trailers surge brakes
 

Just bought a '88 V20 with '89 150 HP yamaha. It's on and EZ Loader Roller Trailer with non working surge brakes system. Anybody have any guess of what it's going to cost me for a complete refurb on the surge brakes? :(

Re: trailers surge brakes
 

What are you towing with??

If you have something full size you won't need brakes!

I have a full size chevy pickup and I will tell you there4 is no need for trailer brakes.

I hate brakes and bought a brand new trailer and had them left out.

But if you must, try here for your parts, Labore in another story if your noit going to do it yourself. http://www.championtrailers.com/

Only the front two wheels have brakes.

Re: trailers surge brakes
 

I agree with MJ. A good size tow vehicle with excellent braking - will give you adequate braking safety for trailering. My F-150 does a pretty good job with no trailer brakes. Good luck !

Re: trailers surge brakes
 

congrats on your new V20! and welcome to the board!

Re: trailers surge brakes
 

Diddo. Congrats on the v20 and welcome.

My suggestion would be to purchase a F 350 and scrapping the brakes. My 84 center console is no problem and would do well behind a F 150 also.

If you must repair then I agree with MJ on Champion Trailer. I just bought springs and bolts for mine. Nice selection, prices and quick delivery.

Turbo

Re: trailers surge brakes
 

Why am I the only one that likes my brakes? Nah, don't answer that guys, I know the stories well. I service mine once a year and I love em to death. I'm pullin with a 2500HD and still like knowing those brakes are there when needed. Now having said that, I've still got drums and will probably keep it that way.

Airslot

Re: trailers surge brakes
 

best brakes arethe ones on your tow truck. Just take the drums off the trailer take a hammer knock the old brake backs and junk off and then repack and install the rum hubs without any guts. go brakeless.

Re: trailers surge brakes
 

Sorry for the lack of information. I am towing with a Pacifica. Sorry about that. I fell inadequate but it's my wife's ride. I have a company car (Chrysler 300) and a Miata that is my fun car. The trailer is a single axle. I don't plan on towing it long distances just locally but Virginia requires surge brakes on a anything over 3000 lbs and if I understand the law correctly it is supposed to be inspected annually and thus wouldn't pass inspection with non working surge brakes. Since I am bring it in brom another state I don't know that I can just avoid the inspection. I be willing to give that a try if I can get plates without the brakes.

Keep the ideas/comments coming. Thanks for the welcome.

Re: trailers surge brakes
 

One of the VA residents will confirm, but you can get tags without inspection first. It's odd but thats how they do it. You even get vehicle plates without inspection. We lived in VA for two years before the very kind highway patrol officer stopped me to tell me that I didn't have an ins[ection sticker ;)

Airslot

Re: trailers surge brakes
 

I replaced my surge brakes this spring on my tandem axle ez-loader. Bought a kit from Tie-Down Engineering. About 350 for everything including the actuator. Instalation was straightforward.
Others prefer Kodiak brand brakes over the Tie-down. With one summers use, no issues at all. Smooth operation, no lockups. Tow vehicle is a Toyota Tundra. NY also requires brakes over 3000lbs.

Re: trailers surge brakes
 

Thanks all. Airslot, That's what I will try to do if possible. Worst case is I go to champion or Tie Down I guess.

Re: trailers surge brakes
 

I bought my boat and trailer in January, tagged and titled it and to this day have not had it inspected. Inspection is not required for tags in VA.

I also own a 26' travel trailer which does not get inspected. Although it does have brakes. A 3000 Lb boat around here on flat land is a whole different story than a 7000 Lb trailer in the mountians.

Pulling with what you listed I would go with the brakes. There is one heck of a feeling that goes through your head when pulling something near your max GVWR at 60 mph, Without brakes, and some one pulls out in front of you. You hit the brakes and it reals like something is pushing you, which there is.

Re: trailers surge brakes
 

^ I agree with TD totally...

Be legal AND safe, go with the brakes. If you ever need to make an emergency stop you'll be glad you got em, plus it's much less wear and tear on your tow vehicles brakes.

