Trailer brake help

[mtntrogger]

I recently purchased a 2000 Four Winns Horizon bowrider. It came on a Four Winns trailer that has disc brakes. I am looking for a bit of information on how these work. All of the other trailers Ive owned have not had any brakes, so im not sure how they work. Do I need one of those brake controllers installed on my dash ? Or are these operated through the trailer light signal ? The trailer has a small brake fluid reservoir on the tongue, and there is a quick connect underneath the tongue that is currently disconnected. Thanks for any insight

 

[bruceb58]

Post a picture of the tongue. IS the quick disconnect a hydraulic disconnect?

 

[mtntrogger]

Hi Bruce ! Yes the disconnect is hydraulic. I will post a pic asap. Thank you !

 

[bruceb58]

You have a surge brake actuator that has a master cylinder in it that applies pressure in the brake line to the disc brakes. You will have to reconnect that line and then see if the brakes work by manually pushing the actuator.

Jack up the wheels and spin them while someone pushes on the actuator. Depending on the actuator brand, you can use a screwdriver, bar or some other method to do this.

 

[MTboatguy]

Not to long ago my buddy gave away his Four Winns which was sitting on a Four Winns trailer, the trailer was actually a re-branded Shorlandger and it was an Attwood actuator. That was under his 1999 boat.

 

[tpenfield]

Probably surge brakes, which are simple, effective, and should be fine. It will use the 5 pin adapter since it is disc brakes.
the coupler on the trailer has movement to it, which is connected to the trailer's brake cylinder.

Basically, as the tow vehicle slows down the trailer 'moves' forward (maybe an inch or so) which applies the brakes so that the trailer slows down according to the two vehicle. There is also a lock-out when backing up to prevent the brakes from actuating, which goes off the back-up lights of the tow vehicle.

 

[mtntrogger]

Thanks for all the help with this fellas. Im gonna jack it up and try to move the actuator to check functionality. Now if I could just get a bit of help with the motor ! I posted in the Volvo Penta forum on here, just hoping for some input. Thanks again !

 

[tpenfield]

With disc brakes, you can test them by disconnecting the wire harness and baking up the trailer. As the tow vehicle pushes on the trailer coupler, it should activate the coupler, applying the brakes. Backing up a slight incline helps with this testing.

 

[four winns 214]

I recently purchased a 2000 Four Winns Horizon bowrider. It came on a Four Winns trailer that has disc brakes. I am looking for a bit of information on how these work.

You’ve gotten good answers, but I want to consolidate the information. Your boat has hydraulic surge brakes. They work by the inertia of the trailer pushing against the trailer coupler when the tow vehicle slows. In the coupler is a plunger and brake master cylinder that supplies hydraulic pressure to the brakes when the trailer pushes against the coupler. The more aggressively the tow vehicle slows, the more brake pressure is applied to your trailer brakes. It’s a good system.

Another situation that causes brake pressure to be applied with surge brakes is when the trailer is being backed up. The tow vehicle pushes against the coupler and the brakes are applied. There are two ways to prevent this, depending on the type of brakes and coupler design. Some couplers have a manually activated mechanism to lock the coupler in position and prevents the brakes from being applied. Trailers with drum brakes have brakes that are “free backing” meaning that they don’t brake going backwards so locking the coupler isn’t really necessary.

Since your trailer has disc brakes, “free backing” is not an option. What your system has is a solenoid that is activated when the tow vehicle is put into reverse. This solenoid cuts out hydraulic pressure to the brakes. Power to the solenoid is provided through the trailer light system. What this means is that the trailer trailer lights have to be connected any time you want to back the trailer. That’s why your trailer has (or should have) a five-pin connector to the lights instead of four. Another way to prevent disc brake operation while backing up is through the use of the quick disconnect in the hydraulic lines to the brakes that you’ve already discovered on your trailer. I use the quick disconnect when I leave the boat for service. That way the trailer can be moved around the shop without the brakes being applied.

That your trailer was delivered to you with the brakes disconnected tells me one of two things: 1) There is a problem in your trailer light system or 2) The solenoid is not working. That your trailer is 18 years old, unless there has been good routine maintenance performed, I’ll bet your brake system is not working.

 

[mtntrogger]

Thanks for the detailed reply, I really appreciate the information. My light connector is a 4 pin, The trailer appears to have been well maintained. I am going to test the brakes today. Im hopefull that they were disconnected so that the trailer could be reversed. I will post the outcome this afternoon. Now if I could only get help like this in the Volvo forum for the boats engine !

 

[mtntrogger]

So I connected the hydraulic quick connect, spun the tire and moved the spring/plunger deal at the end of the tongue towards the back. Had zero effect. So Im going to check the reservoir level next. If its full what would my next step be ?

 

[four winns 214]

Did your brake system have fluid? Is there a solenoid in your system? It will be either up near the coupler or near the quick disconnect. If there is a solenoid, I don’t know how it is activated with only a 4-pin connector. Maybe someone else reading this thread knows.

 

[mtntrogger]

I havent checked the fluid yet, and it does not appear as there is a solenoid either.

 

[Silverbullet555]

It likely uses a clip or pin to lock out reverse. No solenoid hence the 4 pin connector.

Does it have a detatchable tongue? Usually the quick disconnect is there due to removable tongue.

if actuator moves and there is fluid in actuator, bleed brakes and see of that helps.

 

[bruceb58]

So I connected the hydraulic quick connect, spun the tire and moved the spring/plunger deal at the end of the tongue towards the back. Had zero effect. So Im going to check the reservoir level next. If its full what would my next step be ?

Bleed the brakes.

 

[Lou C]

Pick up a one man brake bleeder from Lisle at an auto parts store and a couple cans of brake fluid. Find out how to manually work the actuator and fill and bleed out the system then check for leaks and proper operation

 

[pullin]

I havent checked the fluid yet, and it does not appear as there is a solenoid either.

While hitched up to your vehicle, turn on your lights while the connector is uhooked and your vehicle is off. Then connect vehicle brown to trailer blue (turn the connectors at right angles and only connect the one terminal. You should hear a "click" if you have a solenoid for reversing. I had to use this trick when trailering a flat 5 trailer with a vehicle that only had a flat 4.