Thinking of buying used Hi-Lo info please !

[JPLB22]

I don't know much of anything about Hi-Lo travel trailers, but I figured someone here would.



The one I'm looking at purchasing is a 1990 Hi-Lo Voyager 259-L. The seller is asking $4900. It is in better than average shape for a 16 year old trailer IMO, but not imaculate. It is fully self contained, has AC, dual propane tanks, oak cabinets, crank down stabalizers, an oven and a fridge.



I am wondering about the overall quality of Hi-Lo and any ideas on how long the hydraulic pump, that lifts the upper portion of the trailer up and down, will last.



TIA



Jeff

 

[HBarlow]

Jeff:



I had a good friend who owned two of them several years ago. In my opinion they are more complicated, more expensive, heavier, awkward, and less convenient than a conventional trailer of similar size and, for what purpose?



Here's an anecdotal story to explain my opinion. About ten years ago five RVing couples were traveling from Lubbock, TX to Red River, NM for a long camping weekend. We all met and then stopped to fuel up on the Northwest side of Lubbock to begin the journey. I had a '94 Ford F250HD with 460 gas engine, E4OD automatic, and 4. 10 gears. I was pulling a 34' triple axle Airstream. My friend with the 26' Hi-LO was pulling with his '93 Chev Suburban 1500 with 350 gas engine, 4L60 automatic, and 3. 42 gears. Both my Ford and his Chevy were relatively new and in good tune. We fueled in NW Lubbock and headed northwest on US 84. In Clovis, NM, knowing we were going to head north into the mountains on a wandering, climbing highway we topped off again. We had driven 100 miles. I don't remember now how much fuel we each bought to top off again but we did a quick fuel mpg calculation. My 460 Ford, not known for fuel economy, pulling a much larger heavier trailer, at the same speed, together, returned a fuel economy number 0. 10 mpg higher than the 350 Chevy pulling a Hi-Lo. My point: The Hi-Lo didn't seem to produce any fuel savings.



I don't see why anyone would want one. The floor plan is compromised by the need to permit lowering, they are very inconvenient to use on the road because the top is lowered preventing access, they cost more to buy, the hydraulics and electrics are likely to cause problems in time, resale value is poor, leaks are possible or probable, etc. , etc.



Just my opinion but I wouldn't take a free one. You can buy a more spacious box trailer with a better floorplan for a lot less money and it will probably last longer than a complicated Hi-Lo.



However, it's your money and your choice.



Harvey

 

[TKingsbury]

I dunno man, I think the other guys towing combo sucked and that's why his mileage sucked. While his Sub may have pulled down decent mileage empty, I bet it was cut in half (or more) while towing. He probably would have got better mileage with 4. 10s. Your comparo is kinda like comparing apples to kiwis.

Travis. .

 

[JPLB22]

Fuel mileage is not a huge concern with me ( most of our usuall camping spots aren't too far from home ). I know that sounds strange with me considering a Hi-Lo. But the fact is that this trailer fit are budget and it's in better condition than most other used trailers we have looked at. It just happened to be a Hi-Lo.



I'm intereseted in all opinions on Hi-Lo's good or bad. Nobody I personally know that has owned travel trailers, has had any expereince with Hi-Lo. This won't be the last trailer we buy, I'm sure. We will probably upgrade to something new in 5 - 7 years.



Jeff

 

[keimmmo]

The Hi-Lo has very little storage. There is NONE in the top half since it has to slide down over the bottom part. I find the overhead cabnets are the most useful storage in my trailer! Add to that the more complicated design and likelyhood of leaks, and I wouldn't have one.



The big selling point of the Hi-Lo is that it is shorter and uses less fuel on long trips. If you are not planning a long trip, why bother with the Hi-Lo? Get something more comfortable. There are plenty of GOOD travel trailers out there. But, sometimes you have to look for a while to find what you want at your price... been there done that.



Steve Keim

 

[DaveK98]

I agree get a normal camper!

 

[Boondocker]

I haven't owned a Hi-Lo, but looked long and hard at them. Besides the potential problems, the lack of storage space, including a small refrigerator and porta-potty lavatory turned me off. Do yourself a favor and inspect it closely. Try to picture packing all your stuff and doing the things you do in a trailer.



The other thing is access while traveling. Rarely a pit stop goes by that we don't get in the trailer for something. Having to raise the lid would be too much of an inconvenience for me.

 

[JPLB22]

Well thanks for all the info. It sounds it may not be a good trailer for me and my wife, even for a starter trailer. I guess we'll keep looking. There doesn't seem to be too many used RV's in our area right now though .



Jeff

 

[Dieselnerd]

My parents used to own a Hi Lo trailer quite a few years ago. Their main complaint was that it got a lot of dust inside while towing in a dusty environment. Also if you wanted to stop for lunch at rest areas you needed to do more than just open the door and go inside. I agree that some of the smaller lightweight trailers available today would be a better choice.

 

[klenger]

Come on down to Tucson for a few days. There are probably hundreds if not thousands of used RVs for sale down here.