Electric brake assy.

[MRS]

I did search got good info. so I am going with the electric brakes on boat trailer. All my other trailers are set up with them and much easier on the tow I think all I have to do is buy new brake assy. and bolt to axle and hook up wires or is there any thing else I have to do? Thanks for any help

 

[tommays]

Re: Electric brake assy.

You sound like you have the brake control on the car so it should be fine<br /><br /><br />It would be nice to here how they hold up to the water overtime compared to the old system<br /><br /><br />tommays

 

[MRS]

Re: Electric brake assy.

toms, I do have the control on truck and motorhome the reason I need it is we go up some very steep mountains. The problem is coming back down scary in the motor home the electric really helps slow everything down smoothly. I have checked with others that use on boat trailers and they usalley just bolt on a new brake assy. every year or two I figure 80 bucks every year or so is not bad will let you know how it works.

 

[craze1cars]

Re: Electric brake assy.

For driving, I feel electric brakes are far superior to hydraulic surge brakes. They can actually be modulated AND applied independently of the vehicle. Not only that, but you can actually back up without taking any special steps as you do on the hydraulic systems.<br /><br />All my trailers (boat included) have electric brakes and I have no problem at all. If you launch in saltwater I might see some issues with corrosion in the electrical components (of course EVERYTHING corrodes in saltwater), but if this is a freshwater trailer, you're making a good choice.<br /><br />In my estimation the only reason hydraulic surges on boat trailers is so popular is because you don't need the electric controller on the vehicle or the knowledge of how to use it and change controller adjustments for different conditions and trailer weights. They much more dummy-proof for dealers to sell and explain to customers how to use (just look at U-haul and other such trailer rental places...all hydraulic surge) and easier to tow with ANYTHING, even a tow vehicle that maybe doesn't have the controller.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Electric brake assy.

Actually Crazy -- surge brakes are self-modulating. The harder you stop, the more squeeze goes into the brakes. They are very effective. I'm with you however as far as the advantage of manual operation. This is especially important with travel trailers for example. A semi passing you pushes a big pile of air against the back side of the trailer. It forces the tonge toward the center line. That noses the truck to the right. Caught unaware, an inexperienced driver will ditch the rig. A light tap on the manual snaps everything back in line. I prefer electrics.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Electric brake assy.

I just purchased an electric over hydraulic actuater. This way I still have hydraulic brakes and use the brake controller in the car. I use my boat in salt water so electric brakes are out of the question.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Electric brake assy.

Modern elec brake controllers are far more effective than surge - and infinetly programmable/adjustable.<br /><br />The magnet is actually waterproof, all that is required is a good flushing with fresh water. <br /><br />In the backing plates, fit a brass barbed water fitting. Connect garden hose from the fittings up to an accessible point of the trailer, cable tie it in place. When you get home (or at the ramp, or at the service station) connect your mains pressure garden hose and flush away!! Go for a short drive to dry them out. Simple, easy - done.

 

[craze1cars]

Re: Electric brake assy.

Originally posted by Upinsmoke:<br /> Actually Crazy -- surge brakes are self-modulating.

Very true. I probably should have said that electric controllers are BETTER at modulating than surge brakes....but they both do modulate. Most quality brake controllers actually allow the trailer brakes to begin braking a split second BEFORE the brakes on the tow vehicle are applied (by first reacting to the brake light impulse) and then later the brakes are reacting to the gyroscopic sensors inside the controller. So surge brakes are always simply reacting a split second late, because they have to wait to push against the tow vehicle to know what to do. Therefore electric makes for smoother and more consistent braking from the trailer, where the hydraulic systems are more likely to.....well....be surgey! Imagine that....

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Electric brake assy.

I had a flush kit on my drum brakes. They rusted out anyway. <br /><br />One nice thing about electric brake controllers is that your brakes won't be dragging going down hill like a surge brake unit and won't be applied backing up unless your foot is on the brake.<br /><br />One more thing is you can control the gain of the brakes. You can change the strength of the application of your braked depending on the situation.<br /><br />Personally, I would not use electric brakes on a boat trailer backed into salt water. Your life and your family's life depends on your brakes working in an emergency situation. Are you going to gamble that the last dunking in salt water wasn't the last straw for that magnet...or do you feel lucky?

