Not quite an answer, but...
we recently replaced the entire braking system on our H23 trailer. Before doing so, I searched in the forum archives for info on the subject (try "surge brakes", "brakes", and so on), and I recall at least one person who found a supplier for a very long, flexible brake hose. But most people said they couldn't find one. So if you've got plenty of time to order one by mail, you might try looking up the reference in the archives. If not, here's what we did. First of all, if your flexible hose is shot, I'd say the chances that the brakes themselves will work is slightly greater than zero. We had the impression that ours were fine when we bought our boat in July. But our state inspection showed this not to be the case. Our drum brakes were all rust and cobwebs. To check them (say after you replace the brake line): jack up one wheel (with or without boat on trailer). Clamp the trailer hitch ball in, but leave the removable extention bar off your vehicle. Use this bar to pump the master brake cylinder by pushing down on the bar. At the same time, have someone else try to rotate the wheel you jacked up. Ours didn't work at all, so we replaced the old drum brakes with new stainless disk brakes, which were something like $150 per side. We also replaced the actuator head and all brake lines. This all took two 8-hour days. I couldn't find a long flexible brake line, either, and was under time pressure to get the trailer inspected. So I just ran an ordinary short flexible line from the actuator on top of the trailer tongue, to the underside. Then I ran an ordinary solid line all the way back to the (new) T on the axle. This keeps the brake line off of the top of the tongue, where you want to be stepping oftentimes. My tongue was already fully extended. While I'd like to have a flexible line so that I can collapse the trailer tongue, I figured we can always add this later, if I find a flexible line. Meanwhile, our trailer is safe, and usable. I do recall from the archives that someone pieced together multiple lengths of short flexible line with solid pieces in between. But this seemed too adhoc to me, and allows more places for water to enter the system. Whatever you do: good luck. But make sure the brakes really work... Jay
