Electric Brakes

[dodge man]

Keep in mind surge brakes on popular on boats because they are often dunked in the water. Not good for the electric brakes I assume.

 

[Gem99ultra]

I wouldn't even consider a trailer without brakes. BT-DT, no thanks. Electric brakes on my trailers have been super, but I have no experience with hydraulics on any trailer, and especially a dump trailer of any size or load. You'll thank yourself for the electric brakes assisting with stops.

 

[fried1765]

Keep in mind surge brakes on popular on boats because they are often dunked in the water. Not good for the electric brakes I assume.

Surge brakes or electric brakes dunked in SALT water.......not much difference!
Neither will work after just a few dunks.

 

[Reg]

Just be aware that some factory installed integrated brake controllers are not compatible with electric over hydraulic systems.

That WAS true of some of the early ones, circa 2003.
There was a "fix" for them that was little more than a diode to soak up the sensing pulses that (some of) the integrated controllers sent out to detect presence of the trailer.
It took about 6 months for the fix to get into general distribution, there might still be some available.

Not a problem with my gooseneck horse trailer that runs on two 8,000 lb axles and is converted from hydraulic drums to hydraulic disks.
DESPITE the stopping power that I have I try at all times to use only engine braking and to reduce speed as gently as possible - - easier on the horses as well as the whole rig.

Here's what is WRONG with surge brakes;
If you EVER get trailer sway on a slippery road - and I hope you NEVER do - the only way out of it is to pull a little harder, but you can't brake the trailer while doing that, so unless you are going up a grade you will gather speed.
A very BAD SCENE for sure.

 

[Reg]

Surge brakes or electric brakes dunked in SALT water.......not much difference!
Neither will work after just a few dunks.

That is why boat trailers either have galvanized or stainless brakes - and more of them every year have disks (with salt water rated calipers, etc).

 

[RandyT]

That WAS true of some of the early ones, circa 2003.
There was a "fix" for them that was little more than a diode to soak up the sensing pulses that (some of) the integrated controllers sent out to detect presence of the trailer.
It took about 6 months for the fix to get into general distribution, there might still be some available.

Not a problem with my gooseneck horse trailer that runs on two 8,000 lb axles and is converted from hydraulic drums to hydraulic disks.
DESPITE the stopping power that I have I try at all times to use only engine braking and to reduce speed as gently as possible - - easier on the horses as well as the whole rig.

Here's what is WRONG with surge brakes;
If you EVER get trailer sway on a slippery road - and I hope you NEVER do - the only way out of it is to pull a little harder, but you can't brake the trailer while doing that, so unless you are going up a grade you will gather speed.
A very BAD SCENE for sure.

I have heard of people wiring an electric brake magnet into the system to create some resistance for the signal to detect.

 

[oldballs]

Surge brakes or electric brakes dunked in SALT water.......not much difference!
Neither will work after just a few dunks.

My tractor dealer rents trailers and said that the biggest reason for them to stock surge brake trailers is that many renters do not have brake controllers in the cab. Thus that's what they stock. Maybe, nowadays most trucks come with controllers. Of course, as a dealer, they can order a trailer with electric brakes. Being a newbie, I did not know that when I purchased my equipment hauler.

 

[AllDodge]

Surge brakes are still produced today and are DOT approved.

So far as going down an slippery road, not much is going to help. Only way your going to slow down is if the rig is on something which the tires has some kind of hold

 

[Tractor Seabee]

So I've been looking hard my first dump trailer, but I am unsure about brakes. I am considering a brake less 3000 lb or a 5000 lb with brakes. How much maintenance are electric brakes? Also, we lease out SUVs, so my tow vehicle will be changing. I am fearful of the expense of new brake controllers on each vehicle, and the cost of brake maintenance. I'm planning to tow about 2000 miles per year.

I will never tow over 3000 lbs (1800 of payload). But the prices for the 5000 brake trailers are within $400.

Let me know your thoughts.

Don't have time now to read the whole thread and this may be cover. Mot states, mine included, require a fail safe method to assure the brakes lock on a detachment. On my electrics that is a cable operated switch that applies the brakes on a traveling disconnect. Requires a battery that requires keeping charged up. Mine is kept on a trickle charger as it is not used often enough to keep it charge by the truck.

Ron

 

[zing]

Nothing wrong with surge brakes and are most often used on small to mid size boat trailers. The surge brake questions comes up a few times a year in boating forums. There have been several studies by transportation safety folks and all good. I changed over one of my boat trailers to electric because I'm in fresh water and like being able to adjust and control from the truck.

My runabout has surge disk breaks and like it also, and have also installed a switch in the cab to block the breaking when needed.

IMO, electric over hydraulic would be the best all around with disk brakes.

How does the switch in the cab that turns off your surge brakes work? To disable the surge brakes on my boat trailer (so I can back up) I have to get out and put in a metal plug that stops the joint from moving. With the joint immobilized, the hydraulics will not engage. The only way I can see that being controlled from the cab is if there was an electric switch that moved a pin or something that locked the joint that engages the brakes. Just wondering if you have something of that sort, or if there is a completely different design to your surge brakes.