Roof repairs,interior ceiling damage
 

Jerry,decided to start a new thread. Wow,four inches of rain and then some!!. Great to hear your roof repairs held up. You are such a loyal HiLo owner(3rd). I am bothered by our dry crinkled interior ceiling. When our roof had the open slits I could feel the wet underlay. I think it dried out with all the hot weather. Then we put a six inch wide patch for twenty feet. DH isn't bothered by this esthetic flaw. I don't think you can tell all the dammage until you rip the interior ceiling out. Hope your insurance covers all the repairs. If they do then get a transport to JR in Butler Ohio. Let them do all the repairs. If you end up doing all the repairs yourself then I know you will give us the complete story in words and pictures. Haven't gotten a call that our HiLo suspension is fixed by our dealer. I'll have to call and check on that. Weird weather this week. Rain and cooler temps,63. Heard that next week is going to be in the 80s. I hope so as I have a few more outside things I would like to finish. DH painted some windows at church this afternoon. He will be at church inside tomorrow due to the rain. Keep us posted.

Sam,

I do so welcome the onset of fall. The only problem I can see is that DH and I will have to figure out a new excuse for not getting out and doing the yard work and other honey do's. We can't blame it on the hot temperatures any longer. LOL.

I don't think my insurance would pay for the 1000 or so miles to Ohio to get the ceiling repaired. It will have to be done locally and I will check out the RV repair shop very thoroughly should the insurance come through.

You are correct insofar as determining the damage to the ceiling. However, I have removed a section inside one of the cabinets and just made the cut about 1/2" beyond where the 'wrinkles' were and it was good and solid. If I do it myself, I will have to get some further instructions on removing the cabinets that hold the motor for the tip-out. I will probably call on J&R for some instruction on how to proceed if it comes to that.

If I do the repairs, I will keep the forum informed as to the steps taken and results recognized.

You two take care.

Jerry Curtis
2406T

Jerry -- Maybe I'm reading your post wrong, but did you stay the tipout motor was contained in one of the cabinets? I assume you mean one of the cabinets inside of the Hi-Lo. Beach and I have a 2509C which is not that much newer than your 2406T and has a similar floor plan as yours, and we have not found a motor for the tipout in any of our inside cabinets. Granted, I have not been looking for the motor as we have not been having any trouble with the motor, but have had every inside cabinet open on the inside of the camper. I thought the motor might be located in the outside pod below the tipout. It it wasn't so dark outside right now, I would get my backside out of this chair and go outside and take a look!!

Dee Tillotson
Summerville, SC

Dee,

I am attaching two pics that will show you where the tilt-out motor housing is located. The center compartment between the open cabinet doors houses the motor control for raising and lowering the tilt-out. You can access the motor works by removing the two screws on the front cover.

This is the cabinet I will have to remove to do repairs or replacement of the damaged area on the ceiling.

Jerry Curtis
2406T

Replacing roof,interior wall dammage.
 

I have called JR in regards to replacing our roof. He proposed putting on a metal roof and replacing all of the interior ceiling panels. The process would take eight hours and the roof would be guaranteed one year. The layers would be laminated together. Make sure any Rv dealership would be able to laminate all layers together. My HiLo dealer doesn't have the desire to do a total tearout and doesn't have the equipment to do a laminate proocess. This laminate process just might make the ins. co. willing to transport to JR. In other words you need to compare apples to apples. I,m sure JR would have no trouble putting this in writting for you. An itimized breakdown of the work needed and price.

Jerry -- Thanks for the pics. I also checked my 2509C Hi-Lo. Right in the middle of the panel you illustrated in your pics there is a light fixture with a shade in my Hi-Lo. Therefore, in my Hi-Lo, that little area behind the panel not only contains the wiring for the light fixture, but must also contain the motor for the tipout. Such a little space for all that. I have my fingers crossed that we never have to remove that light, wiring, etc. to get to that motor!! I appreciate the information.

Dee
Summerville, SC

Hi Dee
You do need to get into tipout motor area to lub the gearing system. There is quite a load on the gears when raising. You also need to inspect the flat lifting belt/ribbon for fraying. It has not been difficult getting into this area. Say Hi to Beach.
JIM

Hey Jim!! Great minds must think alike. When I asked Beach, he said the same thing you did. I did not know that he goes to the trouble of taking that light down to get to the motor to lube those gears. In answer to my question to him about how he does it with the wiring crammed in that small space with the motor, he said he arranges the wiring on a hanger. Beach also says hey to you and Faye. I'm still working on him for the Minnesota trip in June (i.e., Hi-Lo Annual Rally). Just a little secret between you and me, if I can get him to Minnesota, I just may be able to push him a little farther to Colorado.

