Need trailer brake advice

[elkhunter338]

Re: Need trailer brake advice

From some searching and from others it appears the fed's changed the laws recently. I thought the guy from load master talked with him about a month ago would have known this because he was sure that all but 12 states did not allow surge brakes. Appears he was wrong and thus I was wrong. Sorry about that.
That being the case as other have stated there are advantages and disadvantages to surge or electric/hydralic. The main disadvantage I see with electric/hydralic is the cost of the unit vs. the cost of a surge unit.
I like the idea of not having the trailer brakes on going down a long hill until I apply them and I like the idea of being able to apply the trailer brakes indepentently of the tow vehicle brakes, If you read information that compares the two system I think there are some other advantages.
I will probably put a electric/hydralic on my trailer with kodiak stainless steel disc brakes on one axle, replace my 2,000 lb axles with 3500 lb axles. I might add brakes to the 2nd axle so the trailer helps stop my truck some since I plan to put a 9' camper on my truck. I will probably start with brakes on one axle.

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Need trailer brake advice

I have one question,
How much stuff do you take with you?

At 2100 lbs for the boat, 1000 lbs at the most for the trailer, say 35 gals gas is 245 lbs. Thats 3345 lbs towing weight.

So you take 1655 lbs of gear..in the boat when towing it... WOW

I think id pack little less.

 

[Lou C]

Re: Need trailer brake advice

I have a single axle trailer for my 20' Four Winns and a set of 10" surge drum brakes that work well for local towing...but if I were towing at highway speeds all the time I'd probably upgrade to a tandem with brakes on both axles...think about it your tow vehicle has 4 disc brakes or 2 disc brakes and 2 drum brakes to stop anywere between 4000-5500 lbs...a boat that size can weigh anywhere from 4000-5000 lbs on the trailer so a pair of 10" brakes helps but is not optimal....in my case I am going to upgrade this trailer to a 5200 lb axle...15 in tires and 12" drum brakes....I like the single for easy manuverability on the narrow roads and very tight turns in my neighborhood..
I think the issue of the legality of surge brakes rests on a couple of factors...one being the overall gross weight of the traile (under 10000 lbs surge is OK) and the difference in weight between the tow vehicle and the trailer...there was a bit of information on the Load Rite trailers website....
Electric over hydraulic can work the best of all but it costs more and there is more to go wrong...if you live where there are many steep and long hills they are the best though...surge works OK in mostly flat areas....

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: Need trailer brake advice

Biffle fan - You forgot the engine(s).

OA - I'm ready for fishing anytime!! Lets GO!! I live in Naples you?

I also have torsion axles and my brakes are on the front axle from the manufacturer.

I agree the 10" brakes are a tad small for my load; thats why I went with the 12". The SS Kodiaks have great stopping power but they take a little while to cool down. They have been on my trailer for 4 years without a single brake problem. I LOVE em'.

See ya out there!

Richard

 

[dingbat]

Re: Need trailer brake advice

Maryland law clearly allows the use of surge brakes on a boat trailer

14 (L) (1) IN THIS SUBSECTION, "SURGE BRAKES" MEANS A BRAKING SYSTEM
15 DESIGNED TO ACTIVATE THE BRAKES OF A VEHICLE BEING TOWED AS A RESULT OF
16 THE FORWARD PRESSURE OF THE VEHICLE AGAINST THE TOWING VEHICLE DURING
17 DECELERATION.

18 (2) A TRAILER OR SEMITRAILER MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH SURGE
19 BRAKES IF:

20 (I) THE TRAILER OR SEMITRAILER HAS A MANUFACTURER'S
21 GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING, OR REGISTERED WEIGHT, WHICHEVER IS LESS, OF
22 10,000 POUNDS OR LESS;

23 (II) THE COMBINED GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING, COMBINED
24 REGISTERED WEIGHT, AND THE GROSS COMBINATION WEIGHT OF THE TRAILER OR
25 SEMITRAILER AND THE TOWING VEHICLE IS 26,000 POUNDS OR LESS;

26 (III) THE VEHICLE OR COMBINATION OF VEHICLES IS NOT
27 DESIGNED OR USED TO TRANSPORT 16 OR MORE PASSENGERS INCLUDING THE
28 DRIVER OF THE TOWING VEHICLE;

29 (IV) THE ACTUAL GROSS WEIGHT OF THE TRAILER OR SEMITRAILER
30 AND LOAD DOES NOT EXCEED THE MANUFACTURER'S GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT
31 RATING OR REGISTERED WEIGHT, WHICHEVER IS LESS;

32 (V) THE ACTUAL GROSS WEIGHT OF THE TOWING VEHICLE AND
33 LOAD DOES NOT EXCEED THE MANUFACTURER'S GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING
34 OR REGISTERED WEIGHT, WHICHEVER IS LESS;

35 (VI) THE TRAILER OR SEMITRAILER BRAKES ARE DESIGNED AND
36 CONNECTED IN SUCH A MANNER THAT IN CASE OF ACCIDENTAL BREAKAWAY OF
37 THE TOWED VEHICLE, THE BRAKES WILL APPLY AUTOMATICALLY;

38 (VII) THE VEHICLE OR COMBINATION OF VEHICLES IS NOT USED TO
39 TRANSPORT HAZARDOUS MATERIALS OF A TYPE AND QUANTITY THAT REQUIRES
40 PLACARDING;

7 HOUSE BILL 551

1 (VIII) THE VEHICLE OR COMBINATION OF VEHICLES IS NOT USED TO
2 TRANSPORT LIQUIDS OR GASES CONTAINED IN PACKAGING THAT EXCEEDS A
3 CAPACITY OF 119 GALLONS;

4 (IX) THE TRAILER OR SEMITRAILER HAS A GROSS WEIGHT RATING,
5 REGISTERED WEIGHT, OR GROSS WEIGHT, WHICHEVER IS GREATER, THAT IS NOT
6 MORE THAN ONE AND ONE-HALF TIMES THE GROSS WEIGHT RATING OR
7 REGISTERED WEIGHT, WHICHEVER IS LESS, OF THE TOWING VEHICLE; AND

8 (X) FOR VEHICLES USED FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES, THE
9 TRAILER OR SEMITRAILER IS USED ONLY IN INTRASTATE COMMERCE.

 

[captharv]

Re: Need trailer brake advice

In Florida the state law does not mention the type of actuator. However it does say:
1. If the trailer has two axles, both axles must have brakes. Ithe trailer has 3 axles, only the front two axles require brakes.
2. If the trailer loaded weight is over 3000#, brakes asabove are required.
3. Trailers over 8.5 wide require a state DOT permit.
(You are almost never required to show it)
4. The truck-trailer combo must capible of stopping within 50' at 20 MPH. (with or without brakes)

About 3 years ago, I found #1 at a trailer shop, and researched it. I had to add the second axle brakes to my trailer. I am glad I did. Stopped much faster.

the rule about surge brakes not being legal comes from DOT wher they were discussing over teh road semi-trailers. The rules stated that the trailer must have an independant way of actuation of the brakes. I called the state DOT and they said it only applies to commercial semi truck/trailers. RECREATIONAL vehicles are exempt from this, but must meet 1-3 above.

To teh original poster:
Replace the lines and actuator and road test it.