Surge Brakes

[JimS123]

Never had brakes before. Considering a trailer with surge brakes, that has the Back-up disable feature.

The towcar will be a Chevy Traverse with a class 3 package and a 7 pin connector. Having been using a 7 to 4 pin adapter. So, now I need a 7 to 5 pin adapter.

The Car Owners manual says the brakes are the "blue wire" and it is fused bit not connected....."See the dealer to complete the wiring....yada, yada."

Again, this is a surge brake system, not electric. I have the OEM electric brake cable but never installed it because it wasn't needed.

My question is "what wire needs to connect to the backup disable system?

 

[NYBo]

It needs to be connected to the backup light circuit.

 

[tpenfield]

The 5th wire in the 5-pin is (usually) the back-up light. It should be part of the 7-pin round. So, a 7/5 pin adapter should do the trick.

Surge brakes are pretty good for mid range loads ( maybe up to 7K lbs). I had surge brakes on both of my trailers, worked great . . . very little braking load on the tow vehicle. the trailers basically stopped themselves as the SUV stopped.

 

[NHGuy]

The back up circuit on the 5 pin is the end opposite the ground (exposed) contact. On my trailer it has a blue wire. That's probably standard since the trailer was built commercially.

 

[dingbat]

I could never figure out why trailers are wired with cheap 4-5 pin connectors while tow vehicles have 7 pin connectors...

Bag the adaptor.

Install a termination box on the coupler and wire a 7 pin pigtail to the trailer....problem solved.

 

[Cortes100]

So, now I need a 7 to 5 pin adapter.

My question is "what wire needs to connect to the backup disable system?

If your Chevy has a trailer hitch and 7 pin, the back up should be wired already, just check with a tester, regardless of the manual. I would get the 7/5 adapter.
As for the trailer, to disable the surge brakes, it needs power from any source. It only makes sense to use the back up lights from the pull vehicle.
However, the surge brakes also have a manual override. there should be a lockout pin/key that you need to insert before reversing. A pain in the butt cause it's easy to forget, but at least if you buy the trailer, you can worry about that once you get it home to rig it up properly

 

[JimS123]

Thanks all...

 

[bruceb58]

Bag the adaptor.

Install a termination box on the coupler and wire a 7 pin pigtail to the trailer....problem solved.

Yep...that's what I do as well.

 

[Leardriver]

The blue wire sends a backup 12 volt signal to the back up solenoid, which opens it and lets is flow freely without building pressure and activating the surge brakes.
When I move the boat around with the skid steer, I have to tip toe so that I don't compress the surge coupler spring and come screeching to a halt.

 

[Horigan]

The blue wire sends a backup 12 volt signal to the back up solenoid, which opens it and lets is flow freely without building pressure and activating the surge brakes...

That depends on which backup solenoid you have. There are two versions. The two port version closes and blocks master cylinder pressure from getting to the brakes. The three port version does the same, but also vents brake pressure back to the reservoir via a little hose out the third port. The three port version is better in my opinion since you can backup when facing downhill. In the two port version when facing downhill you already have pressure to the brakes when you go into reverse and close the solenoid valve, thus trapping in the brakes. Found this the hard way when I initially bought a two port version and couldn't back my trailer up a hill.

 

[Leardriver]

That depends on which backup solenoid you have. There are two versions. The two port version closes and blocks master cylinder pressure from getting to the brakes. The three port version does the same, but also vents brake pressure back to the reservoir via a little hose out the third port. The three port version is better in my opinion since you can backup when facing downhill. In the two port version when facing downhill you already have pressure to the brakes when you go into reverse and close the solenoid valve, thus trapping in the brakes. Found this the hard way when I initially bought a two port version and couldn't back my trailer up a hill.

You're right. I forgot about that style. I have a single port version.