I wrote:

I currently have hydraulic surge brakes which have no lockout on the
actuator. The brakes (drum brakes) themselves have some sort of feature
that allow backing up. I'll try to find the make/model and give a pointer
later.

The coupler/actuator I have is a DICO (or Titan?) model 60 with a universal
coupler. I mention that only because it has no backup/lockout device on
the actuator and this is a hydraulic/mechanical actuator, not electric.

http://www.ne-ts.com/mac/bb/bb-306dico01.jpg

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.

"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.

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.