what type of brake do i have?

[leoo24]

Hi guys

today was the first time i've had a read in the trailer forum, saw a few guys talking about surge breaks.

I use a 1.8 tonne commercial van to tow my 1.7 tonne boat, i only travel 5km to my local ramp, never going over 50kph and am always very carefull.

Now i've just bought this boat from my friend who has moved to another country, when he bought it he told me how the trailer had an emergency break away brake, from which i understood was only activated in the event of the trailer becoming unhitched.

The brakes siezed last year and i removed them, but have just read by law i need brakes if i'm towing over 750kg.

Now i don't know if my friend didn't have a clue what the brakes are, or they are actually that. I wondered if i described them someone could give me their opinion?

the brakes themselves are normal drum brakes, at the front of the trailer there's a type of lever that looks like if you pulled it up it would engage the brakes, also there's a metal rod underneath, not far behind the lever that looks like it would come down at some point. Under the lever is a metal threaded wire that runs back to the brakes. Attaching some pics, not very good sorry, old ones from my mobile, will get better ones tomorrow

thanks


/edit

ahh, is it a surge brake and the actuator being hidden in that rubber bellow just before the lever?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: what type of brake do i have?

I suspect you have only an emergency brake just like in a car. If it was a surge brake system, it would have a master cylinder like the one on your car on a hinged or moveable coupler. There would be a hydraulic brake line running to the back of each wheel and each wheel would have a wheel cylinder that is visible with the brake drum removed. If all you have a cable system, it is strictly and emergency braking system that is much different than a self-modulating hydraulic surge brake system.

 

[DJ]

Re: what type of brake do i have?

I suspect you are not in the USA.

If so, you are correct, many Eauropean trailers just have the "break away" lanyard that activates the brakes if the coupler fails.

Most US boat trailers have "surge brakes" as described by Silvertip.

 

[leoo24]

Re: what type of brake do i have?

Thanks guys

you are correct, i'm in Spain but the trailer is from the UK


time to look into a brake kit, i wonder why many over here don't have breaks, even when the size of trailer and load it will be takng would make one think it should have them

thanks again

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: what type of brake do i have?

What you have is mechanical surge brakes. The coupler is a surge coupler that pushes on the lever that you described. There is also an additional handbrake.

In the pic I do not see any breakaway system.

 

[leoo24]

Re: what type of brake do i have?

Hi Dunaruna,

you're quite right...

i was up at the boat today (got it at a friends house) and had a good look at the trailer, found the actuating lever underneath which activates the brakes.

It is however all rusted to hell under there, so i'll be taking it off and cleaning the mechanical part up and replacing all the lines (which broke when i tested the handbrake)

thanks guys