Boat Trailer Question

[Sharphooks]

Good Day, Gents--

I just did the trip in and out of Ucluelet with a 20 foot boat: between tandem 4 strokes,camping gear, gas and booze, I had a lot of weight in her.

And despite a towing rig with a pretty big foot print, I had some white knuckle moments trying to slow the whole enchilada down in some of the curves both on the way in and on the way out. This got me thinking: should I be thinking about an upgrade to surge brakes?

Any comments out there about surge brakes-- can they be retrofitted on a normal tandem trailer and if not, what are the best trailer brands out there that have them and would should I expect to be paying for this upgrade?

Thanks for comments and collective wisdom on the trailering part of boating

 

[ReelAffair]

does it have trailer brakes at all???

 

[Olde School]

Sharphooks.

The road to Ukee is challenging!

My boat is smaller than yours and probably half the mass.
There are often times when I wish I had brakes on my little trailer.
Brakes on yours would be a great idea, peace of mind, safety, etc.

Smiley.

 

[ReelAffair]

By the sounds of it there are no brakes on that trailer....Look at the axle housing right behind the hub and see if there is a square flange with 4 holes.....if so then you can bolt on a backing plate, get drums with hub assemblies and install a hitch/master cylinder assembly..run lines ect....or disc brake assemblies

if there is no flange...some metal fabrication is required or axle replacement

 

[gpspowell]

I haul a 24' to Ucluelet without issue but I pull it with a F350 dually and have electric brakes on both axles. I live in Colorado and I don't like surge brakes for mountain roads (like the road to Ucluelet) because they apply themselves a lot as the trailer tries to catch the truck. That heats them up quite a bit and lowers fuel economy. However that is a personal preference and surge brakes work quite well. Surge brakes for your size boat would be worth the investment and will make your drive easier and safer.

 

[seahare]

Hey sharphooks, check DOT regs,brakes are mandatory for certain weights, and yours seems to fit that bill! Surge brakes are fine and one of the cheaper ways to go. I recommend a flush kit with those brakes. S/S disc brakes are the way to go, but cost considerably more. Good brands are Kodiac and Tie down,check there web sites for more info. Shop around, try this guy, he sells from his home and you might be able to bartter.www.cmtrailerparts.ca
Good luck !

 

[Red Monster]

I think this topic belongs in the trailer forum.

Remember, it's called "fishing," not "catching."

 

[flytyer]

So on that note.

I have the standard hyd brakes and find that even with rinsing them every time i return, i find that the wheel cyliners always start leaking, and the adjusters rust. Has anyone done the conversion to stainless disc yet? I have an ez 3100# trailer and have started to look at the cost. Replace your entire backing plate with new hyd systems every few years or change up to a newer system ??? HMMMMM.

[8D][8D]

cheers

 

[gpspowell]

Eventually my electric drum brakes will come to the end of their useful life. If can afford it, I will replace the entire system with an electric over hydraulic system and stainless discs. When I go to Ucluelet it's 1700 miles of highway, each way. Normal fishing is 500 miles away over the Rocky Mountains at Lake Powell, Utah.

 

[profisher]

My Shorelandr 5800lb trailer is 5 years old now..it has disc brakes as standard equipment...not SS but a non-rusting alloy. They have worked flawlessly..all I've done is torn them down, lubed the slides and reassembled. They still work as new... pads show 1/2 life left. The other nice thing about this brand is they come with dropped axles so the boat sits lower on the trailer...makes for easier launching and retrieve. The roller system is awesome..I did have to add a keel roller assembly to the rear axle as I launch at a fairly flat ramp and the keel would rub on the axle pad with a lot of the boats weight on it. I had to go to Alberta to get this 2nd Shorlandr that I've owned as there are no dealers in BC anymore.

 

[Little Hawk]

SH's;

Not sure where you live but if you are here on the South Island go and see Rick at Empire Welding on Goldstream.

He really knows his stuff and will fix you up for a real GOOD price.

(no, I don't get a commission!)

 

[Sharphooks]

hello, Gents

Thanks for all the responses. I appreciate the info. Hey Mods: Sorry about not placing this in the trailer section: my bad.

Later