Not really funny, but got quick laugh from surge brakes

[Skyco]

If he had a lockout, I couldn't see it. Maybe he did but nothing would move because of the inability to let the pressure off the surge brakes. He was in a position where he couldn't really move 6" forward. Oh well, he was appreciative to not lose his truck but man was he ever ticked off at his boat and trailer! He was kicking his trailer, beating it with some stick that I think was part of an oar and still making all sorts of racket when I launched and left him up on top. He did thank me and offer me a beer, but otherwise he was nearly out of control with anger.

I think he was beating the wrong thing, he should have been mad at himself and whacking his head with the stick for not being familiar with his equipment and knowing its capabilities

I really hate boat ramps, too many idiots at them, you know the ones, they get their boat on the ramp, then untie the tiedowns, load the ice chest from the car into the boat, look for the drain plug, hunt for their tackle box in the car, got to go chase the kids etc. etc. All stuff they should do in the staging lane before blocking the ramp. If you aren't in a hurry it is good entertainment though

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

This guys only recourse if he was totally alone would have been to break a line loose to relive the pressure on the brake shoes.

He could have blocked the trailer wheels and then driven forward even 1" and the brakes would have released.

 

[Skyco]

But as soon as he backed up again they would re-engage

 

[Dargo]

But, hey, them thar Tundra pickups are tough though! He had that thing hopping big time with the suspension slapping like crazy and you know it was loading and unloading the drivetrain big time when he was flooring it in reverse locked in 4X4.

 

[wushaw]

He could have blocked the trailer wheels and then driven forward even 1" and the brakes would have released.

Dargo said the ft. of the pu was already in the water and the Tundra is not a good water truck with the alternator being mounted on the bottom.
Also it was apparant the guy had no idea on how to deactivate the brakes so it was good of Dargo to help the poor guy out.

 

[JoelD]

I had similar problem with surge brakes on a rental car carrier. Solution was putting pedal to the floor on the rental truck and pushing the thing up my driveway until I found the lock out pin. Good point though if there was no way to unload, I guess if he had the pin type he'd have to block the wheels like others have said to get at least a couple of inches.

Surge brakes do seem awful simple though in design.

Another great idea posted would've been to loosen a line, but man would that be a pain in the neck.

I bet there's been many a person who's run into this same problem.

Nice job helping him out, even though you had to drag him up kicking and screaming, litterally as he insisted on applying the surge brakes as you pulled.

Joel

 

[Ryan03]

I have found that as long as I am not in a hurry, our local boat ramp on lake Erie in Fairport Ohio has never failed to offer up good entertainment for the wife and I while waiting in line to launch the boat. Almost every time I shake my head in disbeleif at how many clueless people there are both towing they're boats and operating them.

That was very nice of you Dargo to give the guy a tug to get him out of trouble. I hope your company you spoke of in the V10 thread does'nt own the warranty on that water logged Tundra LOL

 

[Diamondpilot]

The boat trailers I have used all had an override "pin" that prevented movement when backing up.

All I sell have a lock out solenoid. I see many with pins. The problem is in his issue he would have had to chalk the wheels of his trailer then allow the truck to ease forward to deactivate the brakes. Once this is done the pressure would be removed from the master cylinder and he could back up easily assuming there was a pin.

Surge brakes are amazingly strong, especially disc surge brakes. I was trying to move a customers 21' Maxum that weighed maybe 4K in a gravel lot with my 4x4 F-350 and could not do it up a slight grade of maybe 1' rise for every 25' of run locked in to 4 low.

Chris

 

[Dargo]

Surge brakes are amazingly strong, especially disc surge brakes. I was trying to move a customers 21' Maxum that weighed maybe 4K in a gravel lot with my 4x4 F-350 and could not do it up a slight grade of maybe 1' rise for every 25' of run locked in to 4 low.

Chris

I'll say they are strong. His trailer was a tandem axle, but I don't know if he had brakes on both axles or not. All I do know is that he's probably lucky I'd driven a 4X4 1 ton dually to launch two Jet Skis and that the ski ropes held. With him trying to 'help' and back up, I literally dragged his boat up the ramp most of the way with his boat tires skidding.

Side note just to be honest. Sure, I'm a helpful guy most of the time, but I'll admit that my main reason to quickly offer to help him was to get his dumb butt out of my way! He was still cussing and whacking his trailer when I last saw him. I don't really recall if I saw his Tundra in the lot when we left later though. His wife was giving it to him as much as he was giving it to his trailer! LOL

 

[jeffster]

Wow, that is funny and scary. I know my BIL bought a new 19' bowrunner without ever owning or operating a boat before. He got it home and managed to get it in the garage. I came over later and there are rubber marks EVERYWHERE on his driveway. I was like WTF? I asked him about it and he said he had a horrible time trying to back it up. Heh. I asked him if he locked out the brakes and he just looked at me with a blank expression. His mid-size SUV took everything it had to move the boat in reverse on a level driveway, apparently. Too funny. I showed him the lock out pin and just laughed. Needless to say, that boat is thrashed now after only 2 years. It always amazes me how many people have no clue how to launch, load or tie off a boat. I think he has been through 3 props in that amount of time, skeg was completely broke off, etc. Sheesh, my boat is 12 years old now with the original prop that looks new...