Newbie - I Hate Surge Brakes!

[rapa123]

:|Hi Everyone,
I just purchased a new 2006 Fourwinns 24' Funship deckboat this year w/ a tandem axle trailer (approx. 5000 lbs). I love everything with the exception of the trailer.
When pulling away from a stop the clunk from the freeplay of the coupler jerks my whole truck. I went to my dealer (and several others) in which they al said; "This is normal." My dealer even went as far as bleeding the whole system.
Is there anything out there to help eliminate (soften) this system when pulling away from a stop?
I can't help to believe that over time, this will give me premature wear on my rear end & transmission.
dYour input and suggestions would be most appreciated!
Thanks, Ray

 

[bjcsc]

Re: Newbie - I Hate Surge Brakes!

Slower starts...

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Newbie - I Hate Surge Brakes!

Yes - buy a draw bar with the rubber insert in it where the pin goes through. It takes the jolt out of starts and stops. And then the previous poster had the best suggestion. The gas pedal is a linear device -- not an on/off switch. d Take it easy on starts as its prevents excess wear and tear on the coupler components as well as the truck. When starting out, just release the brake and let the truck roll a foot or so, then get on the gas.

 

[jeffnick]

Re: Newbie - I Hate Surge Brakes!

Might try electric brakes - no moving parts in the coupler. Mine are about 18 months old working out very nicely even in salt water.
http://www.boatus.com/trailerclub/upkeep/electricbrakes.asp

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Newbie - I Hate Surge Brakes!

save wear and tear on everything. when towing anything, you must start with a slow easy throttle. if not you're going to be repairing the tranny, rear end, shocks, engine bearings. remember you starting a heavy load. thats why tractor trailers have so many gears.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Newbie - I Hate Surge Brakes!

Likewise with my opinion. Trailing is not a race. I tow with a Ford Windstar and taking it easy with the trailer on has kept my transmission running for over 200,000 now.

 

[MRS]

Re: Newbie - I Hate Surge Brakes!

Might try electric brakes - no moving parts in the coupler. Mine are about 18 months old working out very nicely even in salt water.
http://www.boatus.com/trailerclub/upkeep/electricbrakes.asp

This is what I did best thing I ever did on my trailer did it to all my trailers some say it will not work because of water but so far so good.d

 

[rapa123]

Re: Newbie - I Hate Surge Brakes!

Hi,
dThanks for the replies! Yes, I agree and do start off slow with "no" acceleration. Electric brake may be an option, but it also means a whole lot of conversion or a differant trailer all together, which relates to big $$$.
As for a draw bar with the rubber insert in it, not sure what you may be talking about. I have heard of receivers with some type of rubber insert, but only rated 500 lbs tongue weight & 5000 lb. towing capacity. My boat & trailer equals all of that "Dry." A 65 gallon gas tank & gear weighs in at approx. 800 lbs.
I really don't consider my boat as being that heavy compared to a lot of others I see on the road. With all the technology out there, you would think that someone would come up with something. The heavier the boat, the worse the problem.
:'(Well I want to thank all of you for letting me cry on your shoulder's. I'll just have to get used to it.
dThanks again, your views & input was most appreciated. Ray

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: Newbie - I Hate Surge Brakes!

As the light turns green take you foot off the brake and let the truck take up the slack in the reciever assembly. Then if you must haul a** gun it. As the tounge is tight there will be no jerk

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Newbie - I Hate Surge Brakes!

It's called a cushioned ball mount. Here's a link.
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_47815_47815

 

[SwampNut]

Re: Newbie - I Hate Surge Brakes!

It won't hurt your truck to have a little quick jerk like that. I'm with the others about a slow start, creeping before the green light a bit. It works for me. Also I use a solid receiver insert (10k capacity) which seems to jerk/clank less than the hollow ones.

 

[ruf1967]

Re: Newbie - I Hate Surge Brakes!

It's common to hear the "clunk". Accelerate slow.

 

[QC]

Re: Newbie - I Hate Surge Brakes!

Yeah, slow for a second, but I don't agree that you should always accelerate slowly. The problem with this, particularly with a heavy load, is that the tranny will upshift early and then it is working really hard in the next gear (tranny). I like to let the surge brake slack be taken up without the jerk (you'll get better at this) and then run pretty hard in first gear (least load on tranny is high revs, low torque), so that when it upshifts it'll still run OK in second etc. My .02.

Also, if you can't get the hang of the slack thing, try power braking momentarily. Keep your left foot on the brake for just a second as you start to pull away, this will slow how hard you hit if you hammer the throttle too hard. You can even do this before the light turns, so that when it goes green the slack is already out. Nobody needs to flame me for this, only do it for a brief second and remember the brakes and tranny don't know it if is braking or load . . .

 

[dingbat]

Re: Newbie - I Hate Surge Brakes!

The only time you should get a clunk is when the brakes need bleed or your brakes are hanging up if you have drum brakes.

If the system is full of fluid and properly bled the brake systems acts as a shock absorber and there should be no "undampened" play in the coupler.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Newbie - I Hate Surge Brakes!

Seahunter -- I don't mean to pick nits here but what you say may be true when stopping. However a clunk is not prevented by the brake system upon start up from a stop as the coupler reaches the end of its travel. Pulling forces are not applied to the brake system as it simply couldn't withstand the forces. The built in shock absorber provides some damping during start up, but its real purpose is to dampen jerkiness during certain conditions where rapid brake application and release might occur (such as during axle hop). That's why a surge brake system is called "self modulating".

 

[QC]

Re: Newbie - I Hate Surge Brakes!

I'm with Silvertip. Clunk when transitioning from braking to forward is 100% normal and does not indicate anything is wrong other than the operator's use of his/her right foot.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Newbie - I Hate Surge Brakes!

If your master cylinder is faulty, the coupler will collapse further during a stop. When you start up, you will feel the excess motion as the coupler extends to it fully retracted state.

Just imagine a car with a master cylinder that has failed and your foot goes to the floor. When you let up on the brake pedal, it will travel all the way up to its stop. This is what is happening to your trailer coupler as well. I have just repaired the brakes on two friends trailers and this was the exact problem on both.

 

[QC]

Re: Newbie - I Hate Surge Brakes!

Let's make sure we are not confusing this poor guy. He has a Brand New Trailer! He has not used surge brakes before. They clunk if they are right even when they are perfect and again brand new. Yes, brand new could be broken too, but these things clunk, period.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Newbie - I Hate Surge Brakes!

I agree...a coupler that is working properly will still have a clunk.

If it were my trailer, I would make sure the brake shoes are adjusted. Any excess travel at the shoes translates to increase travel at the coupler which will increase the "clunk".

Let's make sure we are not confusing this poor guy. He has a Brand New Trailer! He has not used surge brakes before. They clunk if they are right even when they are perfect and again brand new. Yes, brand new could be broken too, but these things clunk, period.

 

[QC]

Re: Newbie - I Hate Surge Brakes!

I'm guessing it has disc brakes, but totally agree, misadjusted drum brakes will clunk worse . . .