer (my local hitch dealer) had no problems putting it in.

It cost a bunch, but I am very pleased with the higher HiLo. I will no longer fear the crown in the road where my steep driveway meets the road, nor worry about how deep the dips are between entrances and roadways or the ruts in the forest service roads.

I think I’ll start calling it the Hi-er-Lo.

Luckydog671 · 08-07-2015, 03:34 PM

Looking at the before and after photos, quite a difference! That's one thing I liked about the Towlites over the Classics; the Towlite is quite a bit higher. I really noticed the difference when I was looking to purchase and crawled under a Classic to inspect it as it was quite tight underneath. In addition to not worrying about scraping the skirting, you'll find maintenance on the underside much easier now. Thanks for the post and photos, camperD!

As far as the extra step, you may want to consider a portable step such as this:

http://www.etrailer.com/Enclosed-Tra...FUuTfgod32sDBw

Even though I have a three step unit installed now, I've noticed there are times (depending on the site) where another step would come in handy.

KnottyRig · 01-25-2016, 12:21 PM

Wait - looking at those pics, is there no suspension/springs under there?

hilltool · 01-25-2016, 05:25 PM

Nope. These are Dexter torsion axles. No springs as the axle absorbs the bumps.

KnottyRig · 01-26-2016, 09:29 AM

Thanks for the info, hilltool.

Do all the HiLo's use this setup, or is it different by year/model?

We're considering a 15/17 purchase in the spring (if we can find one!)

RichR · 01-26-2016, 09:42 AM

All the later year models have the torsion axles. Earlier models had leaf spring suspensions. I'm not sure when they switched.

skysix · 10-07-2016, 07:19 PM

I built a set myself for a 1998 28' with 2 pieces of 1/4 wall 2.5" tubing and a piece of 0.25 by 2.5x2.5 angle using 5/8" grade 8 fine hardware in 9/16" holes. If doing again would use 2" by 0.125" box tubing x 3 sections and 5/8" fine grade 8 bolts in 9/16" holes, no angle but a plate 11" by 8" welded on one side to get the same shape, and a long piece of 1.75" x 0.125 box tubing to go in middle section bridging the two axles. Probably not welded but bolted in place with 1/2" grade 8 fine bolts. Then can use as a jack point to lift both tires.