installing trailer brakes

[doehunter]

Hey guys,
I'm just thinking ahead here. I'm going to look at a boat Saturday.
When I mentioned I was going to pull it with my 6 cyl. Explorer, the owner says, the question isn't if I can pull i,t but is if I can stop it. (sounds like a echo!)
It is a stock Macgregor trailer. Judging from his comment, I am assuming it does not have brakes.
I have always done my own brake work and I have always bought the rotors from local auto parts stores. They are cheap, and seem to warp easily. I replace them every couple years it seems. Not sure how they will hold up having to stop with the Mac in tow.
I have heard there are trailer brake kits that can be installed.
Has anyone here been through that, or have a recommendation?
It seems like installing hydraulic surge brakes would be a major deal.
Do the electric brakes work well ?
Jim

 

[Sumner]

Pesonally I wouldn't go with electric. I have them on a car hauler trailer and they are fine for that application, but they don't go in the water and they for sure don't go in salt water. The drum electric just have too many parts.

I put Surge disc brakes on the boat trailer and love them. After the 2200 mile tow to Florida I'm really sold on them. The trailer stops great and there are far fewer parts to maintain.

Installing them is a one day job if, and this is a big if, there is a mounting bracket on the axle. If it is a stock axle I doubt that. Still not a big deal to weld one on or have one welded onto the axle. I added a second axle to the trailer that I made because of the none stock width and used stub spindles that had the bracket on them. You might have to modify the tongue some, but that also isn't a big deal. I modified my steps to keep the tongue short so that the trailer would fit inside my shop. If I wouldn't of done that it would of been an easy change to the tongue.

If you can wire the reverse solenoid in as that will lock the brakes out while backing up. You also can get out and pin them while backing.

I got the brake kit from....

http://www.blackbearsportinggoods.com/Brake_Kit_V_Rotr_W_Act_Brk_p/elltied82101.htm

....their prices seem to fluctuate all over the place. I got a kit for $380 but see they are $391 now, but have seen them over $400 this past year.

Overton's also has a good price right now....

http://www.overtons.com/modperl/pro...it&i=73395&r=view&aID=603I&cID=SHOPPING_73395

Good luck and this is a good safety upgrade,

Sum

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

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[doehunter]

I didn't think about the under water thing. Hmmmm.
Maybe the second axle is a good idea too. It's just money huh!
I want to be safe on the road, but I don't want to just throw money around either.
I'll check out those links.
Thanks,
Jim

 

[timebandit]

May I recommend Dot-5 brake fluid for your new system.

 

[cbig]

Recently did this plus put a bend in axel below keel..I think parts and all was about $900 or so. Tow with 6 cyl jeep Rubicon. Worth it.

 

[Justin_NSA]

You don't say what model Mac you are looking at. My '92 26S trailer came with surge brakes. i.e don't assume you don't have brakes.

Can I recommend that you invest in quality rotors on your Exploder next time? There's no reason to be replacing them every couple years. You can get quality, name brand rotors and pads online for about what you pay in the local parts stores. Rockauto.com is one great place to start.

 

[Sumner]

You don't say what model Mac you are looking at. My '92 26S trailer came with surge brakes. i.e don't assume you don't have brakes....

Our '90 didn't have them. I'm not sure, but I think the brakes back then might of been an option.

One other thing to think about if you tow at nights is lighting on the trailer. I don't see how the stock trailer lights even back then were legal. When I added the second axle I also extended the....

... trailer fame and added a third bunk at the back. That allowed the addition of a middle light bar at the back which is a legal lighting requirement for loads our width. Also now we have stop/tail lights a lot further back and not way up under the boat. Also side marker lights were added in front of and behind the fenders.

I feel a lot better now about people seeing the trailer, especially in a city where people are coming up an on ramp and merging fast behind you at night or are pulling out of side streets as you pass.

Of course it took a year to add all of the above,

Sum

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

Our Mac Pages

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[doehunter]

I would assume the brakes are optional too. I think the boat is a '94 model.
stock main and jib, + a 130 Genoa. Honda 9.9 4 stroke, bimini, pushpit, radio,
New Ida Sail rudder and stock rudder. He says the trailer isn't rusted.
If it is as he claims, it's mine!
I forgot to ask in my last email. I don't want to overload the guy with questions.
Brakes or no brakes, isn't a deal breaker. If the boat and motor look good, it's coming home to Houston!
JIm

 

[flynfol]

Call me a rebel.....I love when somebody says you can't do it! You CAN install electric brakes on boat trailers. There are pros and cons for both types (hyd and electric). Electrical connections must be water tight(as do hyd systems). Biggest drawback would be a controller is required for the tow vehicle and a standby battery for emergency break away. Corrosion resistant parts are available. I had them on my powerboat (installed them when I had to replace the rusted out surge brakes) before the corrosion resistant parts(I operated in fresh water) and they worked quite well.......I am partial to electric because I think they control better. They all require maintenance. I plan on installing on my Venture 25 when I upgrade the axle. Google it.

