electronic brakes on boat trailer?

[109jb]

Re: electronic brakes on boat trailer?

Been running electric brakes in fresh water for a while now without problems. As I said I run in fresh water and I never flush the brakes. I really have zero problems with the brakes.

I also have a flatbed trailer that sees regular use in the Northern Illinois winter and it has electric brakes. If you have ever lived in the rust belt you know that a black car can look white after a snowstorm due to the amount of salt they put on the roads. Never a problem with that one either other than normal shoe changes, etc.

If you are thinking about electric for salt water I might think twice, but for fresh water I see absolutely no problems.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: electronic brakes on boat trailer?

Still don't get why people actually rationalize things as if you only use it in fresh water.

Makes no sense to do something to a boat or boat trailer that limits it's use.

41' 8,800# surge brakes work great, no need for electric

 

[109jb]

Re: electronic brakes on boat trailer?

Still don't get why people actually rationalize things as if you only use it in fresh water.

Makes no sense to do something to a boat or boat trailer that limits it's use.

41' 8,800# surge brakes work great, no need for electric

It makes perfect sense to me since I don't consider it limiting to my use and here is my rationale:

1. Electric brakes are cheaper
2. My boat is about 800 miles from salt water and will never get there while I own it.
3. I have owned both electric brake trailers and surge brake trailers and I prefer the electric brakes for many reasons.

I've been boating since I was a youngster (about 30 years worth now) and I have NEVER launched a boat in salt water. I don't even have a desire to. Even if I do someday get a wild hair to take my boat to salt water, I personally will still dunk it in that salt water. I have no reservations about occasional salt water use. The only time I'd think twice about electric is if I lived where I was putting it in salt water all the time. Given this, how is that in any way limiting MY use of the MY boat??

It is true that surge brakes work. It is a matter of opinion as to whether they work "fine". I personally don't like the way surge brakes work even if they are working properly.

 

[jeffnick]

Re: electronic brakes on boat trailer?

I too run electric brakes on my boat trailer and have for nearly 50,000 miles.

As CR Cruiser says, the magnet surface on the drum does rust but with regular use that rust can be 'run off' by a light pressure on the brakes for a spell.

And there are electric brakes specifically designed for salt water - Sharkskin.

We do 80% salt but when we do, a dip in fresh water on the way home is usually the rule.​

Positives about electric brakes:
Control from the cab (for fishtailing or backing down the ramp)
Adjustable - for loaded or empty trailer
Very simple four bolt, 2 wire installation
No bleeders or close tolerance hydraulics
No moving parts in the coupler
Cheapest brakes you can find​

Negatives are:
Need to be adjusted regularly
Not up to snuff when wet or after sitting (rusting)​

When I install a set of electric brakes, I wire them in by using a wire nut filled with silicone or 5200. I've never had any electrical problems. Here's a few examples from brakes and lights that I've replaced, none of which show any sign of water intrusion.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: electronic brakes on boat trailer?

...41' 8,800# surge brakes work great, no need for electric

you live in a flat land fwiw

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: electronic brakes on boat trailer?

once in a while it's nice to have brakes while backing down a ramp too...... limits use... LOL By that line of thinking nobody should ever buy an i/o since it is more likely to corode in a saltwater slip

 

[109jb]

Re: electronic brakes on boat trailer?

I was towing a u-haul when moving the family one time and when going down a very long fairly steep grade I downshifted to keep from building speed. As I continued I happened to glance in the mirror to see smoke coming from the trailer brakes. As you all know, U-hauls have surge brakes. I have hauled many large loads with electric brake trailers and this never happens on them. Just one reason I don't like surge brakes.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: electronic brakes on boat trailer?

you live in a flat land fwiw

Yeah with huge bridges and stupid traffic.

And I've used both in the mountains.

Just a thought though surge brakes work best if your truck has a tow mode on it.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: electronic brakes on boat trailer?

surge brakes work best if you rarely need brakes

 

[bruceb58]

Re: electronic brakes on boat trailer?

Nor do they adequately bias for differing loads, nor do they have the safety "break away" capability which can stop a trailer that has come unhitched in an accident.

First of all every surge brake actuator has an emergency disconnect. In fact, in that regard they are probably safer since many people with electric brakes don't keep their break away battery charged.

