More Trailer Brake Questions
 

I posted about a month ago about re-doing surge brakes on my triple axle trailer (28' Scarab). Suggestion was at that time to go to disc setup. That's fine, I thought. ?:confused:

Now that is coming time to do it, I have one trailer guy suggesting to scrap the whole surge system and go with electric brakes. Anybody out there have this kind of setup, is it recommended? I know all of the travel trailers have them, but have not seen any on boat trailers. SUGGESTIONS!!!

thanks.

I tried electrics once and had a hard time balancing the system. I'd get it so they would work correctly on the highway, they would then grab in the parking lot. Of course the ability to activate the brakes and straighten out the rig would be nice. It would take some fast thinking and a well aimed hand off the wheel to do it though. I've been told not to use electrics on a boat trailer because the coils would short out in the water. Guess I was wondering why there would be exposed electrics to short out. :confused: Anyways, you'd need to remove the existing hydraulic coupler and add a backup breakaway battery to your trailer. You would also need a control unit in the tow vehicle and a different trailer connection.

eyezlee,

Stick with the surge, much simpler! :)

cord,
know I need the control box for the truck. welding up the coupler or replacing is also on the list. did not know about the battery for the breakwaway. thanks.

tomr,

much simpler, but does it stop as well?

I guess my question is, if you could do it correctly from the start, what would you do?

Stay with surge. Electric is a pain with travel trailers, & they do not go in the water.

The best way is a combination......electric over hydraulic. You have the electric controller in the truck, controls a pump on the trailer that pumps the fluid to the brakes. Mine are six-wheel disk brakes, but I bet you could to it with drums too. No electronics in the water....no problems with control.

Don't do electric .I had them .They stink on boat trailers . I am a trailer dealer and repair shop too . Nothing works like hydraulic brakes . PhantomChaos is right with the electric unit to control them if you want to spend the money .If not the serge will do a great job !

So your a dealer huh. Can you help me out with some parts for this thing?

I agree, not wise to use electronic brakes on boat trailers even though they are better brakes. I have pulled several RV trailers with electronic brakes with no issues if they are in good working order and adjusted correctly. I found out the biggest issue with serge brakes is the weight placed on the tongue which limits the ability of the serge mechanism to operate (slide) correctly. Here is how I solved the problem there is a company that makes a load leveling hitch setup designed specifically for boat trailers with serge brakes. This hitch allows the serge mechanism to operate freely while equalizing the load (reducing the tongue weight). I have used the setup and found it to work quite well. Stay with serge, but go to disk then try the hitch. Can’t remember the name off hand but it is advertised in most of the RV/Boat mags.

eyezlee,

I'm almost ready to make the switch myself. Just been putting it off. Let me know when your ready to do something. I was serious about getting together and doing both of them at once. Doesn't matter to me where we do it, your place or mine. If you don't have a very good location we can use my shop at my store. Have a Snap On tool box with everything we should need and more! Not to mention plenty of volunteer help that gets off on doing these kinds of projects.

The brakes on my trailer have been pretty much nill since I bought my boat in August. Wife just found out about it and said "FIX IT"! Sounds like she approves of the purchase to me.

I am going to go with surge discs. Will probably purchase from Champion.

Buck
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