Break Away Trailer Hitch Conversion

[Sea Ray]

I am thinking of converting my trailer hitch tongue to a swing away. I have surge brakes and would rather just keep my coupler and master cylinder than buy a kit that has one.

I found a hinge kit (the hinge and hardware) where I can just cut the trailer tube and add the hinge to my existing set up.

The hinge is made by Fulton and it looks pretty straight forward to do. I will need to figure out some way to cut the hard brake line and add a piece of rubber brake line so it is flexible at the hinge joint. I assume there is some kind of compression fitting I can use at both ends of the hard line?? Or, maybe I need to flare the hose and use a fitting??

I think I also need to extend the safety chain (my trailer actually has cables now that coil up and I like them much better than the chains) back to where the hinge is??

Has anyone else ever done this, particulary to a trailer with surge brakes?? Any tips or advice??

Thanks

 

[MWBROWN]

Re: Break Away Trailer Hitch Conversion

I put one one mine, but not with the brakes like yours.
The kit is excellent and very sturdy.
I recall the insructions covered brakes like your, I think.

One tip, the bolt heads inside the tube are tricky. They seem like you cannot get a wrench on them. Just put a screwdriver under the head and push up on the bottom bolt heads, and then you can get a wrench on the head.

You might be able to contact Fulton about your issue.

After I put mine one, the boat fits in my garage nice and straight. Best money I spent on the boat so far.

Good luck

Mike

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Break Away Trailer Hitch Conversion

You cannot use compression fittings on hydraulic brake lines. The section of line you cut needs to have a threaded flare fitting installed, the line then double flared, a female coupling added, then the rubber brake hose at the swing tongue joint, and the flaring process repeated if necessary to reach the surge brake coupler.

 

[Sea Ray]

Re: Break Away Trailer Hitch Conversion

Silvertip, what do you mean by doubled flared?

Thanks for the replies.

 

[burroak]

Re: Break Away Trailer Hitch Conversion

Silvertip, what do you mean by doubled flared?

Thanks for the replies.

Take a look at your car disc brake lines and use the keepers for stabilizing the flex hose and the hard lines. I would think that would give you food for thought. Those parts will adapt very well for what you want to do.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Break Away Trailer Hitch Conversion

championtrailers.com has great faq section on this.