Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 
 


New Member Intros Say Hello! Tell us a little about yourself and your camper; we're fairly friendly :)
Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 06-10-2016, 06:12 AM   #1
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Florida's West Coast
Posts: 3
Smile Looking to buy!

Hi All from 90+100!~ Florida

Getting ready to look at a couple of 20004-05 27T's. No problem with TV (Detroit V-blocks) and experienced. Want to downsize a bit and like the Hi Lo's and possibly the Trailmanors. (Do wish both were still in current production). I see the specs & weights in NADA & this forum; very helpful.

Please give me personal feedback on the lite series and your plusses & minuses. And, if so inspired, some "short" opinions between the 2 brands if you have had experienced both.

Now.... let me get my umbrella and get ready for another Florida 90 degree, 100% humidity day!!

( Great forum Here Guys!! ) Thanks for having me!!!
__________________

__________________
Drive Fast! Take Chances!!
Mspaff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2016, 11:52 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
RCREYES's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Far West Texas
Posts: 1,370
Send a message via Yahoo to RCREYES
Default

Welcome to the forum.

This was taken from NDgent's post here on the forum. It is a great go-by list. You can do a search of "thinking about buying" and find his post to read it first hand.

Basically, start with the visual items –
1. Exterior
• Look for water stains and discoloration on inside walls and around ceiling anywhere vents, skylights, windows, etc. exist.
• Push and prod with your hand on the inside walls for soft spots (which could indicate a water leak and a damaged or rotten interior wall).
• Check for bubbles in the wallpaper (a sign of delimitation or water intrusion)
2. Interior cleanliness of the unit-
• Look for water stains and discoloration on inside walls and around ceiling anywhere vents, skylights, windows, etc. exist.
• Push and prod with your hand on the inside walls for soft spots (which could indicate a water leak and a damaged or rotten interior wall).
• Check for bubbles in the wallpaper (a sign of delimitation or water intrusion)
3. Test appliance functions –
• lights
• fans
• refrigerator
• air conditioner
• heater
• water pump
• range hood
• stovetop
• oven (if equipped)
• microwave (if equipped)
• stereo (if equipped)
4. Lift System-
• Does the unit raise and lower properly
• Check the lift system for hydraulic leaks (puddle under the trailer)
• Check the lift cables to see if they are in good shape and not frayed
• Check the seal between the upper and lower body halves for tears or damage
5. fill the tanks to the top and check for leaks
6. Battery
7. Solar Panel (if equipped)
__________________

__________________
"Ruben"
2404T, 2003 2500HD 4X4 GMC Sierra SLT Crew Cab w/Astro camper shell and 2003 Chevy Tahoe LE 4X2
Far West Texas
RCREYES is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2016, 02:46 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
hilltool's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 1,256
Default

Negatives on hi lo include their weight. They are heavier than they look and take a larger tv than most people suspect. Tongue weight is high. However, combined with low profile I find the weight to be a PLUS when faced with big fast tracks coming by or high winds. Hi los go up and down faster than trail manors. Trail manors you must move walls around inside etc. I also don't like the recirculating toilets in trail manors. Trail manors have more room once they are up and assembled. I have not owned or used a trail manor but have been in them and have witnessed the " demonstrations". I find the build quality impressive on hi los.

Rick
__________________
2201 TL

2010 Nissan Titan king cab SE
4x4
hilltool is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2016, 07:01 PM   #4
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Florida's West Coast
Posts: 3
Default

Nice! Is the hitch ball 2" or 2 5/16" ?? I'll be looking at a 27T tomorrow and want to be prepared!

