Lou C
Supreme Mariner
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2002
- Messages
- 12,654
I don't trailer much living like 300 ft from the harbor but my surge brakes have worked well over the years. The drums didn't rust out over the 17 years I used the 10" units on my original axle, on my vehicles on the other hand, if you get more than 7 years out of a brake rotor before the rust gets bad you're lucky. The axle I installed in 2021 has 12" surge drums that came coated with cold galvanizing zinc, they look brand new after a couple years of use. If I have a problem with a drum brake cluster I have 2 sets of spares in the garage, 5 bolts and it's replaced.
As far as disc brakes go, the only thing that will last here is full stainless. My brother has a 2020 trailer put in salt water like 4 or 5 times and the regular rotors are really pitted already. We are going to put stainless rotors on it this fall before we pull his boat out. I can buy a pair of galvanized drum brake 12" clusters for about $200. They last at least 5 years, if not longer in my use. A full stainless disc set up would have cost me about a grand.
Full electric brakes (not electric/hydraulic) have wiring connections that go under water, and most of the drum backing plates are not even galvanized so that's where the problems start. Not saying they can't be made better but it seems the manufacturers don't see the market for it. Having said that since I changed over to made in USA Tecniq LED trailer lights (about 8 seasons ago) and using better connectors I have not had one problem with them. Before that with the old incandescent lights it was always one that wouldn't work.
tecniqinc.com
highly recommended
As far as disc brakes go, the only thing that will last here is full stainless. My brother has a 2020 trailer put in salt water like 4 or 5 times and the regular rotors are really pitted already. We are going to put stainless rotors on it this fall before we pull his boat out. I can buy a pair of galvanized drum brake 12" clusters for about $200. They last at least 5 years, if not longer in my use. A full stainless disc set up would have cost me about a grand.
Full electric brakes (not electric/hydraulic) have wiring connections that go under water, and most of the drum backing plates are not even galvanized so that's where the problems start. Not saying they can't be made better but it seems the manufacturers don't see the market for it. Having said that since I changed over to made in USA Tecniq LED trailer lights (about 8 seasons ago) and using better connectors I have not had one problem with them. Before that with the old incandescent lights it was always one that wouldn't work.
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