Electric Brakes on Boat Trailer

picklenjim

picklenjim

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 11, 2009
Messages
528
Can anyone tell me if electric brakes can be used on a boat trailer? I currently have hydraulic surge brakes but would like to convert to electric.
 
Splat

Splat

Lieutenant
Joined
Jul 20, 2008
Messages
1,366
Re: Electric Brakes on Boat Trailer

Sure they can. Some people worry about miving the electric with water, but were only talking 12VDC and the only electronic part in there is an electromagnet.

Some consider them questionable with salt water because the drums may retain some dalt water, hewever there are kits made specifically for salt usage, as well as flush kits are available.

Last thing I HIGHLY recommend a Tekonsha Prodigy brake controller. You won't be sorry with one of these ever.

Bill
 
picklenjim

picklenjim

Chief Petty Officer
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Mar 11, 2009
Messages
528
Re: Electric Brakes on Boat Trailer

Thanks for the replies. I wasn't sure if you could submerge the magnets in water with out hurting them. I bought a pick up which has a Tekonsha Commander already set up in it.Hopefully I can use my existing drums and just have to buy the electric brake backing plates and wire the trailer.Not sure if the controller even works but if not I will definitely be looking into the Prodigy.Thanks for the recommendation.
 
dingbat

dingbat

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 20, 2001
Messages
16,089
Re: Electric Brakes on Boat Trailer

The electric brake packages being offered as water safe are at best suspect.

To begin with, I would never own another set of drum brakes. I got tired of stuck wheel cylinders, rusted out hardware and the whole drum brake thing in general. Throw saltwater into the mix and you'll have a compleley useless setup in 2-3 years max.

If you don't want surge brakes then go with electric over hydralic. That way you can use disc brakes and you'll get much better performance than with electric alone.
 
J

jeffnick

Senior Chief Petty Officer
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May 24, 2004
Messages
695
Re: Electric Brakes on Boat Trailer

You can lock up the electric brakes from the tow vehicle anytime you want by manually powering them via the controller. You can set the trailer brakes to come on as soon as you touch the brake pedal, and/or just let them work automatically. You can adjust the sensitivity of braking based on your load.

If you don't have brakes on your trailer, in order to install ANY type of brakes you'll need a 4 hole square flange on the axle, just inside the hub.
12198_lg.gif

If you don't have the flange it can be welded on but for a single axle brake installation it might be cheaper to replace the axle.
 
eric-holmes

eric-holmes

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jul 11, 2009
Messages
38
Re: Electric Brakes on Boat Trailer

jeffnick said:
You can lock up the electric brakes from the tow vehicle anytime you want by manually powering them via the controller. You can set the trailer brakes to come on as soon as you touch the brake pedal, and/or just let them work automatically. You can adjust the sensitivity of braking based on your load.

If you don't have brakes on your trailer, in order to install ANY type of brakes you'll need a 4 hole square flange on the axle, just inside the hub.
12198_lg.gif

If you don't have the flange it can be welded on but for a single axle brake installation it might be cheaper to replace the axle.
Click to expand...

Thanks Jeffnick, I went and looked this morning and I do have that 4 hole flange. My next question would be; Are trailer brakes worth it? Are they hard to put on?
 
T

Titanium48

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 24, 2008
Messages
303
Re: Electric Brakes on Boat Trailer

Installing brakes is basically like installing new hubs with some wiring thrown in. The brake assembly bolts to the flange and then you install a new bearing kit (bearings, races, and seal) into the hub-drum and put it on like any other hub. You may need to adjust the shoes the same way you would in a car with drum brakes - tighten until you feel resistance why you try to spin the drum, then back off until it just goes away. Use minimum #14 gauge wire to hook them up, #12 if you have a tandem axle. Wire them in parallel and run a full length ground, don't try to use the trailer frame as ground.

Are they worth it? Absolutely if your trailer weighs more than about half as much as your tow vehicle.
 
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