Surge Brakes Vs. Electric brakes.

[RoyR]

Re: Surge Brakes Vs. Electric brakes.

S-Cad disc brakes are on special at Eastern Marine for $106.00....you only need to add brakes to the rear wheels, not all four??

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Surge Brakes Vs. Electric brakes.

I would want them on both axles and I think they're required to be on all axles in most states over a certain weight.

 

[steve1953]

Re: Surge Brakes Vs. Electric brakes.

Surge brakes may be applied on a downgrade. If you are on level ground and they are adjusted properly, they will not overheat.

For the time being, put in a master cylinder and probably wheel cylinders on all 4 wheels. If your backing plates are still good, just replace the parts as needed.

Be aware that electric brakes will more than likly require you to have 4 new drums so that may be an expense you haven't realized yet.

I do not have surge brakes but I was reading that you could adjust how much they come on thru force pushing on the tongue level, it would seem to me if I was traveling hills or mountain grades a lot , i would lesson the pressure they come on and that would help from over heating. I could be wrong but that what I took from reading that story on them.

 

[bowhuntrrl]

Re: Surge Brakes Vs. Electric brakes.

Well...I am asking the same question about electric brakes.

I know "regular" electric brakes cannot (should not) be submerged in salt water or any water for that matter.

But I have not been able to find anyone who has tried Fulton Performance electric boat trailer brakes that are actually DESIGNED to be submerged in salt water.


Anyone know about them?

I was looking through other trailering forums today and saw a post where a guy had actually tried regular electric brakes(for an RV) and also Fulton Sharkskin , both used 18-20 times a year in salt water and another 15 times a year in fresh. He had pictures of both after 3 years use. Obviously, the Sharkskin coating looked much better than the regular RV brakes which had some rust. However, the rust was not severe and didn't interfere with operation in any way. The interesting thing is that you can buy the regular RV ones for $38/ side if you look around, so theoretically, you can buy new brakes every 3-4 years and be rid of all the problems of surge brakes. I recently bought a boat on a single axle trailer that I'm considering putting brakes on. If I do, it will be electric since I only see salt water 2-3 times a year.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Surge Brakes Vs. Electric brakes.

The electric part of it doesn't bother me as much as the drum brake part of it. I can?t seem to get more than a couple of seasons out of a set. I was let on the side of RT.95 with a locked drum twice is 3 years. Took them off and threw them as far as I could.

I've been running disc now for 7 years and have yet had a failure. The only improvement I can see is to add a electric over hydraulic system to the trailer