Electric or surge trailer brakes?

[2QUIK6]

Seems that most car haulers have electric brakes. Any reason not many seem to have surge brakes?
What do most prefer and why?
And from a maintenance perspective?
I have surge brakes on my boat trailer and they work ok, never had a problem with them in 7 years. I heard of people having problems with electric brakes, but I also know 1 person who had surge brakes lock up.

 

[turbocody]

Rob-
i have electric brakes on all 4 wheels on my trailer and they work great, but you have to know how to adjust them or you will burn them up or wear the pads in a hury. the only draw back i see is that the wiring has to be good to have good voltage to them and to keep the wires from getting hot. i am having few issues with a short in the wiring on mine right now, but nothing i can't fix in a couple of hours. wires got brittle on me. btw, my uncle has a darn nice trailer for sale w/4wheel electric brakes rock guard, custom wheels,etc. if your interested.

 

[Turbo T/A 1543]

Don't know whether or not this is true, but I bought a new 18' car trailer a couple of weeks ago, and when I asked the guy about surge brakes he said that they are illegal. He said that you have to have control of the trailers' brakes fom the tow vehicle. The new trailer came with a "break-away" kit which applies the brakes should the trailer become detatched.

 

[2QUIK6]

Hey Cody, I talked to Kyle yesterday, is that who you're talking about? I plan to try to get out there this weekend and take a look at it. I've got to find one that will have enough clearence for the TTA to fit on with scrapping.
Just trying to learn all I can about trailer options before I buy.
I've got surge brakes on my boat trailer, most boat trailers have surge brakes so I don't know how they would be illegal, the electric brake I guess should not be submerged in water like when launching a boat. The boat tailer does have a cable you connect to the bumper, in case the trailer gets loose, the cable pulls something on the trailer to lock the brakes.

 

[turbocody]

yes, thats my uncle Kyle, he lives next door to me. the trailer has long ramps, so thats a good start a would guess. might want to stop by on Saturday a would guess cause were going to kennedale on Sunday for the MCCC.

 

[2QUIK6]

Originally posted by turbocody
yes, thats my uncle Kyle, he lives next door to me. the trailer has long ramps, so thats a good start a would guess. might want to stop by on Saturday a would guess cause were going to kennedale on Sunday for the MCCC.

Hey Cody, if the trailer is next door, you think you could get some measurements from it?
Top deck height when level?
Rear of dove tail height at very back of trailer?
Fender height from top deck?
Ramp length?
And length of Dove Tail section?

That will give me an idea of how much clearence I may have on the TTA. If not, I'll call Kyle back later in the week.
We may go out to Kennedale too just to watch Sunday.

 

[turbocody]

Rob-just give Kyle a call and he can answer all your questions, cause i have been known to give out false information.lol naw, but he is the guy to talk to.

 

[Quick6'n'-K.C.]

we have alot of trailers at work and i heard too that surge brakes are not legal anymore-
if it was made with surge brakes years ago, then that trailer is legal because thats the way it was built-

if you try and convert a electric trailer over to surge, thats a big no-no and you might get fined if you were involved in a accident where the brakes are faulty.

http://www.boatus.com/trailerclub/upkeep/electricbrakes.asp

BW

 

[2QUIK6]

Originally posted by Quick6'n'-K.C.
we have alot of trailers at work and i heard too that surge brakes are not legal anymore-
if it was made with surge brakes years ago, then that trailer is legal because thats the way it was built-

if you try and convert a electric trailer over to surge, thats a big no-no and you might get fined if you were involved in a accident where the brakes are faulty.

http://www.boatus.com/trailerclub/upkeep/electricbrakes.asp

BW

Interesting. I talked to a trailer builder yesterday and they offer either electric or surge, however surge brakes were a $400 option and electric is std equip. I don't see any safety issues either way as all of the newer trailers I've seen with surge brakes have a "break-away" cable which locks the brakes in case it were to come loose from the hitch.

 

[Quick6'n'-K.C.]

Maybe the law varies by states?

BW

 

[Drac0nic]

I know that we were required to go to electric brakes on our hazmat trailers at work, only way we found out was we tried to order parts for the hydraulic brake system. I think the big deal with the E-brakes is the break-away system, afterall if that trailer keeps rolling after the hitch comes off there's some bad stuff going on.