fdonham
Paris, Arkansas
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Joined: 10/08/2003
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I'm not sure which forum should field this question, but here goes. Does anyone own or have experience with a Hilo travel trailer? I am interested in all aspects of the trailer. Would appreciate any help.
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Poodledude
Flagler Beach, FL
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Joined: 08/04/2003
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Can't help much, other to say my Dad, who had two of every type of rig ever made, had two of them in the 80's. A short one and a long one. No problems with the mechanism, he loved his. Towed the short one with an early GMC diesel truck, got low teens going 75. Pulled the long on with a 3/4 ton Burb. They have very good towing characteristics; low wind profile in crosswinds, hide behind the tow vehicle. My mom left a ketchup bottle on the top of the fridge and she put the top down on it while dad was doing something else. Poked a hole in the inside ceiling. She slapped a stick on air freshener on it and he doesn't know until this day. I'll never tell.
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bronco fan
Safford, Az
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Joined: 08/24/2003
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I owned one and they have their pros and cons. They are very easy to pull. The low profile helps alot in cross winds and I never experienced any sway from passing trucks. They low profile helps with wind drag which results in better fuel economy. I never had any problems with my HILO in the four years that I owned it.
The down side to the HILO is that in order to use it you need to raise it, which can be an inconvience if you stop at a rest stop while traveling. The bathroom is not as private as on a regular trailer because of the material used for the walls. The one I owned had a bed that needed to be set everytime before it could used (not a regular bed).
I currently owm a Trail Cruiser and love the convience of the set up (and the fact that my wife is happier with it) but wish that it pulled like the HILO. My fuel economy dropped by about 3 mile per gallon and could feel the trucks as they pass me by. All in all the HILO is an excellent product that is easy to pull but has some inconviences.
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barry&vanda
Vancouver BC or Baja
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Joined: 01/21/2002
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I agree with "bronco fan"s comments about HiLo.
I also get 41/2 miles / gal better economy than with a regular TT.
What else do you want to know?
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05 Dodge Ram 3500 Diesel 4 by w/10,000 lb winch
09 TF34MK Crossterrain toyhauler
12' Portabote w/Yammy O/B.
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llachapell
alpena mi
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Joined: 07/25/2003
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Good Sam RV Club
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fdonham we have a 2002 hilo as everyone says it tows great goes up with a push of a button in about a minute or less we have very little storage space because of the up and down system. the bed is the dinette table and has to be made up every day not a good thing. we feel that hilo could put a little more quality in their product,but most of the problems were simple repairs and we did ourself.room inside is a big issue with us or the lack of we are looking for something bigger as we stay in it a month or more at a time. ours is a 22ft but that includes the tounge so we only have about 19ft of inside space. what else do you want to know? lplachapell
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Sunbird
Lizard Acres, Arizona
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Joined: 09/21/2001
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We looked at them but did not buy. First concern was what if the lift system fails in the far boondocks? This has happened to us twice with pop-ups. Second was that they are heavy for their size.
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fdonham
Paris, Arkansas
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Joined: 10/08/2003
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Thanks, I appreciate your input.
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suburbank2500
Kansas City, MO
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Joined: 07/03/2003
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We own a 28' HILo and LOVE It. I got 14 mpg,yes 14 mpg going 60 mph on I-90 this July traveling to Yellowstone. The concern over the pop-up mechanism is noted, but there's a manual pop up level provided, (i.e. crank ) We went down an 8% grade coming out of Yellowstone via the West gate, Cody, WY, and I'm glad it was a HiLo as the burb had issues due to brakes. Had it been a heavier trailer/harder to pull, I dont' think it would've gotten thru. Mine is 5000lbs unloaded, so I want/need a K2500 burb, but I've been outvoted, which I'm sure no-one else has 
99 K1500 Suburban 3.73 5.7L
98 HiLo 28'
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firehog1
Florissant, MO
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Joined: 10/10/2003
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We purchased a Towlite in June of 98. Towlite is manafectured by Hilow but least expensive. We just got back from a two week trip to Las Vegas. Our home is in the St. Louis, MO. We use a 2000 GMC Savana conversion van 1500 series for the tow vehicle. It is equiped with 5.7 engine, 3.43:1 axle. We averaged about 12 mph on the highway. GMC's manual suggested that we tow in 3rd instead of Drive; which we did. In stead of crossing the Rockies on I-70 we choose to drop down I-15 and use I-40 instead going both ways. We stopped each night at RV parks or state parks. Had a really great time.
It is quite common for us to be away from home an living in the TT for 3-weeks at a time (have to return home and pay bills and avoid the late fees). The unit lacks cabinet space and shower space. Although it will sleep 6, I would not like the idea of traveling with another couple. Our teenage grand-daughter traveled with us on one trip and it was OK for a couple of days. There was a couple of time that the house battery didn't have sufficient entergy to raise the top half and my wife and I had to raise it manually. It was not easy. I'm not sure whether it was connected to the tow vehicle or shore power at the time. Yes, you have to raise the top half to get to the bath room. However, since our earily days of camping/traveling in an earilier van; we have carried a portable/chemical toliet in the van for the emergency stops along the way and that is quite common. We perfer to travel the older two lane highways instead of the Intestates with its rest areas.
In summerizing, the Hilo/Towlite is very easy to pull, great gas milage, no sway but you sacrifice living and storage space.
Howard and Lois
2000 GMC Savana Conversion Van
5.7, 3.43:1 axle
factory HD Tow Package
equilizer hitch
sway controller
electric trailer brakes
1998 Towlite 24TD
CB radio with weather channels (wouldnot travel without it)
Cingular cell phone with all states highway patrol telephone numbers programed into it
Howard & Lois
2000 Savana Conversion Van 1500
Factory Tow Package
5.7 engine, 3.43 axle
1998 Towlite 24TD
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doonboggle
Nevada
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Joined: 08/07/2002
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"Burb"???????????????
doon
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