When you are traveling you want to have the power switch in the middle position, that cuts off power to anything in the trailer that should not be on. The DC is always available to the fridge so you can have it on while on the road. You are not supposed to use the LP mode while on the road it could be dangerous, especially while sitting next to gas fumes while refueling.

If you haven't already you may want to watch the HiLo instructional video this in the reference library. Once you pull it up scroll down to NDgent's post, there you will find the videos listed by subject. The DVD came with all new trailers starting back in about 2005.

HiLo "Video" owners manuals... youtube!

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Great Wife, Joyce
2010 2310H Hi-Lo
2012 F150 4X4 SuperCrew EcoBoost w/Leer Cap
Reese WD Strait-Line Hitch
Amateur Radio K3EXU

Sorry, Rob - from your description at first, it sounded like mine with the electronic switching.

Isn't there some indicator that tells you it's running on AC and that things are working OK?

Still, the fridge is designed to be very efficient when running on gas too. I'd chose that over DC any day. We boondock camp mostly and so hardly ever use the AC capability. The gas consumption from the fridge is really very minimal.

- Jack

LP mode is the most efficient, you can go a long, long time on a tank.

Out 1705T had a similar fridge. There was no indicator for AC or DC but there was for LP. There was a small meter that indicated that the pilot was lit.

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Great Wife, Joyce
2010 2310H Hi-Lo
2012 F150 4X4 SuperCrew EcoBoost w/Leer Cap
Reese WD Strait-Line Hitch
Amateur Radio K3EXU

Our HiLo is under wraps right now so I can't check this for sure, butI just happened to think, we have an automatic setting on our fridge and I have noticed that it doesn't switch over to AC automatically when we have been on the road running it on DC, and then stop for the night and plug into AC.

I never thought that much about it for I always just hit the AC and change it over manually. When we first set up, there is an indicator light showing it is on DC and there must be a sensor that is not recognizing that AC has been connected. If I remember correctly, the first choice is AC, 2nd is Gas, and third is DC. Does that sound right?

Jerry & Carol Curtis
2406 T

Thanks for the info on how much gas the fridge uses. I was wondering that right off. To all that got back with me thanks a lot. The video is a plus as well.
I did a cycle to AC power on fridge and checked it this morning everything is working fine. I think the fridge should have some kind of an indicator showing that there is power to it on AC. It would at least give people a heads up that it has power to it or not.
Anyway my first month at a RV Park and the trailer is doing fine now. Lots of activities and places to go. Looking forward to going to South Padre Island this week for beach and seafood as the temp is suppose to be over 80 the next two days.
As a note I pulled the trailer with a half ton chevy truck with a 4.8 motor. It did pretty well even run in overdrive most of the time. Ran from Alton Il. to Brownsville Tx. Staying at a place called Paul's RV park in Brownsville.
Thanks again all.

"As a note I pulled the trailer with a half ton chevy truck with a 4.8 motor. It did pretty well even run in overdrive most of the time. Ran from Alton Il. to Brownsville Tx. Staying at a place called Paul's RV park in Brownsville.
Thanks again all."

Hi Rob,
A bit off topic, but since it was brought up:
I'm not a master mechanic for Chevy trucks, but I've heard from several sources (professional mechanics and fellow trailer club members) that towing when in overdrive is not good for a transmission. My last two Chevy trucks (a 2002 1500 Silverado, and a 2007 1500 Suburban) both had/have a trailer mode button on the end of the shifter handle. Among other things, trailer mode disables the overdrive function. My mechanic friends tell me that outside of trailer mode the tranny will keep cycling in and out of overdrive and that that causes much wear.

I'm prepared to defer to anyone with greater experience and definitive knowledge in this area. Meanwhile, I'll stay out of overdrive when towing our Hi-Lo.

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

Rob & JM,

I can't speak for the tow vehicle Rob is using, a Chevy 1/2 Ton, but, my last two trucks have been 3/4T Ford F250. The first one was a 1990 with the big v-8 gasoline, 5-speed manual, with the 5th gear being overdrive. Our first RV was a 1990 40' Hitchiker - Champagne edition, one big heavy sucker! We pulled it to Texas when I retired and traded it for a much lighter trailer before moving to Colorado. From 1991 to 2000, we made innumerable trips with 3 different 5th wheels and a Hi-Lo. I always pulled the trailers in OD. When I sold it, it had 380K miles on it and never a problem with the transmission or rear end. It had a trailer towing package but the cautionary warning of "do not haul heavy trailers in OD" was ever present. It was still going strong 6 years ago.

My present F250, 7.3 Liter Diesel is a 4 speed automatic with OD. It is ready to turn 195K miles I have always pulled all our RV's, including a 39' Toy Hauler, and always in OD and had no problems. I would load it up right now and confidently drive to either coast. I do take good care of it maintenance wise and have had the transmission fluid and filter replaced twice in the 12-year time frame. The mechanic on each occasion said there was no abundance of metal fibers and the acid test [?] was okay also.

My brother is an rv'er also, favoring Dodge trucks, and always pulled his rv's in OD. He just recently bought a chevy diesel and pulls his 35' 5th wheel and in OD. To my knowledge, he never had transmission problems even when the Dodge Trucks had a known weakness in the drive line.

Luck? Maybe. Knowing when to take it out of OD might be the reason I never experienced any problems. I know the operating manual recommends not using OD, but my experience has proven to be okay.

Now, watch my transmission go out on me next week. LOL.

Jerry & Carol Curtis
2406 T 2000 F250 7.3 L.Diesel 4x4

I simply let the transmission tell me what to do. If the Torque Converter is constantly unlocking and locking or if the transmission is having to shift in and out of overdrive a lot, I lock it out.

Likewise, I often pull the trailer up long, steep hills (12 miles, 7% grade) like we have here in Arizona with the transmission locked in 2nd gear, to keep it from shifting. And, when descending those long hills I'm always locked in 2nd, to save the brakes.

Essentially, I try to minimize transmission "activity" when towing.

- Jack

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Hi-Lo 1707T
2005 F150 4x4 KR SCrew

I always have towed in overdrive. The only time I would take it out of overdrive was when the tranny started to shift in and out. That did not happen very often. All my tow vehicles have been Fords. I just got a new F150 with the 5.0 V8 engine. The tranny has a tow/haul mode. I haven't towed with it yet but am anxious to try it.

Bob

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2001 2901L Classic
2011 Ford F150

I do drive the truck with the button in tow mode. It seems that it goes into overdrive when on flat surfaces or going down hill. I might be wrong here but it sure seems that way.
Thanks for the info.