Re: trailers surge brakes
 

Turbinedoctor. You live realatively near me. I am in Virginia Beach. Flat. No Hills and really have no plans to take the boat anywhere out of VB except for maybe up to your area or to the outer banks. Again no hills. Agree though that if I do come up your way or OBX I will be doing 60 mph.

TinMan. My owners manual and Uhaul who installed the hitch says 3500 #s. Hope they are right! Again agreed though it's probably better to be safe than sorry.

Re: trailers surge brakes
 

I did not see where you stated the weight of you boat and trailer.

My boat is 1920 empty, add 60 gals of gas 392, motor 300 and that puts me at 2612 with out the trailer, rods and coolers. Add about 800 for the trailer and your at 3412.

Being that close, you need to watch closely as you are near max, which is not the ideal place to be.

I'd look into an older beater truck with more towing capicity for two reasons. 1) you dont have to worry about you nice clean car that close to the salt water. 2) What guy pulls a boat with a Pacifica. You might as well drive a mini van back and forth to work. ;D

I hope this helps more than hurts.

Re: trailers surge brakes
 

Here you go Skipbo, check out this truck. Great for what you want.

Re: trailers surge brakes
 

Get a Chevy hell with ther ford!

and get that ugly pumkin butt out of here :'(

Re: trailers surge brakes
 

You guys are a riot.

The brochure on this website says the boat weighs 2300#s. Motor manual says it's 400#s. 60 Gals of gas @ 400#s and I am now at 3100#s before trailer. Don't know about the trailer. 800#s? So I am at 3900#s.

TurbineDoctor, now I feel totally inadequate. I think I'll drop a V8 in the Miata and tow with it ;D

Re: trailers surge brakes
 

Dont feel too bad. Not everybody is as well built as us F-350 owners.

Remember no matter what you do to that Miata it is still a Miata. "A rose by any other name is still a rose" Shakespear I think.

On the safety side, make sure you dont put you or your family in danger while towing. I have pulled a travel trailer up and down the whole east coast and even into canada, people think you can stop just as fast as they can. WRONG, even with trailer brakes you have to allow more distance. Not to mention the extra strain on the power train getting it moving.

I started out pulling my camper with a 89 jeep cherokee with the 6 liter, which the owners manual said it was rated for, just 10 miles into the test run at towing it, it started to over heat. Never did make it up to the speed limit.

Re: trailers surge brakes
 

you just needed to build a real Jeep straight 6, I'm building a stroker 4.7 straight 6 Jeep for my wagoneer to pull boats at the coast. the stroker makes 300+ HP and 500+ ft lbs of Tq

Re: trailers surge brakes
 

Pablo, I just went thru this entire thread and there's a can of worms here that you'll sort thru in time...

Pacifica's a helluva vehicle, but I doubt it'll stand up to more than just short-hauls to a nearby ramp...and if ya ever back it into saltwater, your wife will most likely KILL you over the resulting damage, then ALL your problems will be done ;D ... is there a transmission cooler on the Pacifica...needs to be if ya gonna tow w/ it ;) ...

...and to all the no-brakes-needed believers...ya shoulda been ridin' right-seat w/ me Fri-nite on I-85...I'm doin' 65...MORON in blinged-out old Caddy comes off the ramp, crosses into my lane and SLOWS DOWN ::) ...I've never gotten harder on a brake pedal than tryin' to avoid hittin' this obvious-insuranceless-idiot (O.I.I.)...couldn't swerve w/ trailer on and glad for all FOUR discs on the trailer...still can't believe no contact...SO CLOSE ...

My F-150 has Bemcos on front, discs all around; EXCELLENT braking power, but w/ out trailer brakes, I'd be turnin' in a claim as we speak...I'm SURE of it ;) :P ...

Tie-Down's 6600 actuator is great, but for best braking, put Kodiak's discs w/ it...JMHO... ;) ...

Good luck w/ it...post some pics when ya can and let us know how it goes... 8) ...

Re: trailers surge brakes
 

Sorry bout dat....didn't see the Pacifica part of your post, thought you were towing with Chrsler 300...my bad :-/

Re: trailers surge brakes
 

All, thanks for all the information, advice, comments, and humor. This is a great site and I am glad to be aboard. I am sure I will be back to you guys with more questions soon and I prepare to install electronics and make small repairs.

