Giving up on 17 or 15' Hi-lo for now...
 

I had a T17 I was really interested in from Craigslist. So interested I was willing to just send the money to the seller and coordinate a transport service.

Some good people here mentioned people being burned here on Craigslist scams, so I decided I should have someone check it out. I am 1500 miles away. Understandably, this group is small enough - it seems there is no one is local or able.

Another mentioned just driving out and hauling it back myself (UT-Michigan). 3 day weekend, I seriously considered it...but that is 3-4 days of driving to find out it is a scam, or a mess. Not good.

I think I will keep looking to find something in the West. California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico.

I think you are being smart. The problem with driving a long distance to check out a trailer, is that you might feel you didn't want to come back "empty handed" after all that effort, so you might accept defects you would otherwise see as deal breakers.

The trailer sizes you are looking for DO appear here in the western states now and then. It's good to be patient.

- Jack