Trailer Surge Brakes

[cscott]

Question for all MacGregor 26 sailors that tow their boats. Especialy the 26C towers.Do you have Surge Brakes On Your Trailer? Are they well maintained and working? Would you get Surge Brakes again? For those that do not have Surge Brakes, do you feel that this is a problem?If you respond, please say which MacGregor 26 you have.The reason I am asking is this. I bought my 1993 26S and trailer last August and towed it home with my 3/4 Ton PU. I have been going through all systems on boat making sure they work, and upgrading some of them. This weekend I started on the trailer. The first thing I found is that the surge brake system had no fluid and rust in master cylinder. It is frozen. This means that I will replace eveything including the wheel cylinders, fluid lines, and complet coupler. Haven't check brake linings yet.However, not sure if I really need surge brakes with my Heavy Duty Extra GVW 3/4 Ton PU. It is good for 8600# GVW.Thanks for Input,Chuck

 

[Mark M26D]

Mine are disabled

I have a 1988 26D (which is listed for sale on this site BTW)When we acquired the boat the surge coupler and the brakes were all rusted shut.I replaced the axle and installed slider springs to move the axle back.I have always pulled with a Ford E-150 Van and have never had an issue. Especially now with 4 wheel disk brakes.

 

[David 88 26D,]

Trailer Brakes

I have an 88 26D which I tow with a 98 Dodge 1500 4WD with 5.9 L V8. My trailer does not have brakes and I've never felt unsafe towing it. I do drive fairly conservatively, always trying to keep plenty of stopping room. I think if I had a smaller tow vehicle I'd want surge brakes (or some kind of trailer brakes).

 

[Bob 04 H260]

I installed surge brakes on my 26S

I bought my boat and trailer without brakes. I bought the kit to add S/S disc brakes with surge master cylinder. It went on very easily and was reasonable priced I felt. I felt I needed them because I carry it well loaded, tow some long distances (I live in Canada and I am sitting on my boat in Florida right now), and I tow it through a number of states that require brakes on a trailer that weighs more than 2000lbs. I found a bonus was that I could stabilize the trailer just lifting my foot off the gas, a very comforting feeling when an 18 wheeler is passing you and the wind is shaking the boat. I tow with a Pathfinder (rated at 5200 lbs.) and hauled it through the New York mountains in January in 4x4 in a blinding snow storm, I was glad I had spent $400 on brakes for the trailer every time I came down one of those mountains. Also you should check with your insurance company to see if they have any requirements for brakes on a towed trailer, better to find out now than after an accident.good luck, Bob

 

[Robert]

My Mac 25 2 cents.

I have a Ford Expedition with 4 wheel disc. It stops my 84 Mac 25 with no brakes very well. For me, The trailer brakes seem to be problematic at best.

 

[Chuck]

Thanks

Thanks for your inputs. I do value them. Like to hear from the rest of you out there.Chuck

 

[Claude]

Yes to brakes

I would not go anywhere without brakes on the trailer.They are a part of my safety package...At any rate they are mandatory here.I would also ask BOB (Ottawa) for the brand of make of the brakes installed.I will always go for safety first.Claude

 

[walt]

backing up and mountain passes

I plan to get mine fixed (26S)... but am pretty sure they dont work now and have trailered the boat a bit but with a Dodge Dakota 4x4 and I was very aware and cautious while driving that I did not have the surge brakes. I even drove the boat over an 11 thousand foot mountain pass in Colorado (happened to be in the way of where I needed to go) and didnt seem to be any problem. My previous sailboat and trailer didnt weight much less and it did not even have surge brakes. I understand with surge brakes that if you want to back up, you have to disable them. Going back to that 11 thousand foot mountain pass, I wonder if I was comming down the mountain pass going slowly, would the surge brakes cause me any trouble?

 

[wade]

easy to repair and install

check with the trailer parts superstore, they are online, the parts are cheapand easy to install, and they make such a difference. they have all the partsyou need therer and are great to deal with, i had a set just shipped to me for the trailer i am building. I love them, easy to clean after being in salt water and last longer than the old magnet drum typeif any of you have spec / drawings for a mac 25 trailer would really appreciate them, my email is wademayo@gmail.com

 

[Blake]

No brakes here

I tow with a Chevy Astro van, V6, no trailer brakes and no big problems. But I would rather have them than not. I will have to look into that trailer brake superstore web site. I live a couple of hours away from the nearest lake, and have towed as far as Seattle. I don't think that you will have any problems towing with a 3/4 ton pick up if you drive conservatively, however I would agree with the folks who recomend trailer brakes.

 

[wade]

backing up

for backing up there is a lock out solinoid, just hooks up to your back up lights and when you put in reverse disables the brakes, and for going down hill is great, if the boat starts to catch the truck it automatically brakes and you have no pushing on the truck / car, i have to say i love emwade

 

[Ron Rae]

Also for backing up

in front of the trailer cylinder rod you should find room to put a 1/2 or 5/8 x 4-6" long rod through, which will efectively allow backing up without activating the surge mechanism.

 

[Nevada City Bob]

backing up

I carry a 6" x 9/16 bolt to keep the brakes from compressing when I back up. Wade must have electrics instead of surge. No solenoid on mine, but the bolt trick works well. I have a 1/2 T Tundra and fell saer with the trailer brakes. If I lived down on the flat I might feel differently, but I say they are a must in hill country.

 

[Fred Allen]

NEW trailer/flat5 hookup/surge/GREAT(26x)

Got rid/GAVE AWAY/the iron/no brakes monster that x-boat had.Bought NEW aluminum dbl axle/brakes on both/surge cuts out in reverse.(flat5 plug)MAGNIFICENT...boat has LOTS of xtra gear(spelled W-E-I-G-H-T)still sails well/power Honda 50....Retired...can cruise w/DAWG for a MONTH W/O touching land ifWE so choose...Doing the Chesapeake when the weather breaks...Oyeah...Tow with 1-ton Chevy dually 4x4 P/U....NICE....