I think I will stay very local until I repair the brakes. There is a boat ramp inmy neighgorhood via which I can be in the chesapeake in about 20 mins so I am sure I won't get bored soon.

As soon as I figure out how to do it. I will post a Pic the boat as she looks presently.

Re: trailers surge brakes
 

OK here's a pic of the boat. [imhttp://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l1...o/IMGP0545.jpgg][/imhttp://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l1...o/IMGP0545.jpgg]

Re: trailers surge brakes
 

Nice boat you got there

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l1...o/IMGP0545.jpg
*

Re: trailers surge brakes
 

Thanks Turbo.

Motor checked out OK according to Marina. Had the carbs done. Been working on it cosmetically. Need bottom paint. Maybe this weekend. Gotta sand prime and paint the lower unit of the O/B. Bimini being repaired. New cushions being made.

Want to get her out on the bay before it gets too cold.

Re: trailers surge brakes
 

Pablo, that's a great lookin' '88...you gonna enjoy that...keep us posted on what ya do w'/ her...looks like a full-width seat across back...

...and GA numbers...where'd ya find it?
:D ...

Re: trailers surge brakes
 

Looks nice!! Welcome to boaters hell!! No better place in th world!.

Re: trailers surge brakes
 

Nice rig Pablo! ;)

any pics of the interior? We love boat porn!

Re: trailers surge brakes
 

TinMan,

Will snap some pics of interior. It's in pretty good shape.


Reelapeelin,

My brother bought and owned the boat 1989-2002. Orginally in CT and then he moved it to Michigan after transferring to Chicago. In 2002 he begged me to buy it but I didn't so a family friend in Atlanta bought it. When I heard the friend now wanted to sell it I decided it needed to be back in the family.

Brother kept in pristine condition in all aspects. Unfortunately family friend did not.

She has never seen salt water. Only Fresh. Which is why I am a little baffled by the degradation of the lower unit of the outboard.

[/imhttp://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l1...o/IMGP0527.jpgg]

Re: trailers surge brakes
 

Pablo , It looks as if it was left in the water with the motor down instead of up. From looking at the photo I did not see any zinc. Check to make sure you have zinc on it. Ihave heard that some motors have the zinc in the little tab that sticks down behind the prop. What do you call that thing (trim tab, steering stabilizer, anti torque) I know what it is for but cant think of what its called.

Re: trailers surge brakes
 

Turbo,

I believe it is called an anode. It is in the picture just above the prop. I was told and show by the marina that there is also a "U" shaped one at the very bottom of the engine mount.

Re: trailers surge brakes
 

Yamaha has the U shaped one under the mounting bracket.

There is a stainless grouind wire that connects to the lower part of the motor, you have to make sure that it is clean and mounted tight, so it makes a good connetion. This is what stops the corrision!

But leaving it all the way down in the water is not a good Idea!!!

Re: trailers surge brakes
 

MacoJoe,

Thanks I will check it out this weekend. Hoping to bottom paint as well

Re: trailers surge brakes
 

There have been people that clean and sand lower unit then use marin tex or formula 27 to fill all the holes, sand nice then paint, Lower unit will look brand new!!

If you want to go to that much work??

Re: trailers surge brakes
 

MacoJoe,

So I have 2? One under the cav plate and the other under the mounting bracket? Looking out there on the Web there seems to be a big difference in what I have to pay for them. one sight is 12.00 and another is $25.

Re: trailers surge brakes
 

Are they all shot?? They rot away, if they are not rotted they are fine.

The U shaped one was broke in half before I replaced!

Re: trailers surge brakes
 

No they don't look that bad. Don't really know if they need replacing but if they are only 12$ each then what the heck. plus the comment was made that maybe my lower unit looked a little rough due to zincs (bad)?

Re: trailers surge brakes
 

they not bad if not rotted!!

If anything the wire to the lower unit might not be working??

It need to connect to make the zinc work!

Re: trailers surge brakes
 

I think, while zincs HELP, they do not STOP corrosion....previous owner musta just left motor down all the time while in the salt...