Electric brakes for occassional salt water

[Daleg70]

Are any of the electric brakes suited for occasional saltwater -- but mostly fresh water use.
I know there have been improvements over time in the electric brakes.

I want to get a tandem trailer with a small SUV below -- and a boat above --- boat weight 2000 lbs -- SUV weight 3700 --- trailer weight --- about 3500-4000. I plan to tow it behind a diesel RV ----

Surge brakes are OUT

thx
Dale

 

[HalfFish5087]

Re: Electric brakes for occassional salt water

Daleg, I put on dexter's nev-r-adjust 10" electric brakes last spring on my tandem trailer. Last season I think I had dunked the 22' larson about 40 times. I recently took off the brakes to observe their condition and there is a good amount of corrosion started for only 1 years use. Granted thats all in fresh water. I would be glad to post some pics if you think that would be helpful. Honestly I would be a little reluctant dumping these brakes in salt water. However, there only $50 a piece. I tried looking for any electric brakes that coated, but didn't have any luck.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Electric brakes for occassional salt water

I'm having a REALLY hard time picturing a trailer that will haul an "rv below" and a "boat above".
I'm also having a hard time figuring out any scenario where that trailer would be backed into the water.... If it is as you seem to be describing then the rv would have to be fully submerged to get the boat wet.... doesn't make sense to me....

That said, If it truly is a RARE salt dunk, you could simply dunk in fresh on the way home and or thoroughly flush....... maybe even thread a fitting into the backing plate to connect a garden hose and flush.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Electric brakes for occassional salt water

Use good quality fitings
cover everything with white lithium grease
unplug the trailerl before dunking
hose off with fresh water at the ramp while it is still wet
let your trailer dry out in the sun before covering/garaging

road salt is worse

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Electric brakes for occassional salt water

Use good quality fitings
cover everything with white lithium grease
unplug the trailerl before dunking
hose off with fresh water at the ramp while it is still wet
let your trailer dry out in the sun before covering/garaging

road salt is worse

Curious...what are "good quality fitings" for electric brakes. How are you hosing off a drum brake without taking the drum off?

By the way, those flush kits for drum brakes are pretty much worthless unless you immediately use them. I used those when I used to have drum brakes. They didn't help at all.

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: Electric brakes for occassional salt water

Buy a set of backing plate assemblies (the ones I got from my 3500 lb Dexter axles were $37 each) disassemble them, and paint everything (except the friction surfaces) with multiple coats of spray paint. You could probably triple the lifespan of them that way.

 

[supersoaker548]

Re: Electric brakes for occassional salt water

Buy a set of backing plate assemblies (the ones I got from my 3500 lb Dexter axles were $37 each) disassemble them, and paint everything (except the friction surfaces) with multiple coats of spray paint. You could probably triple the lifespan of them that way.

my buddy has elc. brakes and painted them when new and he only boats in salt water. they still look good 4yrs later

he does clean, touch up paint and lube at the end of each yr.

and yes unplug befor dunking boat

 

[Daleg70]

Re: Electric brakes for occassional salt water

The trailers I am talking about do exist

I have boated in salt water for 15 years and fresh water for 20 years as a serious trailerboater who has towed over 15,000 miles including several cross country trips. I am however not really familiar with electric brakes, hence the thread



thx
Dale

 

[Daleg70]

Re: Electric brakes for occassional salt water

It is a small SUV below -- sorry if that was confusing

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Electric brakes for occassional salt water

Wow. I think I'll just sit here quietly for a while....



(but as to hosing, I have SS disc brakes on mine)

 

[Daleg70]

Re: Electric brakes for occassional salt water

I think the most likely scenario is electric over hydraulic -- but I was just hoping that electric had progressed to the point it would stand some/limited salt water.
I was therefore soliciting good recent info on the progress of electric trailer brakes in salt water.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Electric brakes for occassional salt water

OK makes much more sense now.... so you back the car off of the trailer and lower the upper deck before backing in.

I don't think the materials have changed as the main market is rv's and utility trailers, If you did want to use them I'd think you could have the parts plated or paint them but otherwise yeah a stainless hydraulic setup would work well.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Electric brakes for occassional salt water

If that's a hollow steel frame, you will have problems with salt water there as much, if not before, you have brake problems, if you dunk it.