Trailer brakes

[Crusader]

I have a tandem axle trailer with drums on the back axle. When I bought the boat in September 2010, the PO told me that he had disconnected the brakes as he felt he didn't need them. Okay, that's all fine and dandy but I want to reconnect them as I have one heavy boat and my truck (F-150) can stop it just fine.....but if the roads were wet or I had to come to a hard and fast stop....I think I'd lose control.

My dilemma is this, I have no idea about trailer brakes and I don't know what the PO did to disconnect them. Should I strip them off, use a new coupler and drums? I'm also thinking about disc brakes too. Any opinions on them?

Just in the research/study phase right now......

 

[blazeracer]

I think disc brakes area  no go on a trailer because they will lock up. Definitely don't want that to happen with the trailer. I could be wrong, but I think the prupose of trailer brakes is more to keep the trailer straight when the truck is doing the real heavy braking.

 

[Crusader]

I think disc brakes area  no go on a trailer because they will lock up. Definitely don't want that to happen with the trailer. I could be wrong, but I think the prupose of trailer brakes is more to keep the trailer straight when the truck is doing the real heavy braking.

Yep, you're right about the purpose of them...also to assist the truck in stopping altogether too.

 

[Crusader]

I was over on iBoats the other day and read a thread on the brakes....but I'm still not clear on my set up.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=466416

 

[Last Mohecian]

Seems like every trailer I know of with brakes, they don't work.  I think you may be headed down a path that involves constant money and maintenance for a very small benefit.  Your boat really is not that big.  If it was me I would not mess with them.  If the roads are wet chances are it is raining out and you will not be puling that boat anyway.

 

[Red Horse]

I have disc brakes on my tandem axle trailer and love them.

More then likely you have surge brakes on your trailer.
The coupler uses the forward momentum of the trailer to push against the actuator applying brake pressure to the trailer brakes when you apply tow vehicle brakes.

It could be as simple as a pin on the side of the coupler that is used to keep the actuator from moving when reversing. I would check that first. If that is not the case, I would look over every part and make it reapply for its job and then go from there. It might be fairly expensive to say the least.

Check this out. It might be easier to start over...

http://www.trailerpartsdepot.com/items.asp?Cc=BRAKES%2DH&Bc=&parts=Brake+Hydraulic+Drum

 

[Last Mohecian]

I have disc brakes on my tandem axle trailer and love them.

More then likely you have surge brakes on your trailer.
The coupler uses the forward momentum of the trailer to push against the actuator applying brake pressure to the trailer brakes when you apply tow vehicle brakes.

It could be as simple as a pin on the side of the coupler that is used to keep the actuator from moving when reversing. I would check that first. If that is not the case, I would look over every part and make it reapply for its job and then go from there. It might be fairly expensive to say the least.

Check this out. It might be easier to start over...

http://www.trailerpartsdepot.com/items.asp?Cc=BRAKES%2DH&Bc=&parts=Brake+Hydraulic+Drum

OK, Well all but one I know of then.  LOL.

 

[Red Horse]

I had to panic stop a few times pulling my boat (6000# all together) and the brakes on the trailer made a difference. They kept me straight.

I have used my boat in the salt. After I pull the trailer out of the salt I rinse it off. I have not had any issues with them whatsoever.

I am also a stickler for maintenance.

 

[Red Horse]

Seems like every trailer I know of with brakes, they don't work.  I think you may be headed down a path that involves constant money and maintenance for a very small benefit.  Your boat really is not that big.  If it was me I would not mess with them.  If the roads are wet chances are it is raining out and you will not be puling that boat anyway.

You are right, alot of them dont work.

They have come a long way in the terms of longevity. I can even get the brake pads for mine at Autozone, but it might be 100 years before they wear out.

 

[Crusader]

Seems like every trailer I know of with brakes, they don't work.  I think you may be headed down a path that involves constant money and maintenance for a very small benefit.  Your boat really is not that big.  If it was me I would not mess with them.  If the roads are wet chances are it is raining out and you will not be puling that boat anyway.

Ya, I hear ya....but I'm one of those guys that if it's a safety related issue, I want to take care of it and make sure it's in working order. If I'm on the highway, with a loaded down truck and my kids are on board, I want to make sure I'm not overloading the vehicles braking system. I'm with ya in that I won't really need them for around town driving....say from the ramp to storage and back. I'm talking longer distance stuff like going to Ray Hubbard, Texoma....Broken bow etc...oh, and Georgia too. Also, I feel it might be an insurance liability issue to. Say I get in a wreck and someone in the other car (God forbid) dies or is permenantly injured, I could possibly be held liable for not taking all precautions in preventing something from happening. Not saying it's gonna happen, it's just in our "Sue happy" society......it's possible.

I had to panic stop a few times pulling my boat (6000# all together) and the brakes on the trailer made a difference. They kept me straight.

I have used my boat in the salt. After I pull the trailer out of the salt I rinse it off. I have not had any issues with them whatsoever.

I am also a stickler for maintenance.

I'm a stickler for maintenance as well.....I guess since we're both retired military, it's been en-grained in our heads to take care of our equipment. One thing my son knows like the back of his hand is this:

"Take care of your tools and your tools will take care of you".

