Opinions needed on Surge Brake Coupler

[Scott Danforth]

the new acquisition has a tandem trailer with an Attwood surge brake head. the system does not build pressure, and the current head needs attention requiring replacement.

Since I am not really liking the rotating actuation on the Attwood, thinking of switching to a Titan.

any opinions?

 

[lncoop]

Re: Opinions needed on Surge Brake Coupler

When you say the system's not building pressure I assume you mean the brakes aren't working. If so, that's no reason to replace the coupler unless you just want to any way. If you do want to replace the coupler I can't give you any advice as to which brand is better, but I can tell you that you need to find the problem (if you haven't already) before you spend that money because a new coupler won't guarantee the brakes will start working, and you can do a lot of brake work for the cost of a coupler.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Opinions needed on Surge Brake Coupler

I put a Tie-down model 70 on mine 5 years ago. I choose Tie-down due to the fact that they have a aluminum master cylinder and the shock absorbers is built into the master cylinder. Fewer parts part to go bad and no more rusty master cylinders. I also liked that fact that they have 4 mounting holes instead of the usual 2. The four holes keep the actuator level instead of ?pointing? up, as they do with only two bolts holes.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Opinions needed on Surge Brake Coupler

When you say the system's not building pressure I assume you mean the brakes aren't working. If so, that's no reason to replace the coupler unless you just want to any way. If you do want to replace the coupler I can't give you any advice as to which brand is better, but I can tell you that you need to find the problem (if you haven't already) before you spend that money because a new coupler won't guarantee the brakes will start working, and you can do a lot of brake work for the cost of a coupler.

system is not building pressure because the master cylinder is shot, the e-brake cable is missing, and the damper is bad. so yes, definitely need a new surge brake head. also, the wheel cylinders are in need of replacement.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Opinions needed on Surge Brake Coupler

I put a Tie-down model 70 on mine 5 years ago. I choose Tie-down due to the fact that they have a aluminum master cylinder and the shock absorbers is built into the master cylinder. Fewer parts part to go bad and no more rusty master cylinders. I also liked that fact that they have 4 mounting holes instead of the usual 2. The four holes keep the actuator level instead of ?pointing? up, as they do with only two bolts holes.

looks like a good unit, however all I find are model 66 and 80. the 66 is larger than the 6000# unit I have now. however the price is 50% more than the Titan. not sure I will own the boat past 2 or 3 years.

thanks for the suggestion

 

[lncoop]

Re: Opinions needed on Surge Brake Coupler

system is not building pressure because the master cylinder is shot, the e-brake cable is missing, and the damper is bad. so yes, definitely need a new surge brake head. also, the wheel cylinders are in need of replacement.

Gotcha. Well, you should be able to resolve all those issues for the cost (or close) of a new coupler provided you can get the parts.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Opinions needed on Surge Brake Coupler

looks like a good unit, however all I find are model 66 and 80. the 66 is larger than the 6000# unit I have now. however the price is 50% more than the Titan. not sure I will own the boat past 2 or 3 years.

thanks for the suggestion

Where are you coming up with those prices?

The Tiedown model 66 is $99. The same rated Titan is $124
http://www.easternmarine.com/Hydraulic-Surge-Brake-Actuators/

BTW: When it comes to brake actuators, larger is better.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Opinions needed on Surge Brake Coupler

BTW: When it comes to brake actuators, larger is better.

Not exactly. Too small=no or minimal braking. Too large=wheel lock-up or overly hard braking. You have to match the wheel cylinder size and actuator when you replace. With surge brakes you have no way of modulating the brakes.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Opinions needed on Surge Brake Coupler

Not exactly. Too small=no or minimal braking. Too large=wheel lock-up or overly hard braking. You have to match the wheel cylinder size and actuator when you replace. With surge brakes you have no way of modulating the brakes.

You can have too little actuator, but you can never had too much. The actuator has to have enough displacement to accommodate the displacement of the wheel cylinder/caliper. Over sizing the displacement has no affect on performance.

Braking force is largely determined by gravity. Using a large or smaller cylinder has no affect on the amount of force applied to cylinder. A #5,000 load will generate #5000 pounds of force. A #10,000 load will generate #10,000 pounds of force.

Applying #10,000 pounds of force on a cylinder designed to accommodate #5,000 will blow the seal of out it. Applying #5000 pounds to a #10,000 rated cylinder still supplies #5000 pounds of force

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Opinions needed on Surge Brake Coupler

Where are you coming up with those prices?

The Tiedown model 66 is $99. The same rated Titan is $124
http://www.easternmarine.com/Hydraulic-Surge-Brake-Actuators/

BTW: When it comes to brake actuators, larger is better.

between Iboats and greatlakeskipper. the $99 brake had listed by easternmarine is listed for disk brakes. I have drums. best price I found on a tiedown 66 for drums is $185 and the Titan is between $95 and $125 almost everywhere.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Opinions needed on Surge Brake Coupler

Not exactly. Too small=no or minimal braking. Too large=wheel lock-up or overly hard braking. You have to match the wheel cylinder size and actuator when you replace. With surge brakes you have no way of modulating the brakes.

Surge brakes are self regulating. No way a surge brake trailer will ever lock up its brakes unless something is mechanically wrong. If they were ever going to lock up it would occur when the trailer is empty after launching your boat....and they never do.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Opinions needed on Surge Brake Coupler

Surge brakes are self regulating. No way a surge brake trailer will ever lock up its brakes unless something is mechanically wrong. If they were ever going to lock up it would occur when the trailer is empty after launching your boat....and they never do.

Unless you just add fluid without doing anything else to a system that hasn't been working for ten years. Not that I'd know anything about that.:redface: