How to Raise a Hi-Lo with Dead Hydraulic Batteries

[KiltyintheRockies]

I followed the good advice seen here years ago about having a pigtail to attach a battery charger to when the top is down. But now the charger won't charge the battery because the battery or both are absolutely dead. I just had an idea. The battery charger won't work because it is one of those new electronic ones that has sensors. I pulled up my F350 alongside the Hi-Lo and connected jumper cables to the Hi-Lo battery pigtail and a grounding bolt. Sure enough it lifted right up. Now I can replace the batteries. I will leave this posted even though it is resolved as it may help someone else. Happy camping.

 

[JackandJanet]

Ray, if you don't have the optional manual raising jack fitting, the only way I know of is to use farm jacks on each corner, or, four strong men and 2x4s on the outriggers to hold it up, or, you CAN alternately lower the front of the trailer with 2x4s under the front of the top, to raise it, place new 2x4s between the top and the outriggers there to hold that. Then, raise the front of the trailer with 2x4s under the rear of the top to lift that end, Block that part and repeat if necessary. Don't raise one end of the trailer too far, or you'll put heavy strain on the guide blocks and they will break.

- Jack

 

[KiltyintheRockies]

Ray, if you don't have the optional manual raising jack fitting, the only way I know of is to use farm jacks on each corner, or, four strong men and 2x4s on the outriggers to hold it up, or, you CAN alternately lower the front of the trailer with 2x4s under the front of the top, to raise it, place new 2x4s between the top and the outriggers there to hold that. Then, raise the front of the trailer with 2x4s under the rear of the top to lift that end, Block that part and repeat if necessary. Don't raise one end of the trailer too far, or you'll put heavy strain on the guide blocks and they will break.

- Jack

Thank you for responding Jack. I just came in from successfully lifting it. See my additional comment above. I realized that the battery charger is one of those new electronic designs with sensors that may not allow it to charge. I started up my F350 and replaced the battery charger with jumper cables to the lucky Pigtail and a grounding bolt. Sure enough, that did the job. The dead batteries just acted like a conductor. The truck did the job. Thank goodness for making an accessible jumper pigtail to the Hi-Lo battery.

 

[JackandJanet]

Great! Yes if batteries are totally flat, they may not charge. Sometimes, you can revive them, but I think it's best to replace them if they're that bad.

- Jack

 

[KiltyintheRockies]

And so I did today. Two new Interstate SRM-24. $220 total out the door.