Lol..I learned that when I was 14 years old from an old carpenter and it's stuck in my head ever since.

 

[Last Mohecian]

Seems like every trailer I know of with brakes, they don't work.  I think you may be headed down a path that involves constant money and maintenance for a very small benefit.  Your boat really is not that big.  If it was me I would not mess with them.  If the roads are wet chances are it is raining out and you will not be puling that boat anyway.

Ya, I hear ya....but I'm one of those guys that if it's a safety related issue, I want to take care of it and make sure it's in working order. If I'm on the highway, with a loaded down truck and my kids are on board, I want to make sure I'm not overloading the vehicles braking system. I'm with ya in that I won't really need them for around town driving....say from the ramp to storage and back. I'm talking longer distance stuff like going to Ray Hubbard, Texoma....Broken bow etc...oh, and Georgia too. Also, I feel it might be an insurance liability issue to. Say I get in a wreck and someone in the other car (God forbid) dies or is permenantly injured, I could possibly be held liable for not taking all precautions in preventing something from happening. Not saying it's gonna happen, it's just in our "Sue happy" society......it's possible.

I had to panic stop a few times pulling my boat (6000# all together) and the brakes on the trailer made a difference. They kept me straight.

I have used my boat in the salt. After I pull the trailer out of the salt I rinse it off. I have not had any issues with them whatsoever.

I am also a stickler for maintenance.

I'm a stickler for maintenance as well.....I guess since we're both retired military, it's been en-grained in our heads to take care of our equipment. One thing my son knows like the back of his hand is this:

"Take care of your tools and your tools will take care of you".

Lol..I learned that when I was 14 years old from an old carpenter and it's stuck in my head ever since.

I hear ya.

 

[Patchman]

My surge brakes work great! They are easy to maintain and I have had no problem. If you have surge brakes, there should be a master cylinder on the tongue. think.gif

 

[overbored]

If I can look at your trailer I can show you what he did. The electric drum could be made to work but the it is an issue with setting your truck up with a brakeman controller. Most people that hook them up themselves will either try tying the brake circuit to the stop lights on the trailer or the tow vehicle. THIS WAY IS WRONG!!! With the proper equipment and adjusting everything properly you shouldn't have a problem. It does bring to mind a setup I had in my first truck I ever owned. Besides the Brakeman controller I had a panic button wired in that was run to my shifter. In the event I needed to stop I would hit the switch and it put a direct 12V to the brakes. I used it twice when someone would stop short in front of me and it did the job. I actually think the heavier the trailer was would help it stop better. If you do want to add brakes to your tow vehicle you will need a Brakeman controller for inside the truck and a 6 pin connector.

 

[Crusader]

If I can look at your trailer I can show you what he did. The electric drum could be made to work but the it is an issue with setting your truck up with a brakeman controller. Most people that hook them up themselves will either try tying the brake circuit to the stop lights on the trailer or the tow vehicle. THIS WAY IS WRONG!!! With the proper equipment and adjusting everything properly you shouldn't have a problem. It does bring to mind a setup I had in my first truck I ever owned. Besides the Brakeman controller I had a panic button wired in that was run to my shifter. In the event I needed to stop I would hit the switch and it put a direct 12V to the brakes. I used it twice when someone would stop short in front of me and it did the job. I actually think the heavier the trailer was would help it stop better. If you do want to add brakes to your tow vehicle you will need a Brakeman controller for inside the truck and a 6 pin connector.

Cool, thanks Brent.

I don't have electrics on there now....it's just a disconnected hydraulic drum set up. I didn't see a resevior anywhere on the trailer or on the tongue. Ya, I'd really appreciate you taking a look at it. Thanks!

 

[Crusader]

Here's the best I can do right now for photos.

 

[jdeaton]

you have surge brakes, any brake shop can put you in business, or you can do it yourself, it's not racket science.

 

[Crusader]

you have surge brakes, any brake shop can put you in business, or you can do it yourself, it's not racket science.

Thanks Jim, I was hoping to do it myself so I can save a few $$....I've replaced drum brakes, rotors, and pads many many times but never on a trailer.

 

[jdeaton]

Same thing, only simpler.  Cro-magnum brake system, as tow vehicle slows, exerting pressure on tongue from momentum of mass, rod is pushed into master cylinder (stepping on brake pedal) and slave cylinder at each wheel applies force to apply brakes.  rebuild kits for each cylinder, flush lines with fresh fluid, and check brake linings, and your good.

 

[Crusader]

Same thing, only simpler.  Cro-magnum brake system, as tow vehicle slows, exerting pressure on tongue from momentum of mass, rod is pushed into master cylinder (stepping on brake pedal) and slave cylinder at each wheel applies force to apply brakes.  rebuild kits for each cylinder, flush lines with fresh fluid, and check brake linings, and your good.

Lol...I guess I can handle "Cro magnum" type brakes...lol. Thanks Jim!

 

[WAFOBABY]

Man Cliff you have trailer brakes you are HIGH CLASS BUDDY must be nice I dont even have them on my trailer to get working..    But I can tell ya this this last JET BOAT my Dad owned we were headed to lake travis and the trailer came off the ball  :smile18:  and the trailer had brakes with a break away and it helped keep in from taking the boat and a few other peaple out with it.  So I can understand where your coming from