Trailer Part Indentification Help

[michaeldodd]

I recently purchase a 17 ft Sylvan deck boat as a project. It came with a trailer that has a part I can not indentify. Sorry for my ignorance. The part is question has a red arrow pointing to it. Is this part of the braking system, or something else. I am planing on remove the braking system. Thanks for any asisstanace.

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Trailer Part Indentification Help

I recently purchase a 17 ft Sylvan deck boat as a project. It came with a trailer that has a part I can not indentify. Sorry for my ignorance. The part is question has a red arrow pointing to it. Is this part of the braking system, or something else. I am planing on remove the braking system. Thanks for any asisstanace.

If your pointing to the handle, its one of two things.
either the emergency break away activator. or a handle you need to pull to back up, like up a hill or something.

Why are you taking the brakes off?

 

[michaeldodd]

Re: Trailer Part Indentification Help

Thanks for the reply. Regarding why I am removing it...no great rationale. It looks very old, rusty and non-funtional. My boat is reletively small and light. I was just trying to simplify things as I didn't think it was necessary. Maybe I should rethink it.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Trailer Part Indentification Help

If the brake system is not working then the lever is of no use either. It is called a "break-away" lever. There is a cable or chain that connects between the lever and the tow vehicle. If the trailer comes loose the cable or chain pulls that lever which locks the trailer brakes. Obviously if the brakes don't work then the lever is useless. But removal of the brakes is a bad decision since the rig was designed to have them not because they are "cool" but because it was "required" for the load. Trailer brakes are requiremented if the load is 2500# - 3000# in most states. Fix what you have. Modern couplers are much smaller and fixing the brakes themselves are not a budget breaker.