Dee
Summerville, SC

HiLo Rally in Minesota
 

We'll have to see what the gas prices are by then. Right now i see it at $4.05 &4.09 in NY. May not be going much of any where.

Sam -- Beach and I were in Jackson Hole, WY in July and a little part of August with our son and his family (no camping, just rented a house together), and I was floored at how low the gas and diesel prices were (in the middle of nowhere, too). This was WY's high season, so I expected everything to be high priced; shelter was very high, but fuel and groceries low. However, restaurants were high priced for the quality of food you got, except a little place locals hung out call "Mountain High Pizza Pie"--great pizzas and Greek salads. Therefore, I am betting that as you travel west in June, those fuel prices you speak of will come down, if the prices in WY around that time of year are any benchmark. P.S. Saw two Hi-Los while we were traveling in Grand Tetons and Yellowstone. My heart missed a beat knowing they were camping (and cheaply, too) and we were not.

Dee
Summerville, SC

Traveling to Minesota
 

We just had a campout of our HiLove NY group. Our members said it would be three days travel each way to get to minesota. To be honest with you many aren't opting to go because of the travel time. We have been toying with the idea of going someplace as a group. Thanks for letting me know NY is a "rip" off at he gas pumps".NY also is a rip off in so many other ways. I would leave if i could. Long story why i have to stay. Anyway thanks for the information. At the present time we are waiting for suspension parts for our HiLo. I may have to go visit it at our dealer to put two bushels of clothes away,make the beds and drain the water tank. Forgot to do it on the way home. Hope we don,t have to winterize it at our dealer. Worst case we take it to our local specialty shop.

Getting roof repaired
 

Had a miracle!!!! Finances are now available to take the trailer to Jr and get a aluminum roof put on. Probably will make an apt for DEC. What are the gasoline prices in Pa and Ohio now? Hopefully will be lower when we need to travel.

Sam -- Just before you go, try gasbuddy.com. this website will give you prices in those states for the last 36 hours. Right now, for the last 36 hours and for regular gasoline, Pennsylvania is running $3.61 to $3.69 per gallon, and Ohio is running $3.46 to $3.48 per gallon.

Also, this website will also target the fuel prices for various cities in the respective states and name and location of businesses with low cost fuel.

Dee
Summerville, SC

Gas prices
 

I had also thought of gas buddy. Thanks for the info. What a difference between our $4.05 to $4.09 in NY. The only thing saving our neck is indian gas without the tax and five cents off on Monday. Most indian gas stations give us 5cents off for cash. With out the tax it is 20 cents a gallon cheaper.

Rubber roof vs aluminum.
 

We have had a rubber roof for twelve yrs. It sounds like boiling macaroni when it rains. What does the aluminum roof sound like when it is raining?

LOUD! But, you stay dry.

- Jack

I lived in a house with a galvanized roof while growing up, and my family had to yell at each other to hear each other's words during a hard rain. Beach and I have camped in at least one hard rain where we had to yell at each other for the other one to hear--felt like I had gone back to my childhood on the farm.

Dee
Summerville, SC

With the aluminum roof you definately know it is raining!:D

Bob

Rubber roof vs aluminum roof
 

Everytime it rains more than a light rain I wake up in our HiLo with the rubber roof. We have no problem talking to each other. It is hard to hear when i am in my couch bed and dh is cooking with the exhaust fan on. Once a week we take our daughter to her horseback riding lesson in the country. We are seeing more and more metal roofs on houses and barns. I,ve read about EPDM roofs for rvs. Seems to be a thicker material,different glue. Recently the roof was replaced with Metal where she rides, on the barn. They have three barns on the property. Keep the director of her program in your prayers. She is scheduled for a mastectomy,Miriam. I wonder if i am going to hate a metal roof after having a rubber one for twelve yrs.

1990 classic roof repair.
 

Our estimate from JR for a rubber roof came in at $4,100. We also told hime we would pick up the rubber roof membrane and dicor install kit. This also would have tax added on and two 600 mile round trips to Ohio No way is a 22 yr. old HiLo worth between $5,000 to 6,000 dollars. Plan B,our friend has an ace of a handyman who has access to a 16ft. barn and he will work on it when he finishes up some outside work he is doing. He also has a great roofer he works with. DH has a flexible job and will be able to help out with the demo and some of the repairs. Haven;t determined if it will be a metal roof or alum. The barn is 16ft. high(late night).I don't think just the roof alone is worth this kind of money.Any input welcome.

