Hello
 

Hi. My name is Tina and I've been curious about Hi Lo trailers for some time. I'm first buying a van and turning it into a campervan as a place to live. That being accomplished, I'll be saving for a Hi Lo trailer.

As I am way fascinated with the idea of saving money and having a safer towing experience on the road (especially when I stop to eat and people can't figure out how to break into it - ha ha!), I have a ton of questions.

I know my best bet is to buy one in fairly decent shape that requires no major construction. I can deal with interior stuff relatively easily.

Any suggestions on brands? I'm hoping to get the biggest bang for my buck, as everyone is. Perhaps a towlite? I'm thinking 24' would be a good size for me and my cat- if my sister needed a place to stay, we wouldn't be climbing over each other.

Also, I have a question that may sound dumb. I can't figure out the door from the pictures I've seen. Does it latch together, or is it a Dutch door setup with two locks? I can deal with either.

I look forward to learning from the group. Again, hello!

Welcome to the forum. Look through the brochures in the reference library and see the floor plans. See what meets your needs. Hi-Lo went out of business a couple of years ago but there are plenty out there still available.

Hi-Lo Brochure - Hi-Lo camper travel trailer forum

Hi Tina, welcome to our hangout.

The door on the HiLo is a "dutch door". The bottom half simply pushes into a latch that does not lock. The top door DOES lock and it partially covers the bottom half so that it cannot be opened if the top is locked shut over it.

A 24' trailer is pretty big, but if you like room, go for it. We have a 17 ft one and the sleeping platform is "king sized". We just use sleeping bags on it and have plenty of room at night. On trip, my Sister stayed with me while my Wife was off on a retreat and that worked out fine too. Ours has an upper bunk too, that has held two Grandkids in past years.

The thing we noticed about the larger sizes is that the sleeping area is not quite as big, until you get up to ones with queen sized sleeping areas. Virtually anything would work for just you and your cat. And, the smaller ones give you more room than a van.

One thing to think about is where you will be camping. Janet and I like to camp in National Forest and National Park campgrounds, and some of these have pretty tight spaces. If you are going to be using the commercial campgrounds, then parking space is usually not an issue.

- Jack

Hi Tina, and welcome! There is lots of great help on this forum!

I am new to Hi-Lo's also and just bought a 24' Towlite. When you look at the brochures as mentioned, be sure to check the weight ratings for the various models so when you buy your van you can make sure it will be able to tow it adequately. I would think a full size van with a tow package would make a great tow vehicle for the size you want. I also prefer to camp in the places Jack likes but I think you can get into most places with a 24 footer. If you're thinking of living in it full-time then a more spacious 24' would probably be better, but if just camping with your cat and occasional guest you could probably go smaller. You really need to see the different models in person to know for sure.

Other, more experienced owners can advise you better on the benefits of the different models and sizes.

Welcome to the forum
 

Tina,welcome to the forum. I agree with the prior comments. Your van needs to be correct for the size/wt. on the HiLo. The doors have a deadbolt lock and another lock. Brose through the library section and the instructional videos on operation/maintenance. Don't know where you live and what climate you are in. HiLOS are only three season. Some have been brave enough to camp in the winter. Post often. We will do our best to give you answers.