Completely submersing a trailer with surge brakes

[pikiewicz]

Just upgraded to a larger boat that came with a trailer with surge brakes. At the local marina, they lift the boat on the trailer, then lift them both and completely submersing the trailer and floating the boat off the trailer. Will this method ruin the surge brakes?

 

[QC]

Re: Completely submersing a trailer with surge brakes

If you launch on a ramp you completely submerge the brakes . . . Saltwater isn't good for anything, but I have a 9 year old trailer with disc brakes that has been dunked probably 100 times. I don't like the idea of them submerging the fluid reservoir though.

 

[pikiewicz]

Re: Completely submersing a trailer with surge brakes

Thanks for the info. I am talking about dunking the entire trailer. The entire trailer is removed from the truck an lifted,The trailer is then submerged deep below the boat. The boat is then floated of the trailer. Can this harm the brake system?

 

[dave11]

Re: Completely submersing a trailer with surge brakes

I have surge disc brakes on my tandem axle trailer. I don't think it is a good idea to submerge the whole thing. My hitch and wiring never get submerged.

 

[CaptainHook]

Re: Completely submersing a trailer with surge brakes

i have never heard of such a thing. That is odd. It wouldn't work for my Baja. My aluminum I beam is really light and if you back it in the water until it is completely submerged (and I mean completely) the 4 tires will actually float the trailer.

Anyway, if you don't have a really good seal on the break reservoir it could lead to problems. I also wouldn't want my coupler under water often. They can rust up and become a real pain!!! Not to mention corrosion on your lighting plug....

 

[diesel5599]

Re: Completely submersing a trailer with surge brakes

I have never heard of that, if they are doing that in salt water you can expect to need a new crank probably in about a year, a brake reservoir possibly sooner, and endless grounding problems, because your ground wire is usually bolted to the trailer somewhere right behind the hitch.

I would also worry about the trailer strap loosing its rated holding strength due to the water. I'm so paranoid about keeping my tongue and crank assembly dry I wrap both in marine cloth when it is parked in my yard. Not a spot of rust on either 4yrs later.

 

[airdvr1227]

Re: Completely submersing a trailer with surge brakes

Makes no sense. If you can lift the trailer why not just lift the boat?

 

[rjlipscomb]

Re: Completely submersing a trailer with surge brakes

Answer: fresh water - surge breaks will be okay, salt water - may not, make sure you thoroughly rinse all of the surge components including the rest of the trailer components up near the hitch. Question: Why would they do such a thing? My marina would strap the boat and lift it off of the trailer (and put back on) note: only when needing to trailer the boat to/from the marina.

 

[QC]

Re: Completely submersing a trailer with surge brakes

Makes no sense. If you can lift the trailer why not just lift the boat?

The only thing I can think of is that it takes time to get the straps beteen the bunks and hull to lift properly . . . Still seems bizarre.

To the OP, WHAT MARINA? I am really curious about this flipped up procedure

 

[JoLin]

Re: Completely submersing a trailer with surge brakes

That certainly isn't any kind of "method". I've never heard of such a thing. You aren't supposed to bury the tongue, hydraulics/reservoir and electrics.

That's simply "what's the quickest, easiest, lazy-*** way I can do this regardless of the possibility of polluting the water and damaging the trailer?"

Idiots.

 

[pikiewicz]

Re: Completely submersing a trailer with surge brakes

Thanks for all the replies. I agree it is awierd lazy way but there is no room to put the slings under the boat without hitting one of the bungs. They are spaced apart but really there is no room for slings. So I guess I put it in at the ramp? Can the bungs be cut for access?

 

[180shabah]

Re: Completely submersing a trailer with surge brakes

Can the bungs be cut for access?

Pics?

 

[pikiewicz]

Re: Completely submersing a trailer with surge brakes

I will try for pics tomorrow.

 

[txtoyman]

Re: Completely submersing a trailer with surge brakes

You don't want to submerge the actuator in ANYTHING ! That is the stupidest thing I've heard in a LONG time. The actuator is that dilly on the end of the tongue where the round ball connects. To operate, it pumps hydraulic fluid back to the brakes, to do that it has a vent to accommodate the volume change as it operates. Tell the DA's to get a sling under the stern (maybe you have eyes at the stern?) lift it a little to get the main slings between the bunks and the hull - then you are good to go.

If dipping the trailer is all they can come up with - go elsewhere.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Completely submersing a trailer with surge brakes

Just upgraded to a larger boat that came with a trailer with surge brakes. At the local marina, they lift the boat on the trailer, then lift them both and completely submersing the trailer and floating the boat off the trailer. Will this method ruin the surge brakes?

I certainly would not recommend it. Plain and simple.

 

[Mr. Ross]

Re: Completely submersing a trailer with surge brakes

If you mean can the "bunks" be slotted to make room for the straps, I would say yes but that still depends upon the thickness of the material you are slotting. You may need to fish plate under the slotted area for reinforcement.

It sounds as though you have an option, the launch ramp. Why is the ramp a problem, don't have a vehicle to tow it?

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: Completely submersing a trailer with surge brakes

Sounds ridiculous, good luck finding a competent marina.

 

[66mstgfsbk]

Re: Completely submersing a trailer with surge brakes

a marina in the ca delta where i live does the same thing the lift is more like an elevator. they back the trailer on with a tractor strap trailer down so it doesnt get lost. then they lower the lift the trailer is submerged and they float off the boat. once boat is off they raise elevator and remove trailer. they prefer to use their trailers which are trailers with 2 6x8x12foot beams on it, no brakes what so ever. then they fork lift your boat on to their drystack but they use your trailer if you dont store with them. the whole process once the trailer his the water only takes about 1 min they usually have 2 guys working 1 switch man and the tie up man. i store my 245 sundowner at a diff marina that just uses a tractor to do it the standard way.