Surge Brake in the Mountains

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HealthWorks

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Jul 15, 2013
6
MacGregor 26 Cherry Creek State Park
We are in Denver, and I'd love to go Westward to sail. (Lake Dillon, Lake Powell) but to do so must go "up the hill" to Eisenhower tunnel, and down the other side. It is down hill, geared down without trailer, for about 10 miles. My concern is smoking the surge brakes on that long and steep a downhill? Any suggestions?

Thanks!!
 
Justin_NSA

Justin_NSA

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Jul 7, 2004
8,481
Hunter 30T Cheney, KS
They say in the manual when you back up, do it smoothly. I'm guessing as long as you roll continuously it will probably be okay. Braking is going to activate them just due to the momentum of the trailer. Disabling them wouldn't be a good idea. Interesting problem. Let us know how it goes. Surely other boats with brakes make that trip.
 
monkeybars

monkeybars

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Dec 8, 2007
303
-mac 26M -26M tucson-san carlos mx
long steep mountain grades are terrible on surge brakes.best is if your vehicle is strong enough(3/4 or 1 ton truck) is lock out the surge brakes slow down and just use vehicle brakes. if in a car use surge but stay below 30mph and stop every 10 miles to cool brakes down so you don't warp your rotors.
 
Justin_NSA

Justin_NSA

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Jul 7, 2004
8,481
Hunter 30T Cheney, KS
I once took my Mercedes with 4 wheel disks through the Blue Ridge Mountains. I could actually feel the brakes begin to fade. Stopped to cool them off and slowed down :)
My wife's Cadillac STS has drilled and slotted rotors all the way around but we haven't been back to try them.
 
justsomeguy

justsomeguy

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Feb 20, 2011
8,059
Island Packet 35 Tucson, AZ/San Carlos, MX
Doc_holiday said:
I do this too, even without a trailer.
Click to expand
It never hurt anybody to go slow, unless you're behind the slow one. :D

But the surge brake issue went right over my head. I think monkeybars got it right with the lock-out idea.

It is a Mac 26.
 
kito

kito

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Sep 13, 2012
2,011
1979 Hunter Cherubini 30 Clemmons
I guess if my tow vehicle was of pretty good size I would disengage the brakes for that long of a decline. Depends on if your boat will be pushing a lighter tow vehicle down the mountain. Either way.....slow way down. Nothing will put a trailer into a fishtail like a downhill grade especially around a turn. I about lost a boat going east on I-40 through Asheville NC. My little ranger was towing a 5500 lb boat way too fast downhill and went into a violent fishtail...was actually moving the back of my truck around. I barely pulled out of that one.
 
dehler25

dehler25

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Sep 10, 2012
222
Hunter 450 Gulfport, Florida
I ran the same roads with surges and never a problem, I expect it a consideration if you have a sensitive system or a really heavy boat.
 
H

HealthWorks

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Jul 15, 2013
6
MacGregor 26 Cherry Creek State Park
Thanks guys for your suggestions. I'm towing with a 1995 Range Rover (rated at 7,400 lbs towing) and towing my 1994 Mac 26C on their trailer with the surge brakes. I understand the boat has been over the mountains in the past, and in the 20 years of age, the trailer brakes have been replaced once. (I'll get them checked before the over mountain trip).
My only Rover concern is the transmission that heats up when towing, even though it has a giant trans cooler radiator, but otherwise works just fine. I'll probably put in the
best Amsoil Tranny fluid before the over mtn trip.
Going down the mountain without trailer, on gear drop keeps it around the speed limit without riding the brakes, so will try 2 gears down with the trailer, and keep it gradual to minimize trailer brake pressure. I don't remember pull off places to check the brake heat going West, but appreciate all your input.
 
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Hugh Burton

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Aug 24, 2012
14
MacGregor 26M Lake of the Woods ON
Invest in an infrared temp gun.
I use one for my Tear drop trailer as well when pulling my 26M I aim at the brakes and hubs to be sure they are not overheating.
My assumption is than in a constant downhill run, the surge brakes are not engaging unless you decelerate.
As has been mentioned slow and steady stop and check brake temps with the gun.
 
H

HealthWorks

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Jul 15, 2013
6
MacGregor 26 Cherry Creek State Park
Good idea! My assumption was that they engage when there is forward pressure on the brake system. (any deceleration force).
Yea! Another gadget!!
 
monkeybars

monkeybars

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Dec 8, 2007
303
-mac 26M -26M tucson-san carlos mx
bad assumption. If trailer is on a descending hil with enough grade to roll on its own if not hitched to anything, it will be trying to roll into your vehicle which is being restrained by gearing via engine compression, so your brake actuator will be applying pressure to your trailer brakes even though your tow vehicle speed is constant and not increasing.Only when on a grade shallow enough that the trailer would not roll freely on its own will it not want to roll into your tow vehicle. Its two entirely separate vehicles, and the forward one is under brake via gearing-engine compression, rear vehicle(boat trailer) is rolling freely causing trailer brake actuation to match tow vehicle restrained speed causing constant heat generation in trailer brakes..........
 
H

HealthWorks

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Jul 15, 2013
6
MacGregor 26 Cherry Creek State Park
I Agree, that is my concern, though there seems to be no solution for this braking system and this terrain. I'll just have to be sure I start the trip with good brakes on the trailer. Thanks for your input.
 
walt

walt

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Jun 1, 2007
3,541
Macgregor 26S Hobie TI Ridgway Colorado
My data point.. I towed a 26S from Denver west a bunch of times (Vail pass, Hoosier pass, Raton pass) before I even had surge breaks on the trailer but I did it with a Dodge Dakota 4x4 with a manual transmission. Really had no issue but with any lighter vehicle.. might worry a little. Back in 1990, trailer surge breaks were an option that you had to pay extra for. Likely you will wear the surge brakes out faster but if you can service them yourself (not hard), not a big deal. Plus, you are likely not talking about doing that every weekend... maybe just a couple times a year. I always kept all the heavy stuff in the back of the truck, only light stuff in the boat (except the outboard, always on the transom).
 
monkeybars

monkeybars

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Dec 8, 2007
303
-mac 26M -26M tucson-san carlos mx
agree, tow vehicle is most important component, followed by towing experience-knowledge, then equipment maintenance.
 
H

HealthWorks

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Jul 15, 2013
6
MacGregor 26 Cherry Creek State Park
Might have been me in front of you on my BMW R1200RT. (my other passion). Been traveling all these roads for over 20 years.
 
willsnow

willsnow

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Jul 1, 2012
306
MacGregor 26D Kirkland, WA
living in the mountains as well, I have to climb and descend every time I launch my boat. in my 1991 Bronco, simply putting it in 2nd gear and not applying any brakes keeps me right at 55 on the downhill portions... and my crappy factory trailer brakes have been disengaged since the second day I had the boat (when they caught on fire, trying to bring it home on the first day of ownership. ended up melting the right axle bearings out of it and I had to have a new spindle welded on to it on the side of the interstate)
i would imagine a vehicle as heavy as yours would handle our light boats just fine?
 
walt

walt

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Jun 1, 2007
3,541
Macgregor 26S Hobie TI Ridgway Colorado
Yikes!!! I suppose the fire was caused by bearing going bad and not the surge brakes?
 
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