Had solenoids go bad on me a few times. What I did as a back-up measure (no pun intended:p ) was to make a U - shaped bracket that would fit over the sliding part of the tongue surge. This way when the soenoid goes bad (notice I said when and not if) at the boat ramp you can slide it over the toungue and it will keep it from compressing to lock the brakes. All you need to do is get a piece of flat stock steel (Home Depot, Lowes sells 2' strips 1" wide) measure your tongue width and bend a U-shped hoop and cut off the excess. I did it at my parents shore house using a bench vise and a hand hacksaw.