how to "disable" surge brake for parking.

[kevinnem]

Hello all, I have one of those trailer dolly sort of unit to puch my boat around, it is a powered 12v model.


I have to push the trailer up about a 10% slope, this is an issue because it has a surge brake coupler on the front, so as soon as I press on it to push it up the hill, it will lock up. On a car, it is supposed to work, because of the back up reverse lock out solenoid, but my doly doesn't have a plug. I also don't seem to have any alligator clips or spare bits to make a plug system. I am told however, there is a way you can use a socket, or block of wood to stop the coupler from compressing. Any further details on this , I am confused how this works?

Kevin.

[Tomfoolery]

If it's the OEM Titan coupler, you can just stick an extra 5/8" receiver pin under the two J links on top to stop it from compressing. That's my backup plan for reverse solenoid failure, or if I know I have to stop facing downhill before backing. I keep a pin in my 'launch/haul box', along with water shoes, trailer bridle, and stern strap.

[kevinnem]

well, I got the boats in the back yard, took about 3 hours.. of switching between truck and trailer... it was ... disappointing. the trailer dolly was supposed to put it up the approx 10% grade, .. but it didn't have enough traction to do so. Ended up bending one of the wheels over. all things considered, it made it in to the back, . but it was not something I ever wish to repeat.. not sure what can be done in the future.
I wasn't able to figure out a physical way to lock out surge brakes, .. ended up wiring the reverse lock out solenoid to the dolly battery.

Kevin.

[paul I]

I read this thread and conjured up a lot of questions.

First, understand that I usually only need to haul the boat 2x per year... to and from the marina. It has a slip all season. So, im not as familiar as I should be with the trailer as maybe I should be.

I assume the trailer is a stock 2000 Macgregor. It does have what I thought were surge brakes, but now i'm not so sure, and even less sure they are operating correctly. It has lines running from where the tailpiece actuator is to each wheel assembly. There is the emergency cable that attaches to the hitch so if it were to break loose the brake lever is tripped. But there is no sign of a wire hooking into the reverse light system. Isn't the 4 conductor wiring scheme based on 1 conductor for ground, one to running lights hot, and one each to the left/right directional/brake lights? Where does the conductor from the reverse lights come from? Are there surge brake systems that do not include a lockout cylinder?

For the record I have never run into a situation where I couldn't back the boat up. Is there an easy way to determine if the brake system is even working?

[Tomfoolery]

But there is no sign of a wire hooking into the reverse light system. Isn't the 4 conductor wiring scheme based on 1 conductor for ground, one to running lights hot, and one each to the left/right directional/brake lights? Where does the conductor from the reverse lights come from? Are there surge brake systems that do not include a lockout cylinder?

The reverse lock-out solenoid didn't exist on the original trailers, and isn't needed with so-call 'free-backing' drum brakes. That type of brake self-disengages when the wheel is rotating backwards and the brakes are applied. Obviously, they have an orientation (left and right side). But disc brakes don't do that, so some means of locking out the actuator is needed. Only those OEM trailers that have been modified to include a solenoid valve would need a fifth connection, and usually only those without free-backing drums (standard drum brakes, or disc brakes).

For the record I have never run into a situation where I couldn't back the boat up. Is there an easy way to determine if the brake system is even working?

Compress the coupler, and see if the trailer resists. You can probably make a working/not working determination by jacking one wheel at a time and doing that, spinning the wheel by hand to see if it locks up when rotated in the forward direction. If they're the free-backing type, you should be able to rotate the wheel backwards more easily than forwards with coupling compression, but I don't know if arm strength is enough to test that.

[Chinook]

I have a Titan surge brake coupler on my 2002 trailer. Easy way to lock out the brake for backing is to drill a hole through both sides of the coupler housing, about an inch back from the bolt which holds the piston in place. You can then insert a bolt through the holes. This bolt obstructs travel of the coupler and prevents the brakes from engaging.

[paul I]

Thanks for the explanation Tom. It all makes sense now.

[Tomfoolery]

If it's the OEM Titan coupler, you can just stick an extra 5/8" receiver pin under the two J links on top to stop it from compressing. That's my backup plan for reverse solenoid failure, or if I know I have to stop facing downhill before backing. I keep a pin in my 'launch/haul box', along with water shoes, trailer bridle, and stern strap.

Here's a pic to go along with the above. I'm assuming it's the DICO or Titan coupler (same thing, now owned by Dexter) original to the trailer. Mine was welded on, as were all the originals AFAIK - I cut mine off and replaced it using bolts for future-proofing, when I replaced the brakes with disc.

Pin goes where the red arrow shows.

Thanks for the explanation Tom. It all makes sense now.

Probably even easier to just take the loaded boat and trailer for a drive, get the feel for how it stops (like in a big parking lot), then stick a pin in the coupler and see if the trailer pushes the tow vehicle along more than before when stopping hard. Also check under the coupler, assuming you can see up in there, and see if the master cylinder and/or the shock absorber is traveling full stroke, or if there's a dirty region on the rod indicating that it's not compressing all the way, which it would do if it were out of fluid (and of course, check the fluid level).

[kevinnem]

little more info about tah pin?: does it go left/right or up/down?

I might try to post a photo of my set up , that looks almost exactly like that.