buyer questions
 

Hi. I looked at a hi lo that was for sale and the wall was warped on the inside. The people said the a/c unit had leaked and they replaced the seal. I was was wondering how much (roughly) it would cost to replace that wall and if I should worry if there is any other damage from the water leak that I should be concerned about. Also what would be a reasonable amount to pay for the camper. Its a 19 foot 1998. Thank you for reading.

Welcome to the Forum!

If there is damage inside the wall I would walk away. If it has a wood frame especially there could be hidden wrought in the wall. In 1999 the wall framing was steel, but I'm not sure about 1998.

There are no 1998 19' HiLo/Towlite trailers listed on NADA. Could you get the model number of the trailer, that would tell what model year it is. It should be on the side.

Welcome to the forum. Hope this helps you out. These are the major things to lookout for when buying a trailer.

This was taken from NDgent's post here on the forum. It is a great go-by list. You can do a search of "thinking about buying" and find his post to read it first hand.

Basically, start with the visual items –
1. Exterior
• Look for water stains and discoloration on inside walls and around ceiling anywhere vents, skylights, windows, etc. exist.
• Push and prod with your hand on the inside walls for soft spots (which could indicate a water leak and a damaged or rotten interior wall).
• Check for bubbles in the wallpaper (a sign of delimitation or water intrusion)
2. Interior cleanliness of the unit-
• Look for water stains and discoloration on inside walls and around ceiling anywhere vents, skylights, windows, etc. exist.
• Push and prod with your hand on the inside walls for soft spots (which could indicate a water leak and a damaged or rotten interior wall).
• Check for bubbles in the wallpaper (a sign of delimitation or water intrusion)
3. Test appliance functions –
• lights
• fans
• refrigerator
• air conditioner
• heater
• water pump
• range hood
• stovetop
• oven (if equipped)
• microwave (if equipped)
• stereo (if equipped)
4. Lift System-
• Does the unit raise and lower properly
• Check the lift system for hydraulic leaks (puddle under the trailer)
• Check the lift cables to see if they are in good shape and not frayed
• Check the seal between the upper and lower body halves for tears or damage
5. fill the tanks to the top and check for leaks
6. Battery
7. Solar Panel (if equipped)

It's been my experience after owning 2 hi-lo's...if it is at the point where you can see some damage, especially delamination or water damage, then there are bigger underlying issues that you can't see.

I bought my last hi-lo knowing this, but I got such a good deal we were able to put more money in it and we still came out ahead...but it wasn't cheap!

thank you
 

Thank you everyone for the advise- Yes you are right its a 99 not a 98 - i think i will just keep looking the wall between the sink and the toilet was really warped-- when we touched it it broke - i don't mind replacing the wall but i am concerned with other damage I cant see

Buying a HiLo
 

I agree run from a HiLo with wall damage. Ours had water damage after several years of ownership. We didn't realize that all the windows had to be taken out and resealed. We spent at least $1000.00 on materials and many many hrs doing the repair. Be patient and you will find a better unit possibly in the spring. Tell us what your budget is and we will keep an eye out for you. Are you interested in a Towlite or a classic? What is your tow vehicle.

budget
 

We have a budget of around $2500. We have 7 kids but only need a camper that sleeps 6. My 6 year old has autism and loves to camp but she is prone to wondering off so we need to upgrade from our tent. We have 2 vehicles that can tow a 2003 dodge 1500 conversion van and a 1998 ford expedition. We would probably tow with the ford as it already has a hitch. We would prefer a lighter model because our SUV is already a gas hog.

With a $2500 budget, it is going to be hard to find later model hi-lo in perfect condition, but you can find 80's and maybe early 90's, most of the campers that are that old (sometimes even less than 10 year old) will have some roof, window leaks, and that is not limited to hi-lo, it affects every camper by any maker, If the owner was able to repair the damage it in time, then that is great, but the majority will never know about leaks until they see discoloration on walls, ceiling..
if you are a handy person, just about anything is repairable with material from Home Depot, Lowe's and others, in other words behind the walls it is just insulation and particle boards and the frame, so unless there is structure damage in the frame, anything on the inside is repairable without expensive tools, a little knowledge about carpentry is all you need.
Once you do the repairs, then it is a matter of maintenance to keep your unit in working order for years to come.