Sam -- My Dad use to say, "It's better to go with the devil you know than the devil you don't know." Fact, you need to replace the roof, and I don't think you have mentioned any other problems with the Hi-Lo. Fact, as of this date, no one is making these Hi-Los anymore. Fact, you seem to like the total concept of the Hi-Lo, i.e., safe low-profile towing, ease of towing, etc. I think there is more to the equation than simply saying that the cost of roof replacement is almost equal to the value of the Hi-Lo ("the devil you know"). If you were using this value approach with a regular box camper, I could see your point. There are so many replacements of box campers out there of varying kinds and floorplans, and I am constantly reading about problems with these box campers ("the devil you don't know") in the first three years of their life.

Of course, you could always look for another newer Hi-Lo in the used marketplace (which would be a compromise between the devil you know and the devil you don't know, because you now so intimately know the Hi-Lo and what to look for in trouble areas).

Dee
South Carolina

Nicely stated, Dee!

- Jack

Roof replacement on the HiLo.
 

Dee,You are rightj that we are very comitted HiLo owners. We will fix the roof and continue to use and enjoy our HiLo. I,m sure it will be more cost effective for my sheet metal fabricator husband to ply his trade and get the job done. He is looking forward to the challenge. After all what is semiretirement for!! We are already planning our vacations for 2013.

Sam, I see no reason You and your Husband could not replace that roof and save yourself a bundle of money. When, and if I ever have to replace mine I'm going with a rubber roof. I think it would be a lot easier to replace even if I had to do it in 2 pieces to get it tight, then use eternabond to seam the middle.

Roof replacement.
 

Gary, Thanks for the encouragement. I really wanted dh to do the replacement in the first place. Sometimes you have to come in the side door on a problem. I have spent a huge amt. of time researching how to replace a rubber roof. Check out Mark Polk RV education 101. He restored a 1960 trailer and put on a rubber roof. I believe it is episode #5. You most defenitely would be able to put on a one piece rubber roof. Mark shows how to make the cuts for the AC and vents. You order your material a little wider and longer. Tomorrow when my daughter is up I will get her to post a link to the rubber roof install. It can be glued to as low as 40degrees. When we do the roof job I will be sure to take lots of pictures and will post our install. You are rightabout saving $. Our 1997 truck needs its anual trip to the body shop. $1000.00. We are not sure if our central air unit needs replaced,another &2grand and the wish list goes on. Need a new concrete driveway and side walks. Estimate $3600.00. Isn't home ownership fun!!

Roofing repairs begin.
 

Our ace handyman/roofer called. We were out trying to finish up some exterior painting repairs at church. I'm sure we will connect up today. Anybody else work great under pressure/deadlines? Will go over to the HILo and cardboard the floors/countertops. Then we will cover beds/couches with heavy plastic. Let the fun begin. This will also give us a chance to fix our thin bottom in the cupboard blooper. We will have to take the cupboard down to fix the interior ceiling dammage. The weather has been cooperating with 60s and 50temps. Last weekend dh did some lawn mowing and we had our longjohns on and worked up a sweat. Pictures I promise. Always thinking of others and how pictures and descriptions would make the job easier for the next do it your selfer.

Good News!!,no roof repair needed at this time.
 

Our ACE ROOFER /HANDYMAN came over to check out our HiLo today. It happened to be raining and he used a step stool to checkout our 20 ft. long rubber roof patch. Very minimal dammage on the inside. All was high and dry. We concur with his recommendation to leave well enough alone and spend our $ on getting parts of our driveway and sidewalk replaced. He does concrete work and will get back to us with his estimate. DH will again coat the rubber roof in the spring. He had never seen a HiLo before and was amazed at the ease of it going up and down. He kept saying how nice the inside was and we sure know how to maintain our things. He couldn't believe how nice our 1997 truck was. Next week it will be in the body shop all week. DH gets to "hoof it" to and from work all week. A nice 15 to 20 minute walk each way. The only down side is the temps will be in the 40s. Time for the down winter jacket. I told DH he needs to take Roger camping. Roger plays a mean fiddle in the Niagara Frontier fiddle club. Crazy weather,this Thursday it is going to be 77degrees.