Specs for Trailers: total weight over 2 tons

[Kiwi Phil]

I am in the process of doing my homework on US Boat Trailers for 24' Sea Ray/Chris Craft/Bayliner etc.
Do you have a class, for weights over 2tons (Boat and Trailer combined), and what is the breaking system.

Here I have been told I need an electric over hydrolic system, which I understand to be hydrolic brakes activated electrically.
I also need a controller installed in the tow vehicle.
Trailer must also have a break-away system, which I interpret, should the trailer break-away, the brakes come on and stay on.

So what sort of system could I expect on an American Trailer in this class?

Also what type of brakes do US Manufacturers use in this category(disc/drum)?

Do you know what the maximum width your trailers are be built too. I can not exceed 2.5m or 98.4inches.
Thank you

Cheers
Phillip

 

[tommays]

Re: Specs for Trailers: total weight over 2 tons

Phil

http://www.karavantrailers.com/boat.cfm?categoryid=9

They do make trailers in 97" BUT are your boats allowed to be wider than the trailer as 102" has become a common beam


Surge brakes are close to 100% of the market even in 12000# boats with the electric/ hyd system being used on commercial trailers


The makers are still using both disk and drums as there were a LOT of disk brake problems in saltwater with the early units

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: Specs for Trailers: total weight over 2 tons

Thanks Tom.
I should have learnt from my last post, to send you an e-mail direct....with my questions.

1. Only the trailer undergoes compliance and is registered for the road.
When I take a USA one down, they go over it with the tape measure and check weigh bridge certs and detail on the compliance plate.
Legally the boat can not be wider, but no one checks or certifies it, so we just do it.
In other words, it is the trailer we have to get thru the system.....having said that, you wouldn't dare push your luck with a boat 2' wider.

2. Is a surge break one that: when the tow vehicle brakes, the trailer moves forward, and presses on a bar (or the likes) which in turn pulls a cable or forces hydrolic fluid down a pipe. I have never understood the term surge brake.
We would call the system I have described as a mechanical brake, and the most common is cables.

3. Over 2 tons, I must have brakes on all 4 wheels, and I understand they can not be mechanical (to slow to re-act).

4. I have looked at your chart. Wish you wern't in feet and inches....need some time to work thru it.

5. Good point on the drum/disc subject.

Thank you
Cheers
Phillip

 

[tommays]

Re: Specs for Trailers: total weight over 2 tons

This is a surge unit the master cylinder is inside and they work really well The unit you require will not NOT be on any standard trailer on boats that size

This is the ele/hyd unit and while it is better it is just not used much here



You will have to watch the trailers as on the tandem axles it is common to only have brakes on one axel with the second set as and extra

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Specs for Trailers: total weight over 2 tons

2.54 cm/inch -- 25.4 mm/inch -- 1 foot=304.8 mm -- 1 foot=30.48 cm See how easy those conversions are when dealing in the metric system? (I too wish the U.S. would join the rest of the world in adopting the metric system fully. Throw the darned rulers away and in about 1/2 hour everyone would get the idea and this problem would not exist. Maximum legal trailer/load width in the U.S. is 102 inches or 8-1/2 feet. Permits are required over that.

As for surge brakes, the term surge is just that. When the towing vehicle brakes, the trailer tends to surge forward as Newton's theory indicates an object in motion tends to stay in motion. If you look at the surge brake coupler shown above, the coupler moves within the surrounding housing which pushes on the actuating rod for a master brake cylinder just like you have in your car. The rest of the system is very car like. Discs or drums. No cables other than the breakaway cable.