It seems that everyone has a different way of bleeding the surge brakes on their trailer. Some people use a pump or a vacuum. Some use the truck and block the trailer wheels. Some use a 2x4 as a lever through the chains to move the coupler.

Why can't you just use the breakaway lever? The lever with the cable going to it that is incase your trailer comes unhooked. Can't you just pump that back and forth? Maybe put a small pipe on it for more leverage. Seems like an easy way but after searching on here it doesn't seem anyone does that. Am I missing something before I attempt this

I believe you can. I have done it and I think the outcome was ok. You do need 2 people. One to hold the lever against the master cylinder after pumping it a few times, the same as when you pump the brake pedal and the person in the car holds it to the floor. While the other opens the bleeder.

Awesome. Thank you. I feel this would be a lot easier then moving the truck back and forth and all the other ways! I know it's not too hard but recruiting my father for this since he was a mechanic in the 70's. He's gotta be all too familiar with drum brakes!!!!

Drive down the road with somebody laying on the axle with a 3/8 wrench. Repeatedly slam on the brakes while he opens and closes the bleeder...

I've done it that way and had good results. Takes 2 people. The only issue was the safety seemed to be much more lose after I was done, everything functioned fine I guess it sometimes never moves during the life of the trailer.

You can and I have. Just remove the guard and pump away!

I just put a small pipe wrench on the surge brake hitch cup and slowly depress it down. Super easy and you can do it by yourself. It moves easier than one would think.

You must have long arms to get to the bleeders on the axle and keep pressure on the safety

Just (as in today) finished replacing master and all 4 wheel cylinders on my trailer. Removed the safety lever and used a 24" breaker bar to pump the master while buddy bled the cylinders. Same as with an auto drum setup. Good luck.

I purchased a power bleeder just to do my boat trailer. It worked so well I just flushed the brake fluid on all my cars. It is fast and you can do it by yourself. I bleed my trailer in less than 10 minutes.

https://m.summitracing.com/parts/mvp...cTERoC8Tzw_wcB