Number of axles, and ground clearance
 

Hello, I have started shopping for a Hi-Lo, and I see lots of different models out there. Why is it that some 17-footers have dual axles and some have just single? Are there pros and cons to one or the other (other than the obvious of only having to maintain two rather than four tires)? I also have to think about ground clearance because of the dirt-road places I go, so any advice on certain models/years for better clearance and durability would be appreciated. Thank you very much for any advice you could lend!

They changed axle weight limits and suspensions from time to time. A dual axle trailer tows smoother with less sway than a single, also the tires a subjected to less wear and tear. Later models have larger diameter 15" wheels and have higher clearance than the older models that had 13" wheels. The 24' and larger models with tip outs sit higher also. I can't say that any model is suitable for any off of "semi-smooth" roads.

pro's con's
 

One of the big pro's on double axle is if something goes wrong, like a tire blowing. With a single axle that's it you have a problem. Double axle, well you get twice the chance for a problem but the other one tire/axle hopefully will hold till you can settle things down and then repair and replace. I would like to have double axle myself.
Off Road -- very slow and Good Luck.

Later Tim

Thanks for the info, both of you! That really helps.

To make a Hi-lo off-road, it would have to be raised at the axle. Because the axle is a flex tube style and not leaf springs syle, you would have to build a sub-frame below the frame of the trailer to support the axle if you wanted to raise the trailer for ground clearance.
The upper section of a hi-lo just rest on bumpers at the frame, to make the hi-lo off-road in my opinion you would have to build a clamping system to keep the upper section from bouncing on and off the bumpers that would cause damage to the upper section frame.

Question??
 

"""Because the axle is a flex tube style and not leaf springs style"""
-- say what?? I must not understand this part because of the leaf springs on our hilo. Or could be there over the years hilo changed from leaf spring to a flex tube or else I just don't understand the wording on this one.
A pic of the leaf spring axle setup on ours.

Interesting

Later Tim

Yes , they changed to torsion axles. My 2195 has springs, the 2209 has torsion axles.

year?
 

Interesting. About what year did they do that?

Later Tim

1999 classic had torsion, not sure when Tow lite started.

Check the brochures in the Reference Library.

Probably the same time. If I wasn't so lazy I would look through the old brochures to find out.

Flexiride Rubber Torsion Axles

I think this is what they have.

My 2201 has torsion axles. I "raised " mine this year by three inches by adding spacers to frame and reattaching axles three inches lower. Next year I may try going to larger wheels.

Vanstaats - A lot of people in Utah flip their axles to get better clearance but I rarely have seen any of them camped in the places they would have needed it. I did not need to raise my 2195 and we have taken it down a lot of dirt roads. I did put mudflaps behind the wheel wells to keep rocks from hitting the tanks drainpipes. The only issue I had was dust getting in. We have had to be careful on rutted roads and go slow. However I found in soft sand it was best to go fast and the trailer skated floated across the top. I am sure many folks will disagree with me on that but Hey, I wanted to camp there and had no choice.
https://www.hilotrailerforum.com/memb.../1995-towlite/

I also took my 2195 over some very bad roads and made it without and problems , go slow and pick your route, something like the rock crawler boys do.

Rich - didn't you go up the Alaska highway in it?

pics
 

Rolff
Nice pics of that area. Thanks for sharing

Later Tim

Yes, it was to Alaska but that road was nothing compared to some we were on.

yeah I don't think the Top not being clamped down would be a problem. It always seems very stable lowered. Of course mine was not pristine when I bought it, and I bought it with backroads in mind.