Hi Everyone! Newbie here
 

I recently got my hands on a 1990 Tow-lite HI-lo camper, i am working on updating the interior on my own, mainly just pain and new flooring etc.

I am learning everything as i go and its been a really fun experience. The camper is in great shape and no water damage.

I am in the Orlando, Florida area and cant wait to get it travel ready for some camping trips soon.

My biggest concern at this moment is the awful screeching sound that it makes when lifting the camper. Bringing it down its no issues. Any suggestions?
Looking forward to learning a lot and making this camper my fun little retreat!:)

LilGypsyWagon

lilgypsywagon, Welcome to the forum, from Bonita Springs area! That screeching you hear might be dampened by putting a thin coat of oil or even Vaseline on those guide rods on the outside of the unit. There are four or more of them. They are vertical channels that guide the top up/down. That may help.
I always suggest new Hi Lo owners go to the reference library and Under "Hi Lo Owners Manual" there is a sticky that has a series of short videos discussing the Hi Lo systems. Interesting.
Again welcome, ask all the questions you want.
Treeclimber

Welcome. I found paraffin wax to work on the guides.

Good idea. I'll remember that. Actually saw someone at a rally use veggie oil!
Tree

Hi everyone!

Thank you so much for all the great information! ill try it out this weekend when i can get my hands dirty. i'm really excited to learn all the in's and out's before i take it out on the road. I got it good and level last night. So i'm hoping that will relieve a bit of the screech as well.

Thanks So much
LilGypsyWagon

I use old Christmas candles (or whatever) and rub it over the rails,
Beach

Also check the pulleys, the top ones are under the plastic trim inside, lower ones are underneath/on the side. They’re probably dry too.

Welcome to the forum.
 

You have joined a great group of dedicated HiLo owners. Don't forget to do the preventive maintenance on a yearly basis. Hopefully you can meet up with some HiLo owners in Florida.

Hydraulic lift fluid could be low maybe. Not sure since I have not experienced this problem with my 1990 229L. I have had to replace the hard rubber guide on each side of the door that hold it to the guide rails. One of the first things that I learned was to install a deep cycle marine battery to replace the new car battery I first installed. First trip I made with the new car battery we had to hook up to shore power and wait about 10 -15 minutes before we could raise the top and the refrig was not very cold at all with it set to run on 12 v while we pulled down the road. All is well with the $112. marine battery from WalMart

The safety latch rides metal on metal under your trailer while raising the top. When you lower it, you pull on a cable that lifts the safety latch off the metal rod, and thus it would not make a noise while lowering. Try pulling the cable while raising to see if the sound stops.

If that's the problem you need to get under the trailer and lubricate the rod end to end with some sort of grease. Your user manual may be of help, or the videos that others have mentioned that were put out by Hi-Lo.