Thanks, Mark
__________________
Drive Fast! Take Chances!!
Mspaff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2016, 08:19 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
hilltool's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 1,256
Default

People have reported both. My 22 ft is 2" but I think some go larger depending on size and year.
__________________
2201 TL

2010 Nissan Titan king cab SE
4x4
hilltool is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2016, 08:33 PM   #6
Moderator
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Napa,CA
Posts: 933
Default

The ball size is 2 5/16 make sure you also use a WDH and brake controller
__________________
Les & Patricia
2006 22ft towlite (replaces 97 21TL)
2006 Toyota tacoma pre-runner 4.0 L V-6 quad cab
w/ 98 chevy Powervision towing mirrors
2017 Chevy Silverado 1500 5.3 v8 (replaces Toyota)
2 Hobie mirage pedal drive kayaks
campthewestcoast is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2016, 08:55 PM   #7
Moderator Emeritus
 
Treeclimber's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: SWFL Bonita Springs/Andrews, NC
Posts: 1,264
Default

Mspaff, Welcome to the forum. I have a 2003 27' with the tip out. Ball size IS 2 5/16" and I agree with the WDH. Plenty of knowledge here. If you do pick up a Hi Lo, suggest you watch the videos on this forum, lots of info, which may lead to more questions.
Tree
__________________
Treeclimber
2703 Tow Lite
2002 Escalade
Bonita Springs, Fl. &
Andrews, NC
Treeclimber is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2016, 08:58 PM   #8
Moderator
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Napa,CA
Posts: 933
Default

Owning only hilo trailers I might be a little bias
Hilo trailers tow nicer because of the dual axle
All trailmanors have single axles
Hilos have better cabinet space and windows in front of the kitchen sinks
Hilos have a true bubble seal between the two halfs
All trailmanors use cloth material and Velcro strips to seal the two halfs
Hilos have larger holding tanks than trailmanors
You will need a full size truck to tow a 27 hilo
Good luck on getting the hilo
A couple of items that I have added towing ours:
Larger transmission cooler
Larger charging line to the trailer so you run the refrigerator on 12 volts and charge the batteries
Because of the length of the trailer I would a sway control on the WDH if it doesn't have one built into it
__________________
Les & Patricia
2006 22ft towlite (replaces 97 21TL)
2006 Toyota tacoma pre-runner 4.0 L V-6 quad cab
w/ 98 chevy Powervision towing mirrors
2017 Chevy Silverado 1500 5.3 v8 (replaces Toyota)
2 Hobie mirage pedal drive kayaks
campthewestcoast is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2016, 10:49 PM   #9
sam
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Niagara Falls,NY
Posts: 4,232
Default Welcome to the forum.

Two people in our HiLo camping club have owned Trail Manors. They got rid of them because they leaked. The Trail Manor was so bad to set up that our HiLo dealer refuses to take Trail Manor in on a trade. Trail Manor has a forum that you might want to take a look at. Hope the HiLo you are going to lookat works out for you. Many of the parts on a HiLo are readily available from RV places or on the internet. Even the parts of the lift system are available from J%R or Midget in OHIO. Keep us posted.
sam is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-11-2016, 07:58 PM   #10
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Florida's West Coast
Posts: 3
Default

Well I looked at the 2 Hi Lo's today... Not good. Insides showed evidence of leaks. Ledge moldings were soft or covered up with chinchy and on moldings. New interior ceiling panel added to the bed room area (2005 27T) which covered up rusty hinges. Delimitation of exterior, doors that do not close or line up properly. Sure they were cheap @ $8,000, but I wouldn't have given him that for both of them!

Thanks for the tips & I'll keep looking. I'll also check the Trailmanor forum for leaks. Spent some time there and didn't read about that. Will specifically look this time!
__________________
Drive Fast! Take Chances!!
Mspaff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-11-2016, 10:00 PM   #11
Moderator
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Napa,CA
Posts: 933
Default

Don't let the water damage of two hilos rid you of the brand
The good used ones are out there
__________________
Les & Patricia
2006 22ft towlite (replaces 97 21TL)
2006 Toyota tacoma pre-runner 4.0 L V-6 quad cab
w/ 98 chevy Powervision towing mirrors
2017 Chevy Silverado 1500 5.3 v8 (replaces Toyota)
2 Hobie mirage pedal drive kayaks
campthewestcoast is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-11-2016, 10:02 PM   #12
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: here n there
Posts: 60
Default