John

PS You can purchase electric/hydraulic actuators for hydraulic disc brakes (which I admit disc brakes are more effective), but they are pricey. In my opinion, would be the BEST trailer brake system available.

 

[doehunter]

Ahhh,
Another controversy?
I've never used trailer brakes before so I have nothing to go by. One thing I can see is If I ever want to tow with different vehicles, the hydraulic surge brakes, don't need anything special on the truck. Seems simpler.

 

[Sumner]

......when I had to replace the rusted out surge brakes) ...........

John were the surge brakes drums or disc?

I wouldn't want surge drum either if that was the case. I like the few parts associated with the disc and they are out in the open and easy to service or change compared to drums.

I have no doubt one can make electrics work, but I wonder if you are ahead money wise by the time you have everything corrosion resistant.

My biggest complaint about the electrics is that with my car hauler I'm usually not hauling a consistent weight load on it, so I'm fiddling with the controller to get it set right. With the surge there is none of that and the harder you stop the harder they apply. I always try and leave extra room when towing, but still with the surge on the trailer now I can almost treat it as it if isn't there while coming to a stop with the surge disc. I think for someone that hasn't towed much or often the surge are a more fool proof setup.

Now when towing a boat the electrics wouldn't require as much messing with once you had them set where you liked them vs. my constantly changing loads on the car hauler.

Have you towed with surge discs? If not hope you get the chance because I sure like them,

Sum

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

Our Mac Pages

Mac Links

 

[Sumner]

I would assume the brakes are optional too. I think the boat is a '94 model.
stock main and jib, + a 130 Genoa. Honda 9.9 4 stroke, bimini, pushpit, radio,
New Ida Sail rudder and stock rudder. He says the trailer isn't rusted.
If it is as he claims, it's mine!
I forgot to ask in my last email. I don't want to overload the guy with questions.
Brakes or no brakes, isn't a deal breaker. If the boat and motor look good, it's coming home to Houston!
JIm

Well good deal ,

Sum and Ruth

 

[MrBill_FLL]

only trl brakes I've ever had were on a 3 axle trl, and they didn't work, (drums), so I don't know what I'm missing I guess.

I just go slow, brake in a straight line, and leave some room infront of me.

-big difference between 55 and 70mph.
I figure the extra time in the car is better than spending extra time working on the trailer.


good luck on the boat!

 

[flynfol]

I figure the extra time in the car is better than spending extra time working on the trailer.

I can't argue with that. I figure your chances of an accident are directly proportional to miles towed. I don't tow as far as Sum and Ruth, but I tow to Drummond Island (1000 mile round trip) and Wisconsin quite a bit, and brakes are a neccessity. Cheap money spent.

John

 

[doehunter]

I haven't been there yet but I have big dreams.
? Do you adjust the sensitivity or something on the surge brakes?
If so, I would guess that would affect how comfortable they are.
Yipp EEEeee
can you feel the enthusiasm?
Jim

 

[caguy]

I don't know how your Explorer will handle it. I have an F250 and would not feel the need for brakes on a Mac 26. With the Cat 27 the first emergency stop in pouring rain found me stopping half way through the intersection and that was with trailer brakes. A lot depends on your driving style, ability to attend and focus.
The brakes do make a difference. My 10000# Luger 30 with six brakes stops better than the 7000# Cat. with two brakes. The Mac 25 with 3000# is no problem at all with no brakes.
The only way to find out is find a desolate road or large parking lot and simulate an emergency stop and see how long it takes you to stop.

 

[Sumner]

? Do you adjust the sensitivity or something on the surge brakes?..

No. U-Haul uses them on their trailer for I'm sure 2 reasons. One is that you don't need a controller or an electrical connection except for lights. Two is that they are pretty much idiot proof in operation. Just stop and they work and adjust themselves to the load and stopping situation.

That of course doesn't mean drive like you don't have a trailer. I'll drive 75-80 'in the west' with my street rod and teardrop. With the Mac and trailer over 3500 lbs. I drive 60-65 on the interstate and no traffic and 55-60 in heavy traffic and always try to leave more distance between me and the cars ahead of me.

c ya,

Sum

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

Our Mac Pages

Mac Links

 

[doehunter]

I found out today, just how many idiots were on the road I was on!
I always kept enough following distance to feel comfortable. then had an endless string of other drivers diving into that space. Guess I just gotta get used to it.

 

[timebandit]

I just figure that the idiots are trying to get home or to work.

I just grin and think I am going sailing or what a great time I had and all is right with the world.:dance:

I found out today, just how many idiots were on the road I was on!
I always kept enough following distance to feel comfortable. then had an endless string of other drivers diving into that space. Guess I just gotta get used to it.