10tca01 wrote: Our friends have a Trail Manor, they love it. The smallest hi-lo was featured in this months trailer life mag. It seems pretty good also.
Tyler
I liked that little Hi-Lo!
2006 Hornet 28BHDS-Bunk House, Dual Slides
2006 Dodge Ram 2500 HD
5.7L Hemi, Factory Towing Package
Reese Brake Controller, WD Hitch and Sway Bar
Congrats on your decision!! Sounds like you got what will work for your family and that's what counts! I hope you have many wonderful memories camping. I think hands down, that's what it's all about!!
Bruce & Terry
2003 F250 Lariet CC w/7.3 PSD Fx4 Full gauge pack
1990 27' HiLo (TT with a Vertical Slide)
2 Chi's, Spencer and Lexi
Their website is a little confusing. The 71" posted on the site is the "Traveling Height" which is the height to the outside top of the camper measured from the ground, without the a/c. This measurement is when towing or storing in your garage. If you pull-up the Brochure PDF on the website link you posted, the distinction will be clear. I am 5'11" and I actually went inside a towlite 22" model, and there was plenty of head clearance for me. Here's the link:
http://www.hilotrailer.com/Downloads/2007_HILO_Brochure.pdf
After downloading their brochure I see your right. They need to clarify this quite a bit better on their website as that's a major spec that can make or break the decision to go with their camper.
I also see that their prices are only a couple grand cheaper than Trailmanor, which is way to expensive IMO. As I said it before, you can store a TT at a campground (permanent site then travel with it also) or a storage facility for $1200 - $800 depending on the campground or storage facility.
Since these Hi Lo are also heavy, you're still losing some mileage to their heft. They are heavier than the same size lightweight travel trailer. Trailmanors are lighter so they save a little more money than a Hi Lo when traveling. Regardless, you could save about $12000 going with a lighter travel trailer.
You then don't have to worry about keeping your vehicles outside being a camper would take up the garage OR pouring an expensive pad and access to your back yard to meet your communities codes.
In addition to the $12000, you'd have to add the expense of what I mentioned to store the camper (if outside) and that could easily be another $7000. It could be even more if you need to build another garage so you can garage your camper and vehicles. My neighbor did that more expensive option.
The fuel expense and storage expense of a TT would end up being cheaper or at least equal to the higher expense of owning a Hi Lo or Trailmanor. You also get large appliances, better floorplans, more storage cabinets, and no setup with a TT.
I guess there's a few situations where the Hi Lo or Trailmanor come on top, but I feel those are rare situations and most likely account for lower sales demanding higher prices on these Hi Lo and Trailmanor campers.
We had a light-weight TT prior to purchasing our Hi-Lo. Prices were comparable and as far as towing and mileage the Hi-Lo wins. When towing our TT we got 10 mpg. Add wind, etc, it dropped down to 8. Towing the Hi-Lo we are getting better, 13 mpg. So the low profile does help. Also towing experience is a much better experience than pulling our full size TT.
meriflower1985 wrote: We had a light-weight TT prior to purchasing our Hi-Lo. Prices were comparable and as far as towing and mileage the Hi-Lo wins. When towing our TT we got 10 mpg. Add wind, etc, it dropped down to 8. Towing the Hi-Lo we are getting better, 13 mpg. So the low profile does help. Also towing experience is a much better experience than pulling our full size TT.
you say a Hi-Lo is the same cost as a TT? what TT costs that much, an Airstream maybe?
bumpy
meriflower1985 wrote: We had a light-weight TT prior to purchasing our Hi-Lo. Prices were comparable and as far as towing and mileage the Hi-Lo wins. When towing our TT we got 10 mpg. Add wind, etc, it dropped down to 8. Towing the Hi-Lo we are getting better, 13 mpg. So the low profile does help. Also towing experience is a much better experience than pulling our full size TT.
you say a Hi-Lo is the same cost as a TT? what TT costs that much, an Airstream maybe?
bumpy
My Coworker just bought a very nice Keystone 30' TT for $17,000. Has a dedicated living room with dual recliners and a large slide. Just bought brand new. Those Hi Los go from $25K to $30K at the dealer and they are smaller.
I looked at 23' - 26' Starcraft TTs and they all ranged from $13K to 16K. The Air Streams are the only TTs that I've seen that meet and exceed the Hi Lo/Trailmanor's expensive price.
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