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Surge Brakes

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Stan

06-03-2003 14:47:51

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I have a 10,000 lb. trailer I use to tow a tractor that weighs about 6,500 lbs. It is a tandem trailer with electric brakes on one axle. I don't seem to get much stopping power. I'm I better off changing the second axle over to electric brakes as well or should I convert to surge brakes on both axles?

Thanks for any advice.

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Nolan

06-05-2003 03:56:34

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Re: Surge Brakes in reply to Stan, 06-03-2003 14:47:51

Sounds like your electric controler needs to be adjusted, or your magnets are worn through.

As for surge brakes (which are a different animal), I've been using them for years. There is no adjustment on them. They are self contained on the trailer and apply braking proportional to the force exerted on the hitch. The harder the trailer pushes against the hitch, the harder the brakes are applied. That's one of the nice features about a hydraulic surge brake.

That said, they can be a pain. Backing up can be very awkward, especially with a load on the trailer. You've got to then go lock the surge brake out (if you don't, the brakes aren't working). You also cannot lock the trailer brakes while sitting on a hill. Can make unhitching rather exciting at times.

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willie j

06-04-2003 06:01:02

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Re: Surge Brakes in reply to Stan, 06-03-2003 14:47:51

Stan
You answered your own question "brakes on one axle"!!
Most states require brakes on ALL WHEELS if trailer gross weight is over 1000 pounds, some will let you go to 3000 before requiring brakes. Add elec brakes to the second axle would be your best way to go.
Drive safely
Willie

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Stan

06-05-2003 05:35:09

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Re: Re: Surge Brakes in reply to willie j, 06-04-2003 06:01:02

Thanks. With your comment and the others I've received, I'm going to add Brakes to the second axle.

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CWL

06-04-2003 05:51:34

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Re: Surge Brakes in reply to Stan, 06-03-2003 14:47:51

Recently rented a bucket lift to trim some trees. It was mounted on a trailer with surge brakes. I was pulling it with a 1 ton dual wheel truck. It pulled like a hog on ice! I would have hated to pull it with a half ton truck. It spent most of it's time slamming back and forth from the bumps in the highway. It might not have been adjusted right or something, but it sure turned me off of surge brakes. Also I would strongly recomend having brakes on both axles for that much weight whatever you decide to do.

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Tom_NC

06-03-2003 17:17:41

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Re: Surge Brakes in reply to Stan, 06-03-2003 14:47:51

What type of controller do you have in the vehicle that is doing the towing? I personally like electric brakes because I can adjust the controller (amount of braking) to suite the load I am hauling on the fly. Surge brakes have to be adjusted at the coupler and light load or heavy load need to be adjusted differently.

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Stan

06-04-2003 05:53:59

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Re: Re: Surge Brakes in reply to Tom_NC, 06-03-2003 17:17:41

I do have an electronic controller. I believe it's a Commander. This trailer is well within the capacity of this controller since I tow my 30 foot camper with it just fine. One thing you mentioned got my attention. You said that surge brakes needed to be adjusted for a light or heavy load. Given the way they work, I thought that wasn't neccessary. In other words, if the load were heaveier, it would push the master cylinder in harder so no adjustment was necessary.

Please tell me more.

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Tom_NC

06-04-2003 08:05:25

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Re: Re: Re: Surge Brakes in reply to Stan, 06-04-2003 05:53:59

I used to do boat repair/winter storage and many of the trailers had surge brakes, can�t use electric on boat trailers due to being submerged in water. They worked pretty good here because the load was fairly constant and with no boat the trailer didn�t really need brakes anyway. Let�s not forget the backing issue either. With surge brakes if you are backing up an incline the brakes engage. You have to get out and lock out the brakes so your not sliding the trailer wheels. I had a friend that had an equipment trailer with surge brakes and he hated it, he has one with electric brakes now. As I mentioned with big changes in the load you really need to adjust brakes to compensate. If you need to be able to tow with several vehicles and some may not have controllers then you need surge (rental companies). If you have a controller use electric.

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Ron in NE

06-06-2003 12:06:36

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Surge Brakes in reply to Tom_NC, 06-04-2003 08:05:25

Another question on surge brakes- I have a rather heavy car trailer equipped with surge brakes. On the coupler, the part that goes over the hitch ball appears to be only held onto the trailer with two 7/16" bolts. There's a slot that lets it slide as you slow to apply the surge brakes. When the trailer's not hooked up to the tow vehicle, this part that goes over the ball seems really sloppy, like as if the holes for the bolts it slides on are worn. Is this normal, or do I need to start replacing things before the trailer decides to go it's own way sometime?

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Stan

06-04-2003 12:29:24

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Surge Brakes in reply to Tom_NC, 06-04-2003 08:05:25

Thanks. It sounds like good advice.

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