Reverse and Surge Brakes

[BrianS.]

I have a Performance Trailer with Surge Brakes. It's only a 4 wire harness and I don't have a Reverse selenoid.<br /><br />What's the best way to handle going in Reverse without my brakes engaging? I was thinking of manually blocking it so it won't engage but I'm not sure if that's the best way to do it.

 

[springhead]

Re: Reverse and Surge Brakes

The brakes wont engage in reverse unless you are going up hill in reverse.<br />I have a manually overide that blocks it in reverse but i never use it because i dont go in reverse up hills.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Reverse and Surge Brakes

It doesn't take much of an uphill slope to actuate the brakes, especially when loaded. Most systems have a manual lockout. Some systems are "free backing" meaning they will not engage in reverse -- uphill or not.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Reverse and Surge Brakes

some have a pin you insert in the brake mechanism, to keep it from engaging.

 

[tommays]

Re: Reverse and Surge Brakes

<br /><br />disk or drum brakes ?<br /><br /><br />tommays

 

[BrianS.]

Re: Reverse and Surge Brakes

My Driveway is at enough of a angle to actuate the brakes, and I don't see any type of manual lockout anywhere on the surge.<br /><br />Is that just a flow cutoff valve?

 

[tommays]

Re: Reverse and Surge Brakes

Yes its the simpest way to lock them out BUT it is a brake part and not just any valve<br /><br /><br />tommays

 

[BrianS.]

Re: Reverse and Surge Brakes

I'd be worried that I would forget to turn it back on.<br /><br />I think I'll stick to my block of wood that I'm using, it's kinda hard to forget it's there.

 

[BrianS.]

Re: Reverse and Surge Brakes

Is there an easy way to tell if you have Reverse Lockout Brakes? I'm wondering if mine are just not adjusted properly. They are Drum Brakes.

 

[QC]

Re: Reverse and Surge Brakes

The block of wood works fine on some couplers. Can you post a picture? There may be a simpler way . . .

 

[BrianS.]

Re: Reverse and Surge Brakes

This is my Actuator, it's the bottom right one in the opening pic, the 2 5/16" Ball<br /><br /> http://www.titandist.com/pdfs/mod6-actuator.pdf

 

[QC]

Re: Reverse and Surge Brakes

On the pdf link you sent it actually says:<br /><br />

9. The actuator is designed for use with Free-Backing trailer brakes. Do not block action in order to back up with other type of brakes. Failure to remove block will also prevent forward braking.

I personally believe that is only legal liability language. The block of wood is the way you use these IMHO.

 

[BrianS.]

Re: Reverse and Surge Brakes

Ya I read that, which was my initial reason for starting this thread to see if it was common practice to block it out.<br /><br />But I still dont know if my brakes are Free Backing or not, because they did lock up when I tried to go up my driveway, and I wasn't sure if they just needed to be adjusted or not.

 

[rwidman]

Re: Reverse and Surge Brakes

But I still dont know if my brakes are Free Backing or not, because they did lock up when I tried to go up my driveway, and I wasn't sure if they just needed to be adjusted or not.

Operating in reverse has nothing to do with adjusting the brakes. If they engage when you're backing up then the're not "free backing". The difference is in the construction and geometry of the shoes and backing plates. Some of the trailer shop catalogs show pictures of each.