questions about my first Hi Lo
 

Hi all, I just bought a 1977 Hi Lo and it has some water damage due to the roof vent leaking and vandalism so I plan on replacing the entire interior but I had a couple questions. The previous owner said he cant get the top to go down and I have read the post here and I am sure I can get it working again without to much trouble. I went under the trailer and noticed a hydraulic leak at the cylinder and I want to fill the hydraulic system before attempting to lower the top but I didnt see a fill plug so my first question is can you fill the hydraulic system and if so where is the fill?
While removing the damaged walls I noticed the paneling fits into a slot where it meets the roof and there are bits of paneling stuck in the slot so my question is: Does the wall paneling just slide into the slot or is it attatched with screws? If its attatched with screws how do you access them?
Any and all help or sugestions would be appreciated. I have read alot of posts here and they have helped alot and I am looking forward to getting my old Hi Lo returned to good working order. Like I said earlier I am replacing most of the interior and redesigning it to fit my needs better so if anybody needs any of the parts that I remove let me know. I would rather give them to somebody who could use them instead of throwing them away.
Thanks again everybody.
Martin

Not sure about a 1977 but newer ones the fill is on the hydraulic pump use Dextron for fluid., don't fill to the top leave at least an inch of air space, and that's with the top down.

Thanks for the info, I was able to find the fill and get the top to go up and down but I have another question. Is it possable to add a manual lever to this system as a back up to put the top up or would I have to replace the whole unit?
Thanks,
Martin

I do know that HI-Lo changed manufactures of the hydraulic unit, the new ones bolt to the unit, don't know if they would fit yours. Call J&R repair they can most likely tell you what you want to know. They are in the original HI-LO building and always were the repair place for HI-LO trailers. I will fine the link and post it here. https://www.jrrepair.embarqspace.com/

77 remodel changing interior
 

any pics before and one day after you could post. i have a 78 and i'm not changing it but restoring it. see it here in my album.

i believe it was an option . a crank handle and no changes necessary i reckon you might have a harder time getting one now that hi-lo is closed but i'm you could find one somewhere ( maybe here ) i don't know if they have to be for a specific year/model /size or not but have heard its not an easy task to do it manual. you should be able to plug it into an electrical outlet or hook the batt. up to your vehicle and raise or lower it . i carry 2 batt. and jumper cables.i tried to raise it once hooked from my truck batt. to the camper cables and it would not raise but with even a low camper batt. i could raise and lowered it.