Another trailer break thread.

[rgranger]

I didn't want to hijack dscribner's break thread...

I have surge breaks on my trailer and there is a leaver you move to deactivate the breaks when you want to back up. I have the darnedest time keeping that leaver from "popping" out and locking up my breaks. I have a slight incline backing into my driveway and if I stop for any reason, the leaver pops and the breaks lock up. I either have to pull all the way forward onto level ground and start the approach over... or I have to get out, chock the front of the tires, pull forward a bit onto the chocks to take the pressure off of the tounge and reset the leaver....

Does anyone have any tricks they have learned to keep this from happening? Is there another way to lock the break mechanism open? I have a very tricky entrance to my driveway that is challenging enough without having to stop and chock the tires four or five times to get into the drive.... and of course this is always after dark with mosquitoes buzzing about.

 

[tkanzler]

Yeah, sure. Use a reverse lockout solenoid valve. There are two types - one of them is a two-port valve that simply blocks the fluid path (normally open), and the other is a 3-port valve (normally closed) that 'shortcuts' the fluid back to tank via a short hose when opened electrically by essentially tee-ing all three ports together. Hook them to the reverse lights (preferable), or to the running lights with a switch or plug that you can disconnect (what I do), so when you put the lights on the brakes are disabled. Just don't forget to disable that part for normal driving.

I have mine hooked to the running lights (through an inline plug/socket connector) because I don't want to go digging into the wiring for my main tow vehicle, by the way, which is a lease. If I was going to continue towing with our minivan, I'd go digging and retrofit the car and trailer with a 5-flat plug and socket arrangement.

 

[Fred Villiard]

Alot of surge brake hitches have a hole or slot that you can stick a phillips screwdriver in to keep the hitch from actuating, you just have to be sure to remove it befor going down the road.

Fred Villiard

 

[dscribner]

Hijacking aye? If changing the brake plates is an option, mine are free-backing plate, just back up and dont worry. My new ones have the solenoid. Installing the week.

 

[rgranger]

Alot of surge brake hitches have a hole or slot that you can stick a phillips screwdriver in to keep the hitch from actuating, you just have to be sure to remove it befor going down the road.

Fred Villiard

I took a hard look last night. Mine does not have a hole running through. I'll look into the solenoid option.

 

[DAVA390]

Post a photo . Mine has a small flat bar sticking out the the metal housing around the fluid resevoir. The bar (plate I guess resembles an index finger curved downward. I slipped the s hook from one of the safety chains through it, that kept the entire housing from sliding ahead when the truck stops. Found out the hard way when I backed the boat up the hill into the driveway first time home, didn`t know anything about surge brakes then!!

 

[rgranger]

Post a photo . Mine has a small flat bar sticking out the the metal housing around the fluid resevoir. The bar (plate I guess resembles an index finger curved downward. I slipped the s hook from one of the safety chains through it, that kept the entire housing from sliding ahead when the truck stops. Found out the hard way when I backed the boat up the hill into the driveway first time home, didn`t know anything about surge brakes then!!

I'll get a pic. I stopped at the trailer place today and they did not know a way to stop it from popping out. They suggested I tape it -- ha ha chuckle chuckle. Kind of pissed me off since they changed my coupler and charged me a bunch for it when I had the trailer in for inspection earlier this year.