Want to buy 19-22' Hi-Lo in AZ/NM/CA
 

Want to buy a Hi-Lo to be towed by Saturn Vue with 3,500 lb. max towing capacity. Live near Phoenix, AZ, but will consider picking up within 500 miles destination, or willing to consider sharing shipping costs, based on price of trailer.
Contact lamcaf@yahoo.com

2208 Towlite in VA
 

If you are interested in my posting I am willing to reduce my price to $9000.00 where you can use the $1000.00 toward shipping from Richmond VA to Phoenix. I made that drive in 1974 and it was 46 hours. You can view pictures on my album or view pictures on Craigs List Richmond VA. :)

Lamcaf - I really think you are being overly optimistic about towing any of those lengths with a tow vehicle rated at 3500# max. Any of the trailers you are considering will almost surely add so much tongue weight that your tow vehicle's axles will be overloaded.

- Jack

Towing weights
 

Thank you for your input, however, according to NADA, the towing weights of the Hi-LO is as follows:

17T 2,600 lbs.

22 3,432

2306 4,200

2406 4,106

2706 4,500

So I figured I could be ok with either a 17, 19, or (stretching it) 22 ft.

Hi lamcaf,

I wouldn't put much stock in the NADA guide weights. Those numbers do not include added options or anything loaded in it. I recommend you get more input from owners who have actually weighed their trailers. My 2 cents worth. ;)

Yup, I know all about those NADA towing weights.

My 1707T, with the options that were factory installed (drop-down bunk, air conditioner, microwave, awning, TV antenna, spare tire, stabilizer jacks, etc.), in other words, the things you normally find on a trailer, supposedly has an "empty" weight of around 3200#, giving it a 500# extra cargo capacity. The empty weight does not include 300# for fresh water or 40# for filled LP gas.

In fact, my trailer weighed "empty" except for filled LP bottles weighed 3500# measured on a CAT scale. Adding fresh water to the tank takes me right to the listed max weight of about 3800#.

The tongue weight was a bit over 600# with full fresh water and that, plus the weight of my Weight Distributing Hitch, came almost to the limit of my 2005 Ford F150's axle weight limits, again, measured on a CAT scale. And my truck has a towing weight limit of 8700#. It has plenty of "engine" to pull, but the suspension is the limiting factor.

I had the axle moved three inches forward on the trailer to reduce the tongue weight to the value it was supposed to be according to the HiLo documentation, upgraded the tires on it to Load Range D and have installed Load Range E tires on my truck.

You can take a chance with your Saturn, but I think you are asking for a LOT of trouble. Ideally, you should not exceed 80% of the rated towing capacity anyway. You are already well past that.

Get a bigger towing vehicle, or pull a tent popup.

- Jack

Trailer Weights
 

My thanks to the people who have had experience with Hi-Lo and know better, or at least more than I.
Your help is appreciated. Sounds like I need to trade my Saturn in for a V8 pickup, or F150 Ecoboost.
Frank