Maintenance for Trailer Surge Brakes

[Norman Gelbwaks]

My recently purchased 2000 26X came with the trailer's surge brake reservoir empty and rusty. It is a Titan. The Macgregor factory has no operation or maintenance specs for it. I plan to take it to the local RV dealer for maintenance, unless anyone may have better suggestions.

 

[Steve Zweigart]

Surge Brakes

I just went through nearly the same thing with my trailer for my Mac25. A friend of mine helped me basically rebuild the trailer from scratch. I ordered most of my parts from www.championtrailers.com, and got others from a local trailer shop. You will be surprised how detailed you can get with ordering specific parts, and how easy they are to install. If you need to work on the wheel pads, cylinders, etc., it is less expensive to buy the entire backing plate with all of that stuff installed and ready to go. I approached this job with great trepidation, but felt very good about the job I was able to do with the guidance of my friend. I feel more competent to handle the routine maintenance now, too, since I better understand the system.

 

[Gary Clenin]

maintenence of brakes

As a mechanic i can tell you that the brake system on the Mac's is minimal. The first thing you want to do is replace the dot 3 fluid in the system with dot 5. The dot 5 fluid will not absorb moisture, that the boat trailer is prone to. Secondly it holds up to extreme heat a lot better. Putting a low metal content brake shoe in place of the hi metal content will prevent excessive rust from settling in the drums. Rebuilding the wheel cylinders with silicone grease packed in the dust caps will ensure no moisture will get inside the cylinders and freeze up.

 

[Norman Gelbwaks]

Eureka - My solution

The local trailer repair facility had a replacement for the controller that looked as rusty as the one I wanted to replace. They could replace the whole tongue unit (with the controller) however the factory trailer tongue is welded, not bolted like theirs. I would have to float the boat off and then bring in the trailer and the cost would be probably twice the price of the tongue unit ($179.00) due to labor for bleeding the brakes with compressed air. I called someone that sells 26X's who said I might be better off without the surge brakes since Florida is mostly flat. So, for better or worse I am chosing to do nothing at this time other than disconnecting the brakes. Thanks for your help.