Surge brakes are also automatically load compensating where electric brakes have to be done so manually.

I am not necessarily a fan of surge...I use electric over hydraulic. Just want to get the facts straight. Personally, I would never use electric drum brakes. Disc brakes are the only way to go no matter if you go surge or electric/hydraulic.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: electronic brakes on boat trailer?

When I install a set of electric brakes, I wire them in by using a wire nut filled with silicone or 5200. I've never had any electrical problems. Here's a few examples from brakes and lights that I've replaced, none of which show any sign of water intrusion.

All I have so say is WOW to these connections above. Accident waiting to happen.

Please tell me you don't really use lamp cord or speaker wire(wire on the left) for the electric brakes on your trailer!

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: electronic brakes on boat trailer?

First of all every surge brake actuator has an emergency disconnect.

I stand corrected. But I have personally never seen surge brakes with a release device or what have you. I have only had electric brakes, but I have acquaintances who have surge brakes- never seen a break-away on any of them.

Surge brakes are also automatically load compensating where electric brakes have to be done so manually.

I know- that is what makes electric brakes so nice. The driver gets to choose his braking response, and if needed, he can reach for the slide and apply braking to the trailer brakes independent of the tow vehicle. Important in ice and snow; convenient for other reasons.

I am not necessarily a fan of surge...I use electric over hydraulic. Just want to get the facts straight. Personally, I would never use electric drum brakes. Disc brakes are the only way to go no matter if you go surge or electric/hydraulic.

Well, again, I never realized surge brakes had a break-away feature- never seen anything hooked up. However, I don't know anyone who doesn't have a working break-away battery on their trailer, automatically charges while driving. But here in Vermont we have mandatory annual safety inspections. Keeps the yahoos "honest" although inspections can be a pain in the neck. Here in the land of road salt, rust, good cheese, and great fishing, I am skeptical of surge brakes.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: electronic brakes on boat trailer?

Surge brakes work fine under 99% of circumstances. The reason I went away from them was that I needed to use equalizer bars with my new rig and the surge brake wasn't going to work as well with them.

See that lever on top? That's the break away.

The advantage of surge brakes is anyone can pull your trailer if they need to. No brake controller needed. If you tow your boat with multiple vehicles, every vehicle needs to be wired for the brake controller.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: electronic brakes on boat trailer?

I know- that is what makes electric brakes so nice. The driver gets to choose his braking response, and if needed, he can reach for the slide and apply braking to the trailer brakes independent of the tow vehicle. Important in ice and snow; convenient for other reasons.

I agree with this. You get the same benefit using electric/hydraulic but don't have all the dunking in water issues. The only problem is that you have to adjust them every time you put the boat in the water because you will be skidding your trailer tires around the launch ramp area with the empty trailer.

 

[MRS]

Re: electronic brakes on boat trailer?

I agree with this. You get the same benefit using electric/hydraulic but don't have all the dunking in water issues. The only problem is that you have to adjust them every time you put the boat in the water because you will be skidding your trailer tires around the launch ramp area with the empty trailer.

Not if you setup like this launch unplug brakes Wa-la no brakes load plug back in Wa-la brakes....

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: electronic brakes on boat trailer?

wa la = Viola...

 

[MRS]

Re: electronic brakes on boat trailer?

wa la = Viola...

Yup plus that setup is 6yr.s old used on old boat now used on my new old boat. Plus used on camping trailer to tow quads and camping gear.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: electronic brakes on boat trailer?

I agree with this....problem is that you have to adjust them every time you put the boat in the water because you will be skidding your trailer tires around the launch ramp area with the empty trailer.

Sometimes I chuckle at the differences in approach depending on what we know as "normal." I have several of my own trailers, had a number in the past, from box trailers to utility flat beds. Currently the "big" trailer in my 'circle" is my buddy's ramp-load no-tilt car hauler. It gets used A LOT. I have used it for everything from 8,000# of dune buggy and Beetle parts, logs, full-size pickups, race cars, yards of topsoil, and even had a camper on it a few times. (The logs were probably too much :redface: )

Anyway, it never occurred to me that turning and fiddling with the little wheel on the brake controller every time you tow wasn't a normal thing to do