Boat Trailer Surge Brakes

i test my fairly regular the easy way i found is to back my boat up a hill (steep)i have a rear driveway that works just fine backing up the brakes will lock backing up the grade and you know they are working,If you have a backup pin you will need to remove that first if you do not then just try backing her up a hill,the pin goes though the hitch just for the purpose of backing up a hill to keep the brake from working most trailers do not have the pin at all.

2008-10-06 05:14:01 by Dean N

UFP A60 Actuator and Replacement Trailer Parts www.trailerandtruckparts.com

Or are you better off just buying a new trailer that already has them? Also, how do they work? Are they electric? How effective are surge brakes compared to regular brakes?
The boat/trailer combo weighs 2250lb

If you're not going to be doing much towing with it, just go with surge brakes. The electric brakes require a brake controller be installed on the inside of your tow vehicle. Electric brakes use magnets to force the shoes against the brake drums. They'll need a brake controller to work.

I think electric brakes work better. but I think surge brakes are okay for people that don't do much towing.

How heavy is the boat? Some very small boat trailers really don't need brakes, you know?. If you want the trailer to have brakes, it would be easier to sell the old trailer and buy a newer trailer with brakes.

2009-07-23 20:17:13 by Cmundley

Price: $9.95 $9.95

I found a 16 or18 ga. pair of wires coming from inside a hole of the tube/axle of a 2 axle boat trailer. What could they be there for? The trailer has surge brakes.

so it couldve been used either way, depended on how they used the axle, most are made in a production line, so they can use them on several types of trailers.

2007-08-31 18:49:56 by carnut

Price: $83.46 $66.77

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i have two trailers that both use the 12" x 4.80" rims. a boat trailer and a small cargo trailer.
neither of the trailers has any type of braking system.

lately my dad has been using the cargo trailer behind his '04 accord frequently. and when its even got just 200 lbs you can feel that thing PUSH the honda when he tries to stop. i am very much scared he will rear end somebody..... possibly with me in the car.

i know brakes, i am ASE certified on hydraulic, electric and pneumatic braking systems. i have experience with surge and electric brakes on light trailers.
welding is also not a problem. putting a new tongue piece needed for surge brakes is not a big deal.

1. is there a braking system that fits in those little 12 x 4.80 wheels?
if not, what is the smallest i can get brakes with? 13" rim?

2. if i increase tire diameter, rubbing wheel wells may become an issue.
is there an easy way to drop the axle lower and provide room that way, or is cutting the wheel wells off and just welding them up higher a better option?

3. will i want, or need, to change the axle to one that works with the brake backing plate?

4. i prefer electric brakes. my truck has a controller already, i can wire one in the accord easily enough.
do electric brakes come in the same small sizes as surge brakes?

i am skilled and knowledgable in what needs done to make it happen. what i dont know is what options i have with the current wheels, if any, or what the minimum size is and what all i need to convert over to that size.
please dont answer unless you know what you are talking about.
i thought axle swap may be the best method. thanks for that much.

any idea of a place to order or salvage the proper length of axle?
not sure of the width of the wheels, trailer is 4' wide.

brakes locking. that was part of why i was thinking electic brakes to begin with. fine tune able, and supposedly some controllers somehow know better and act like ABS.
least thats what i was told about the one in my truck, and i have never managed to lock its trailer up no matter how i set the controller.

mine has a base setting, and then a quick level change mode. i was thinking a controller like that, level 1 when empty and higher level as load increases.

surge brakes, i have seen ones with a key to lock it so it doesnt apply when backing up. is there one that can be locked like that but w/o a loseable key for when its empty?
i could probably make something up to lock it and prevent from applying too, with the right design of surge brake tongue peice.

Easiest method is the swap out the axle with an axle that already has brakes equipped, you'll be able to get smaller wheel diameter you need no problem. this is a bad idea on these little lightweight trailers. they will lock up continually if they don't have enough weight on them, especially electric brakes.

2010-06-21 19:10:57 by Cliff

the manufactors tow cap is 8800 lbs can i beef up engine or change gear ratios to handle this.... the trailer has surge brakes.. i have just bought a 1989 gmc dually 3500 4 wd. 4 door cab with a 454 ..it needs a lot of work .will this be much better for the job if i do it up...

I am an industrial engineer, and let me be the first to tell you "H@ll NO!! There are certain laws of physics that must not be broken, and this is one of them. You can tow it, but get in some wind and it will be towing you. The truck is just too small for the job, and has nothing to do with modifications. Its a weight thing, and if you attach that much weight behind that small of a weight you are asking to be killed or kill someone else. The patch that your wheels have in contact with the pavement is very small in comparison to the weight you are trying to attach. Just get a larger truck. Besides, you would get stopped by law enforcement and the fine and trouble you could get yourself into, will not be worth it.
As for the GMC, this would be a much better canidate for the job, but would need to have a fifth wheel in order to distribute the weight to the center of gravity before it would really be a canidate for the job. Many people are killed each year trying to tow too much for the vehicle. This is one of those things that cannot be guessed at without asking for trouble. Research the towing capicity of the GMC before you set out on your endeavor. If an engine is not heavy duty enough to handle the load, you could be asking for trouble. When you let off the accelerator like going down an incline, a tremendous amount of stress is place on the crank shaft of the engine. It is possible for an engine to totally fail from the backlash of weight, as in it acts like a giant hammer bashing the main bearing caps that retains the crank shaft. When the engine is in a pull the crank shaft moves in one direction putting a side stress on the main bearings, and when the engine is at a coast, the stress goes in the other direction on the crank shaft. You need at least a four bolt main engine made of heavy duty components to handle this side load on the bearing caps. A drive shaft is rated at X amount just like the crank shaft and bearings are. Go over this limit, and trouble is certain.
The amount of money it would take to beef up the vehicle to handle the load would outweigh the difference it would take to purchase a truck that can handle the load. Just like a towing hitch, you can only expect a ball (with one bolt that attaches the ball) to only handle so much before it breaks. Ask yourself this; Would you tow a car with a 1/4" nylon rope? It is possible, but not practical. I hope I have been able to shed some light on the subject.
Have a good day. Good Luck!!!

2006-12-06 00:12:14 by beardedbee