Towing Questions

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Mar 22, 2018 | 10:41 AM

#16

Franklin2

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From: Virginia

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quarterwave

Thanks everyone.

Franklin - I don't recall there being any drums or discs when I changed all the wheels (as I mentioned earlier, the boat had sat for a while and all tires were flat or going flat) and there is definitely not a hydraulic-surge type of box near the gooseneck of the trailer. However, I will have to crawl under the trailer to see if there are any remnants of brake lines, as I may have missed something.

Blackduck - thanks for the tips. My biggest hurdle right now is getting the parts that I need - dual axle brake set ups are pricey!

You will probably have to learn way more than you would like about trailer axles and such, but you might be able to get a complete backing plate assembly and drums and convert one of your axles to have brakes. I do not know about the electric brakes versus water, but I do know technically by federal law, surge brakes are not legal. I know lots of boats use them, and u-haul uses them, but federal law says you must be able to manually activate the trailer brakes independent from the towing vehicle brakes, and you can't do that with surge brakes. Throw in what someone mentioned earlier about break-away safety braking apparatus, and that pretty much kills surge brakes. But they still sell them and people still use them everyday.

Mar 22, 2018 | 11:49 AM

#17

Nothing Special

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Joined: Feb 2013

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From: Roseville, MN

Quote:

Originally Posted by Franklin2

....Throw in what someone mentioned earlier about break-away safety braking apparatus, and that pretty much kills surge brakes. But they still sell them and people still use them everyday.

Break-away is no problem with surge brakes. They have a lever on top of the master cylinder with a cable that you hook to your bumper. If the trailer breaks away the cable pulls the lever and applies the brakes.

Doesn't address being able to activate the brakes independent of the vehicles brakes (unless you count compression braking the vehicle applying the trailer brakes)

Mar 22, 2018 | 12:00 PM

#18

Franklin2

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From: Virginia

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nothing Special

Didn't know that, thanks.

Mar 25, 2018 | 10:32 PM

#19

Quarterwave

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Joined: Dec 2017

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Quote:

Originally Posted by LARIAT 85

That's a very nice looking truck, Quarterwave.

I am a big fan of that style of side trim molding, and I have it on my own 1985 truck. Take good care of it, because you cannot replace it. It was only used on the early 1985 models and no one reproduces it.

Thanks Lariat!

I wasn't aware of the side molding only being a short-run. The driver side near the door lock is not super straight (not shown in the image I posted), so I'll need to see what I can do to correct that... any ideas?