Boats For Sale:
Surge vs. electric brakes |
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ultrarunner 
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Joined: October-02-2005 Location: Ridgefield, Ct. Status: Offline Points: 1867 |
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 Topic: Surge vs. electric brakesPosted: April-20-2020 at 9:35pm |
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Hey folks, now that I'll be trailering regularly, is there any reason to switch my trailer from surge to electric? My trailering experience is limited to putting away in the fall and launching in the spring, as I was on the water. Not the case now, here in CT.... :-(
Thanks, Ultra |
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8122pbrainard
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Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41045 |
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Posted: April-20-2020 at 9:43pm |
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Mark,
You say you already have the surge brakes so why do you what to switch? Do the surge brakes work? |
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ultrarunner
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Joined: October-02-2005 Location: Ridgefield, Ct. Status: Offline Points: 1867 |
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Posted: April-20-2020 at 10:43pm |
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Hi Pete, not necessarily considering swapping out. I definitely don't need any more time-consuming projects. I have seen some chatter where elec. is preferred. However, if my current setup is as safe and adequate, I'll leave it as-is. I'm towing with a relatively HD SUV, and didn't really notice it was back there when I brought it home through the hills :-)
Thanks, Mark |
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SNobsessed
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Posted: April-21-2020 at 9:40am |
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If you want to check that the trailer brakes are working, just check to see if they are warm after some hard braking. You may want to use a glove 1st in case they are very hot.
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“Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”
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Morfoot
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Joined: February-06-2004 Location: South Lanier Status: Offline Points: 5333 |
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Posted: April-21-2020 at 9:55am |
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If it ain't broke......Don't fix it!
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"Morfoot; He can ski. He can wakeboard.He can cook chicken.He can create his own self-named beverage, & can also apparently fly. A man of many talents."72 Mustang "Kermit",88 SN Miss Scarlett, 99 SN "Sherman"
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Duane in Indy
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Posted: April-21-2020 at 11:18am |
True, but I'm betting that it's broke. |
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Keep it as original as YOU want it
1978 Mustang (modified) |
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ultrarunner
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Joined: October-02-2005 Location: Ridgefield, Ct. Status: Offline Points: 1867 |
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Posted: April-21-2020 at 3:09pm |
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Nothing broke that I know of. But I'll give the brakes the hot-glove check the next time I have it out, and I'll look into servicing this type of system, having not bled or serviced a surge system on a trailer before, just so I know it's GTG for road-tripping.
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Gary S
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Posted: April-21-2020 at 3:20pm |
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I think the electric brakes are way better than surge brakes but you need a proportional controller in the tow vehicle. In the old days it was spliced into the brake system,now days it's probably electronic. The major down side is the above- with out the controller you cannot have brakes so it limits you on changing vehicles
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ultrarunner
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Joined: October-02-2005 Location: Ridgefield, Ct. Status: Offline Points: 1867 |
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Posted: April-21-2020 at 3:28pm |
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From what I have read Gary, and folks I have spoke with, I'd agree. My Armada is pre-wired for the controller, so it's a simple matter of plugging one in. But at this point it makes sense to flush the old fluid, service and see how it tows. Thanks,
Mark |
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gun-driver
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Joined: July-18-2008 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Status: Offline Points: 4127 |
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Posted: April-21-2020 at 6:58pm |
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My new to me (last year) 2,000 Sport trailer brakes aren't working so they are getting replaced with magnetic electric brakes like my sled trailer.
I hate the hydraulic brake set ups. |
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MrMcD
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Joined: January-28-2014 Location: Folsom, CA Status: Offline Points: 3778 |
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Posted: April-21-2020 at 7:05pm |
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I have no actual fact to offer but my fear would be the water dousing the brakes get when launching would short out the electric brake system?
If properly working, surge brake work very well and you can tow with any vehicle available. If you go with Electric brakes you will have to have a vehicle with the brake controller. I have both, the electric does offer some advantages but I have not used one on a boat trailer. Might be worth checking into the water aspect. |
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8122pbrainard
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Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41045 |
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Posted: April-21-2020 at 7:18pm |
Mark, The brakes get wet just driving down the road in the rain. The electric coils are encapsulated so there's no problem putting the trailer in the water. I have electrics on one of my trailers and like Paul, love them. With the brake controller you can actuate just the trailer if needed. An example would be if for some reason the trailer states to fishtail on a slippery road you just tap the brake controller and the trailer straightens right out. The other nice thing with the electrics and the controller, you can adjust the braking force. You can't do that with surge brakes. |
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gun-driver
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Posted: April-21-2020 at 7:43pm |
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What Pete said
I like to be able to adjust the brake pressure per road conditions and load and my F-250 has the built in controller. Trust me the salt, slush, snow, rain water, freeze, thaw we drag those trailers through during the winters a little dunk in clean water won't hurt a thing. |
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MrMcD
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Posted: April-21-2020 at 8:47pm |
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And there you have it. Did not know electric brakes were compatible with a boat trailer.
They are easier to install and repair also so a win win I guess. Sure would help for backing up and on steep downhill grades where the boat brakes heat up with surge systems. |
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Morfoot wrote: