Brake Actuator Comment / Question
 

"John Gaquin" wrote in message
...

My understanding (and limited experience) with surge brakes is that a
certain [adjustable?] amount of decelerative force is required to
activate.

Years ago the surge brake trailer that I was familiar with had a spring that
kept the coupler in the non-braking position. This spring was strong enough
to keep the trailer from "riding the brakes" while going down a hill and
allowed a certain amount of backing.

I don't see that arrangement anymore. The last two trailers that I have had
certainly didn't have any sort of thing. The latest trailer has disc brakes
and they won't allow backing up unless you are backing down a hill!

I miss that spring. Don't know why they went away.

Rod

Brake Actuator Comment / Question
 

"Gary Warner" wrote in message
...

Although the lever-thing sort of locks in place, it does not stay there.
It
does
stay to some extent. But if you stop backing up it pops out. So, say you
are
backing, then need to pull forward a little to reposition yourself - the
thing
pops out.

Not a huge problem if you have two people and the other person can kind of
watch it -- but is this normal?


I suspect that it is some liability issue, or perhaps even some obscure law.
My trailer came with this little bar thingy that you can insert into the
track for the coupler motion to keep it from moving. Just like you describe,
if you pull forward it falls out.

When I complained to the boat dealer they gave me a new one that had another
bar that went over the top of the coupler and would hold it in place. They
said that these were what they used for moving the boats around their lot
and they weren't supposed to sell them to customers, but they would give me
one if I didn't tell anyone where I got it.

Fortunately, I don't have to use mine very often because I have an electric
reverse release built in. It requires a 5 pin light connection so that I can
get the reverse lights to the trailer, but then the reverse lights operate a
solenoid valve on the coupler that keeps the brakes from operating. Works
great as long as I am using the tow vehicle that has the 5 pin connector.
If I use a different car then I have to use the bar thingy.

Rod

Brake Actuator Comment / Question
 

"____m___~¿Ô___m____" wrote in message
...
Can't remember if an extra wire was used from your backlights or
whatever.
That would be for electric brakes.
Here the poster is asking about a hydraulic serge brake.

No, they are available for surge brakes also. I have it on my trailer,
works great.

Here is a link to a place you can buy one:
http://www.championtrailers.com/REVE...OID_VALVES.HTM

Rod

Brake Actuator Comment / Question
 

"-rick-" wrote in message
...

I have this Atwood actuator...


http://www.etrailer.com/Merchant2/me...tegory_Code=ba

and had the same problem. It was aggravated by the fact that I have to
back the
trailer uphill to put it next to my house. I "solved" the problem by
using a
very small bungee cord to hold the latch pin down while backing. The
problem
with that is when you forget to remove it before towing again you are
without
brakes.

-rick-




This looks to be exactly like my actuator. It's nice to know someone else
thinks
this setup is not quite right. I think I'll try to rig up something like you
suggest with
a small bungee cord or something. ~

I'm not too afraid of fogetting. I don't want
to tempt the gods and say I'll never forget...but we tend to be pretty good
at
remembering that type of thing. My general strategy is...once I know
everything
is all good to go (on trailer or boat or whatever) I go through everything
ONE
MORE time.

Thanks,
Gary

Brake Actuator Comment / Question
 

"Camilo" wrote in message
...

I believe the brakes themselves have what are called "freebacking shoes"
which is the feature I was trying to describe. I have no idea if these
kind
of shoes can be installed into any system.

Thanks for your comments. Again, nice to know someone else had problems
with this setup and it's not just that I don't know what the *$&% I'm doing.

In the research I've done when buying all this stuff....I believe that "free
backing"
is for drum brakes only and that there is no equivilent in disc brakes.

Brake Actuator Comment / Question
 

"Rod McInnis" wrote in message
...

No, they are available for surge brakes also. I have it on my trailer,
works great.

Here is a link to a place you can buy one:
http://www.championtrailers.com/REVE...OID_VALVES.HTM

Rod



Thanks for the link. Will consider this.

Brake Actuator Comment / Question
 

On Mon, 10 May 2004 15:46:22 -0400, "Gary Warner"
wrote:

Thanks for your comments. Again, nice to know someone else had problems
with this setup and it's not just that I don't know what the *$&% I'm doing.

===================================

What you want is something known as a "backing solenoid" which is
activated by your back up lights. The solenoid activates a valve
which relieves hydraulic pressure and allows backing under any
circumstance. My Load-Rite trailer works this way, and it also has a
pin that you can insert into the coupling mechanism to keep it from
sliding just in case the solenoid is not working for some reason.