roof weight - Hi-Lo camper travel trailer forum

thoudesh · 02-20-2016, 12:18 PM

I have never owned a HILO but am looking to purchase one re-furbish it and update the interior. It is a late 1980's model. Does anyone know if the roof is a walk on roof. Can you add a bike rack without damaging it? How about an ATV rack centered over the wheels? It is 24 foot in length.

hilltool · 02-20-2016, 03:59 PM

You can walk on it but I recommend doing it with the top lowered so you are not stressing the cables. You can likely add any type of rack you want ( bike etc) though I am not a fan because it usually requires drilling in holes in the roof to mount supports and places for tie downs----plus there is the hassle of always having to lower the roof to get your bike or kayak or whatever on and off. many folks mount bike racks on the rear for a couple of bikes and I'm a BIG fan of figuring out ways to carry canoes and kayaks on tow vehicles for a number of reasons. Finally, "How about an ATV rack centered over the wheels?" Im not sure what you mean. Like a rack on the roof for an ATV??? My first response is "NO". Why? Weight is one. Most those things weigh much more than a person

and the roof is designed to carefully and periodically hold the weight of a person but I wouldn't want an ATV bouncing up an down on it all day long. Plus there are vents and air conditioners up there etc. to work around. I've noticed folks see Hi-Los and start coming up with all sorts of ideas for them that they would not consider on a "regular" trailer. I don't know what it is......I guess the low profile. If you want a camping trailer with that type of capability there are quite a few "tent trailers" out there configured to haul ATVS and with the clearance to head into "the back country" or down logging roads or whatever. Unless you are going to be going into "grizzly" country on a regular basis I would look at one of those. And if Grizzly is what you seek- I STILL wouldn't consider carrying an ATV on the top. But, likely as not, somebody will post a picture on here of someone who did it.

Rick

Luckydog671 · 02-20-2016, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hilltool

I STILL wouldn't consider carrying an ATV on the top. But, likely as not, somebody will post a picture on here of someone who did it.

Rick

Sorry Rick, this is as close as I could come!

JackandJanet · 02-20-2016, 10:40 PM

That's a hoot, Greg!

Seriously, there's no way I'd put an ATV on a HiLo roof. A couple bikes would be ok, but there are better places for them. Somebody put a kayak on the roof I think and that should be ok too.

- Jack

Treeclimber · 02-21-2016, 08:43 AM

Could put an ATV on the roof rack of my escalade, the just drive it over the windshield, across the hood and......nah

hilltool · 02-21-2016, 11:04 AM

To reinforce my position that the best place for extra "toys" is the tow vehicle:

RCREYES · 02-21-2016, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hilltool

To reinforce my position that the best place for extra "toys" is the tow vehicle:

Saw a guy heading down I-10 with a big monster trailer and an ATV loaded just like that. Back-end had a pretty good squat.

My name is Pat · 03-25-2016, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JackandJanet

That's a hoot, Greg!

Seriously, there's no way I'd put an ATV on a HiLo roof. A couple bikes would be ok, but there are better places for them. Somebody put a kayak on the roof I think and that should be ok too.

- Jack

I've often strapped down a 12 foot zodiac on top. Then again it does weigh less than 100 pounds and is made of vinyl and I have no air conditioning unit.

low pressure · 03-26-2016, 09:29 AM

I almost installed a bike rack on my roof but decided not to. Leakage was my concern.
URL=http://s7.photobucket.com/user/lowpressure/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160325_182430_zpsuesthzvk.jpg.html]

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RCREYES · 03-28-2016, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by low pressure

I almost installed a bike rack on my roof but decided not to. Leakage was my concern.
URL=http://s7.photobucket.com/user/lowpressure/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160325_182430_zpsuesthzvk.jpg.html]

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Where do you display your license plate?

Hersbird · 03-28-2016, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCREYES

Where do you display your license plate?

I see it, right there in the back window. Around here liscense plates on trailers are permanent. I bet a lot of people just keep the old one from the previous owner. There is basically nothing to see on the plate. Probably why he put it there to keep it from walking away and ending up on somebody else's trailer.

RCREYES · 03-28-2016, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hersbird

I see it, right there in the back window. Around here liscense plates on trailers are permanent. I bet a lot of people just keep the old one from the previous owner. There is basically nothing to see on the plate. Probably why he put it there to keep it from walking away and ending up on somebody else's trailer.

Now I see it! Here in Texas, you can't have the plate obstructed. Although not enforced, even a license plate frame that covers any part of any lettering is considered obstructed.

Treeclimber · 03-28-2016, 04:46 PM

He could purchase a cheap license plate holder from an auto parts store about $6 and install it under the tail light assembly with a clear section on the bottom. If he has one.

RichR · 03-28-2016, 05:24 PM

That model would have come from the factory with a combination taillight with an illuminated license plate bracket. It may have been altered or replaced.

Hersbird · 03-28-2016, 09:12 PM

I bet it got stolen enough times he decided to put it inside the window.

low pressure · 03-29-2016, 04:36 PM

Sorry for late reply. When I bought the trailer last year the license plate was in the drawer in the trailer. The license plate holder was broken. The previous owner never registered it after transferring it to his name. I found this out the hard way, when the DMV was asking for all back registration. I was able to get half from the previous owner ( I was not happy but had to settle with hafl instead of driving it back and face more bs).