 

[tommays]

Re: Electric brake assy.

The newest electric brakes seem to be much better and cant really have anymore problems than standard surge brakes have which require a LOT of care in saltwater if you launch on a regular basis<br /><br />tommays

 

[MRS]

Re: Electric brake assy.

Dunaruna, good idea for flushing I only run in salt couple times a year the rest in fresh. So I will hook up the flush set-up so when I do I can flush them also run in the Salton Sea and it is four times saltier than the ocean Thanks for the info....

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Electric brake assy.

BTW, flushing hydraulic surge brakes is also a good idea.<br /><br />Drying ANY type of braking system before storage is the key factor.

 

[JasonB]

Re: Electric brake assy.

There are some Sharkskin-covered (whatever finish sharkskin is!) brakes made by maybe fulton? that are supposed to be more resistent to salt water.<br /><br />I run electrics on my tandem axle trailer, on the front axle only, 4200lbs, behind an F-150 supercab. I love them. They are now 4 years old and no appreciable corrosion or major rust, but I'm freshwater only.<br /><br />I've only had one problem in that time. At my new house, I have to back the trailer around a very sharp turn in teh yard to get the boat under its shed. During this, I tend to tap the brakes quite a bit. I found that the brakes I have tend to over-tighten themselves after a couple times of this. Easy solution- unplug the brakes before backing into the yard. Prioblem solved. On the flip side, one thing I like about having electrics on the boat is that if I's on a slick ramp, I can leave the brakes plugged in (LED lights are wonderful too!) for additional braking while backing down the ramp. Never needed it, but like the idea that I can as I have had a boat drag me down a very slick ramp before.<br /><br />As for what you need to do, that's basicall it. Install the backer plates, hubs, wire it up, toss in a breakaway kit and new 7-pin plug. Took me a couple hours to install mine years ago and haven't looked back. My trailer had no brtakes before, so I can't speak to teh surge brakes, I've never used them.

 

[tommays]

Re: Electric brake assy.

<br /><br />Corrosive resistant powder coated electric brake assemblies stand up to salt water and other hostile environments. <br /><br />

<br /><br /> What the hyd sharkskin verison realy looks like in 6 months with marginal flushing BUT always driven at least 17 miles to dry before parking <br /><br />tommays

 

[Lou C]

Re: Electric brake assy.

Mine look the same, 2 seasons tommays<br />Except mine are Tie Down Galvax, I did use the flush system and my Tie Down zinc plated drums had a little hole in them that I flushed thru too.<br />I am thinking of the next replacement, I mask off the friction surfaces of the shoes, and spray the whole thing in Boeshield, and pack the boot and adjuster with Pennzoil marine grease. What do you think??<br />I didn't go with discs because of all the bad stories I heard. Still not convinced, unless you go elec/hydraulic.<br />These are cheap enough that if they last 3 seasons, that is pretty good (130/pair)

 

[harveje]

Re: Electric brake assy.

Where is the best place to get a new electric setup? My trailer has 4 bolt flange, 14" tires, I've got the controller in truck allready.

 

[tommays]

Re: Electric brake assy.

Lou<br /><br />I allways do the wheel cylinder and adjuster in 2-4-C on install or you will never move the adjuster again <br /><br />You can get parts from easternmarine.com or championtrailers.com or google and you find more Not really much in brake parts on iboats<br /><br /><br />tommays

 

[MRS]

Re: Electric brake assy.

JasonB, I did rewire motor home this weekend I set it up so I can unplug trailer lights but leave trailer brakes plugged in if need to. I have another trailer that is set up same way and a dump run trailer that just runs the 4 post plug so they all hook up to truck or motor home. Now I just have to buy my brakes and do the switch Thanks to every one for your input.....

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Electric brake assy.

I run the electric brakes on my work trailer and boat trailer.Napa stocks everything i need for them.I have been getting about 70,000 miles out of a set of them on the car hauler and thats alot of trips to the west coast.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Electric brake assy.

Here is my setup....Stainless disc brakes and a BrakeRite electric/hydralic actuater. I use a Tekonsha Prodigy in the truck.<br /><br />You get the best of both worlds. Hydralic brakes so you don't have the electric brakes failing in saltwater and able to control the brakes from the vehicle.<br /><br />

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