Surge Brake Adjustment

[coresuper]

Took my new boat on it's first trip. It was only about a two and a half hour drive. The second half of the trip was very hilly. Once we got to our destination the rear brakes on my Yukon were almost on fire. You could smell them many feet away. Is this normal or do the surge brakes on the new trailer need adjusting? The boat and trailer are over 4000 lbs. Thanks

 

[bruceb58]

If they are drum brakes, they can be adjusted but a new trailer should have already had them adjusted.

Do you know if they actually work? I would jack up each wheel, spin the wheel and manually apply the surge brakes. How you manually apply the coupler depends on the coupler model and brand.

 

[kjsAZ]

Have you checked the brake fluid level? Trailer brakes may need bleeding.

 

[phillyg]

Have you checked the brake fluid level? Trailer brakes may need bleeding.

X2. And, if disc brakes there is no adjustment, only on drum brakes and they should have self-adjusters.

 

[skydiveD30571]

X2. And, if disc brakes there is no adjustment, only on drum brakes and they should have self-adjusters.

Self-adjusting drum brakes on boat trailers are very rare.

 

[Thalasso]

Never seen self adjusting surge brakes on a boat trailer.

 

[bruceb58]

Never seen self adjusting surge brakes on a boat trailer.

Agreed, Not sure how they would even work on a free backing drum brake assembly.

 

[kjsAZ]

Never seen self adjusting surge brakes on a boat trailer.

only for disc brakes, drums have to be adjusted very frequently which is why I would never use them (besides lesser brake power and lots of tiny pieces to rust internally)