boat trailers with surge brakes

[Donald]

I am converting to disc brakes on my old boat trailer where it had drum that never worked as they were too rusted.

The place I got the components tells be I need a backup solenoid that is energized off my backup lights to block the brakes from working during backing up (as the surge would engage the brakes while backing up).

So a new master cylinder for the disc brakes and remove the rusted lever on top of the actuator?

So that means a 5 wire flat plug. Four wire flat plugs are common as are 7, but not 5.

What are others doing especially with new boat trailers that probably have disc brakes from the factory?

What about break-away and brakes?

My tow vehicle has a 7 wire plug for electric brakes on a heavy equipment trailer.

They do not do electric brakes on boat trailers I am told.

I am thinking of using a 7 pin connector on the boat trailer rather than a 5 pin and an adapter. But will the 7 pin have a pin for backup lights?

 

[bullwinkle]

Yes, it will. Etrailer has the diagrams to wire it. Personally, i would always be sure to unplug your trailer wiring whenever you launch, I have a feeling the coils wouldn't tolerate being submerged very well. I'm lucky that my old boat trailer's surge brakes are still decent-but I'm sure I'll be doing this conversion myself someday.

 

[Donald]

Without the solenoid connected to the backup lights, I do not believe I can backup in my drive or the boat launch.

I am not overly concerned about light bulbs here.

What do people with disc brakes on the trailer do for backing up in general?

 

[Zaedock]

Interesting conversion. I have surge on my 7K trailer I use for my Jeeps/buggy that work well. I thought about converting to electric though, as the linings are getting low and I want to utilize my new truck's integrated brake controller.

Regarding backing up with disks, how about a manual lockout in the surge controller for backing up? You could add a quick disco pin.

 

[Chris142]

I have rented flat trailers from the local rental place here with surge brakes and was unable to back up my driveway since the trailer brakes oul go on.I called the rental place and they told me that there's no way to temporally delete the system. imo electric brakes are safer. you can manually engage them to control a swaying trailer. the magnets are sealed so water should not be an issue.

 

[Zaedock]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
I have rented flat trailers from the local rental place here with surge brakes and was unable to back up my driveway since the trailer brakes oul go on.I called the rental place and they told me that there's no way to temporally delete the system. imo electric brakes are safer. you can manually engage them to control a swaying trailer. the magnets are sealed so water should not be an issue.


The low end rental surge trailers do not have backup provisions. My trailer has "free backing" hardware.

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
I have rented flat trailers from the local rental place here with surge brakes and was unable to back up my driveway since the trailer brakes oul go on.I called the rental place and they told me that there's no way to temporally delete the system. imo electric brakes are safer. you can manually engage them to control a swaying trailer. the magnets are sealed so water should not be an issue.


A boat trailer place strongly discouraged electric brakes as I was thinking that might be the way to go. They said they will work once or twice and then fail.

 

[Chris142]

I have seen electric brakes last decades (

 

[bullwinkle]

They don't last forever on our work trailer-and I've never had it underwater yet!!

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
I have seen electric brakes last decades (


Are we talking a boat trailer that gets submersed several times a year? Thats the discussion here.

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted By: Donald
Originally Posted By: Chris142
I have seen electric brakes last decades (


Are we talking a boat trailer that gets submersed several times a year? Thats the discussion here.
Yup. I cant speak for salt water but in freshwater yes. But that was 10+ years ago so things may have changed.