Check out the Hi-Lo's for sale in the trading post at the bottom of the forum. Got a few in there
underpsi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-11-2016, 11:05 PM   #13
sam
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Niagara Falls,NY
Posts: 4,232
Default Keep looking

Keep looking. One will come available in camp ready condition.
sam is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-12-2016, 02:11 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 391
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mspaff View Post
Hi All from 90+100!~ Florida

Getting ready to look at a couple of 20004-05 27T's. No problem with TV (Detroit V-blocks) and experienced. Want to downsize a bit and like the Hi Lo's and possibly the Trailmanors. (Do wish both were still in current production). I see the specs & weights in NADA & this forum; very helpful.

Please give me personal feedback on the lite series and your plusses & minuses. And, if so inspired, some "short" opinions between the 2 brands if you have had experienced both.

Now.... let me get my umbrella and get ready for another Florida 90 degree, 100% humidity day!!

( Great forum Here Guys!! ) Thanks for having me!!!
Mspaff, I can't say that I have "experienced" both the Hi-Lo Classic AND the Hi-Lo Towlite. But we looked very closely at the specifications for both. We bought our 2009 25-foot Hi-Lo Classic new directly from the factory in Ohio in November 2009. It was one of the last three Classics the Hi-Lo Company made before they decided to shut their doors in July 2010.

Here are some of the differences in the specs between the two models: Classic beam width 8'3" Towlite beam width 7'9"; Classic inside headroom is greater than the Towlite (check our forum library with brochures to determine exactly the difference); Classic's outside end caps are made of heavy duty fiberglass and Towlite's outside end caps are made of a plastic-type of material; Classic's original furniture upholstery is made of heavy duty material and Towlite's original upholstery is of a lesser grade; as a standard feature, Classic came with a manual override to lift the top half of the camper in case, for some reason, the battery went south (we have used this feature at least once and glad we had it) and in the Towlite this was an option you had to purchase separately; Classic is heavier than the Towlite.

If you check the specifications set up as a table in each Towlite and Classic brochure in this forum's library, there will be other differences. The point I need to make is that if you find a Towlite that you like, then you need to check to make sure the camper when purchased new has been added and outfitted with all "options" you require (don't assume those options were standard when the camper was originally purchased new).

Dee
Summerville, SC
Classic 2509 Hi-Lo
Dee Tillotson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-12-2016, 03:06 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 391
Default

One other point, when the model year and the condition of the two Hi-Los are the same, the Hi-Lo Classic as a general rule will be more expensive than the Hi-Lo Towlite.

Dee
Dee Tillotson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-13-2016, 09:49 AM   #16
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: central Virginia
Posts: 584
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mspaff View Post
Hi All from 90+100!~ Florida

Getting ready to look at a couple of 20004-05 27T's. No problem with TV (Detroit V-blocks) and experienced. Want to downsize a bit and like the Hi Lo's and possibly the Trailmanors. (Do wish both were still in current production). I see the specs & weights in NADA & this forum; very helpful.

Please give me personal feedback on the lite series and your plusses & minuses. And, if so inspired, some "short" opinions between the 2 brands if you have had experienced both.

Now.... let me get my umbrella and get ready for another Florida 90 degree, 100% humidity day!!

( Great forum Here Guys!! ) Thanks for having me!!!
Hi; Welcome to the forum. HiLo IS back in production, starting out with only a 16'. Same lift system. Try HiLotrailer.com for more info. Trailmanor is still in production. I looked at them but would not have one.
__________________

__________________
Jim L & Faye
2805C
2003 Silvarado diesel crew cab
2017 Silvarado, crew cab 1500 6.2L gas w/ 8 speed tranny
central VA
JIM L is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Hi-Lo Trailers Worldwide or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:43 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
HiLoTrailerForum.com Copyright 2010
×