Electric trailer brakes

cemiii · Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 5:18 pm Post subject: Electric trailer brakes

Have they improved electric brakes enough that they are worth considering for (sometimes salt water) boat trailer consideration?

Chris

drjohn71a · Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 5:58 pm Post subject:

Chris,

I see you have a 22 Angler, but the electric over hydraulic setup is great. Lots of control from the truck cab and no underwater electrical problems.

John

Matt Gurnsey · Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 6:46 pm Post subject:

I'll reiterate that electric over hydraulic is the way to go if you want to be able to use a cab control for the brakes.

As far as straight electric like the RV's use, I would not use them in salt water, especially since they are drum brakes and all the salt moisture gets trapped in the drum area.

For the C-Dory's usually a surge brake system with disks is the best set up.

Dreamer · Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 9:58 pm Post subject:

Matt,

Remember that for those of us who trailer to Canada, surge brakes are not legal for boat/trailer combos over approx. 6000 lbs. Electric over hydraulic is really the way to go, although more expensive. I wish the factory had researched this and I could have ordered my trailer with them. Instead, I had to do the mod myself.

With the TomCat, it is essential to keep the controller high on the trailer to avoid contact with the salt water.

journey on · Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 10:10 pm Post subject:

Journey On rides on a trailer with Carlisle Hydrostar Electric brakes. These, like any electric-hydraulic brake, have an actuator which replaces the surge brake master cylinder. Brake pressure is applied by the actuator pump which is activated by the controller on the truck. The rest of the braking system is the same. Sorry if you don't need this lecture, but please read on.

For the weight of the C-25, trailer and load, I feel that these brakes make the difference between an easy drive and a white knuckle tow. Also, when you back uphill, they don't automatically come on as surge brakes do. And when you back downhill, such as a launch ramp, they work swell as surge brakes don't. I'm a great believer in these brakes for a C-25 or heavier, especially if you have a 1/2 truck (or equivalent.) These brakes came stock from E-Z Loader when I bought the boat, though they weren't free.

That said, I'm not sure that they are needed on a C-22. I allow you to make that judgment.

I believe, Boris

Ron on Meander · Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 11:24 pm Post subject:

Yep, I most certainly must add a plug for the electric/hydraulic disc brakes. I had electric only drum brakes on my EZ Loader trailer. When they were new they were not bad in stopping the trailer loaded with my 25 CD behind my 1500 Dodge Ram. Shortly after dunking them in salt water they became much less effective. After replacing, brake shoes, and actuators a couple of times I switched them to electric/hydraulic disc brakes. What and incredible difference! Like Boris says, "the difference between white knuckles and a comfortable drive". If you trailer much, we've been towing along highway 101-1 for the last 1000 miles, you should certainly consider the benefits of electric/hydraulic.
Ron

Matt Gurnsey · Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 12:01 pm Post subject:

Guess I should have specified-

For the C Dory 22 / 23's Surges are usually plenty.

For the bigger boats we do like electric over hydraulic. I was just making sure the original poster wasn't cofusing electric / hydraulic w/ straight electric.

FWIW- We have had King trailers design a Tomcat trailer- it allows the boat to sit about six inches lower, so should help with launching and retreiving, and electric / hydraulic is a factory option.

Capital Sea · Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 1:13 pm Post subject:

Just to be clear about Canada and electric breaks... am I to understand that I will have no issue towing my trip loaded 22' with surge breaks so long as I cannot find a way to bring enough junk along to top 6,000lbs?

Dreamer · Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 4:24 pm Post subject:

Steve,

Here's the quote from the regs.

Brake Requirements
All trailers and towing dollies (car dollies) must have brakes on all wheels when their GVW (trailer/dolly and load) exceeds 1,400 kg (3,086 pounds). Every trailer with brakes must have a breakaway device hooked to the trailer brake system.
Surge brakes must be used when towing a vehicle that has a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of up to and including 2,800 kg (6,173 pounds).
From 2,800 kilograms and up the towed vehicle brakes must be able to be applied by the driver of the tow vehicle.

That means a brake controller in the tow vehicle which requires electric actuation, either all electric or electric over hydraulic. Hope this helps, Roger

Capital Sea · Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 8:10 pm Post subject:

Roger, your post cleared things up. Thank You.

A thought. It would be a nice addition to have FAQ's and recomendations/answers for Canada and Mexico boat and trailer travel.

Collectingt the information here can be 1/3 of the fun though.