Surge brakes

[Ski213]

Question. Every trailer I’ve ever pulled has had either no brakes or electric brakes, with the exception of my boat trailer which has drum type surge brakes. So although I’ve been pulling it for almost 6 years it’s the only experience I have with surge brakes. I don’t feel like they do much but I also know I’ve never adjusted them and doubt the previous owner did. It’s been on my list to do just never got to it. 

 

My truck has pretty good brakes so stopping isn’t an issue but while doing wheel bearing maintenance I’m thinking about showing the brakes some love. They’re dirty and the adjusters are locked up but I can remedy that. Are they worth even messing with. I know I’ve heard of people who just abandoned them cause they said they didn’t really do anything anyway.  Just curious as to your opinions on them. 

[(='_'=)]

I pull a 18ft boat with my 4 door wrangler. With my surge brakes disabled i can definitely notice the difference. 

[NHBull]

Surge breaks will definitely keep the boat behind the truck where it belongs......don't ask me why I am so certain of this ?. Don't disable them!

[Russ E]

I would not permanently disable them.

A couple months ago my trailer plug came unhooked on the interstate.

I didn't notice it until I pulled into a gas station and tried to backup. the plug was shredded.

I disabled them to backup to the pump and left them disabled the 10 miles home.

normally I don't really notice the boat when stopping. With the brakes disabled it was a total different story.

That was the last time I disabled the brakes.

[WRB]

I would maintain the surge brakes. The brakes only engage when stopping as the trailer coupler moves foreward. The drum adjustments compensates for brake shoe wear not engagement travel.

When you must stop fast brakes assist the vehicle reducing stopping distance in a emergency and that is when you need them.

Tom

[Ski213]

Thanks for the replies! Gonna get them back to properly functioning order. @NHBull never good when what you’re towing passes you. 

 

 

As always it’s going to turn into a little more than anticipated. Should’ve gone through them years ago. Wheel cylinders are trash. Look like they have been for some time.  Once I pulled the little rubber dust protectors off that became obvious. All pretty simple, worst part is gonna be cleaning all the crap out of assembly. 

 

Thanks everybody for the advice!

 

[CountryboyinDC]

Brakes on trailers are good for falling into disrepair.  On the farm, I can't tell you how many times I've had to go through brakes on a trailer that sat.  I still have all my drum brake tools, but I don't know if I'll ever use them again; I haven't had them on a vehicle I've owned I 2 decades or so.  If you really don't like drum brakes or surge brakes, for that matter, there are conversion kits.  I helped a friend put on a Carslile activator on a cargo trailer, and he wishes he'd done it years ago.  The install wasn't too bad, the worst part for us was making the flange for the brake lines going into the activator.  His brake lines were the hardest stainless I've come across.  I know that cost him close to $600.  At the end of the day, I guess it depends on what you want to put in it.

[Ski213]

@CountryboyinDC that thought has crossed my mind. I’ve not looked into the kits very deep though.  Good to know it was worth the effort.

 

You said cargo trailer, so was that a cargo trailer with surge drum brakes converted to electric actuator or was that a drum to disc conversion with electric actuator?  600 would seem cheap for that. Just curious. 

[CountryboyinDC]

It had surge drum brakes originally, and at the end had electric over hydraulic drum brakes.  So, the $600 didn't cover a conversion to disc brakes.  You sound like you're going to be doing a fair amount of work on the stock drum brakes.  If the axle's something common like Dexter, the conversion to disc brakes may not be so much more than putting on new shoes, replacing rusted parts, turning the drums, etc.

[Ski213]

44 minutes ago, CountryboyinDC said:

It had surge drum brakes originally, and at the end had electric over hydraulic drum brakes.  So, the $600 didn't cover a conversion to disc brakes.  You sound like you're going to be doing a fair amount of work on the stock drum brakes.  If the axle's something common like Dexter, the conversion to disc brakes may not be so much more than putting on new shoes, replacing rusted parts, turning the drums, etc.

So far it’s mostly just been time consuming getting it all cleaned out. I’ve already ordered new wheel cylinders. They weren’t terribly expensive. I’m going to look into the electric over hydraulic though for down the road. The drums and shoes are actually in pretty good shape once I got it cleaned up.

 

It’s a UFP setup which Dexter acquired a few years back. It seems that they’re very similar, but there are a couple differences. I’d have to do a little homework but I’d almost bet a dexter setup would bolt up. 

 

Thanks!

[CountryboyinDC]

That's good the OEM brake parts aren't too expensive, I was imagining them setting you back a bit.  The electric over hydraulic setup is nice as are disc brakes, but as they say, if it ain't broke....