I'm stuck

[jsonnebe]

Hi all,

New to me trailer. Sorry in advance for not knowing all the correct terminology.

I'm trying to install a new receiver. But I am stuck in the middle of tear down. Not sure what to do next. This is a double axle trailer with a 19' aluminum starcraft on top. I'm pretty sure I'm under the legal limit for trailer brakes. I'd like to remove the old stuff and put on a new hitch? Thanks.

Oh, is this winch a museum piece or part of tonight's garbage? Not sure if it works. lol

 

[cyclops222]

It may be SHOT !! That built up hitch looks DANGEROUS.

 

[matt167]

Some kind of a surge brake I think. 19’ StarCraft tin boat will weigh 1,600 lbs or so fully loaded. Up to 2000 lbs depending on how much gear and fuel you have but the cutoff is 3,500 lbs gross combined so it should fall under that. Trailers are pretty cheap. I wouldn’t mess with that rust pile

 

[redneck joe]

What state do you live in and yeah get rid of the crap. If you can pull it to a welding shop you want to sleeve on to the lower portion. The shop and tell you servicability condition of the whole thing. I don't like surge brakes, replace if needed. Here in TN it's 1500 lbs but have never paid attention to that.

 

[Scott Danforth]

looks like the old surge brake head has vertical bolts thru the trailer tongue.

remove them, remove the big old box of old surge brake stuff

remove the coupler.

toss both in the garbage and cheeze off your garbage man

then replace with a good current surge brake head.

 

[rxl650]

I dont pretend to know anything about larger trailers with brakes, but looking at that scares the shyte out of me. I'd be inclined to take the advise of the folks here.

 

[redneck joe]

Ok I see you are in MI so under 3k gross no need for brakes unless you want them.

 

[cyclops222]

I towed a 3200 pound trailer with 1 axle & no brakes. For one faster stop. Took the trailer back for a REAL SAFE trailer.
Luck is important on crappy trailer setups. Been there.

 

[bruceb58]

What does the rest of the trailer look like? At some point, might be better to just get another trailer.

 

[KJM]

I agree with Scott. Cut all that big box stuff off, however I would just put a regular hitch back on and skip the brakes altogether. The boat you mentioned shouldn't be all that heavy. If the whole trailer is in the same shape as that hitch, I would be looking for a new trailer. A double axle trailer probably isn't necessary for that boat anyway.