what is the word on surge brakes?

[rsmith]

hi

just bought a very used (but nice) 88 sunlite sable PU.  i was told it has surge brakes.

does anyone know about them other than they "go on" when pressure is applied to tongue?

are they any good?  do they help?  do they need maintenance?

thanks for any help with this.

bob, tina, bobby and elizabeth

[Tim5055]

Surge brakes are a hydraulic brake that is activated by the forward pressure of the trailer against the hitch as the tow vehicle begins to slow. They are often referred to as a less complicated system because you do not need special wiring between the tow vehicle and trailer or the installation on an in cab controller. They are actually a fairly good braking system, but with the simplicity comes a couple of drawbacks:

1.They do not allow the driver to independently control the brakes from the drivers seat as electric brakes allow you to.

2. In most surge brake systems you must exit the vehicle and disable the brakes before you can back up.

With these two things in mind, they do actually work very well and have some advantages; they don't have as much to go wrong (less maintenance) and the wheels can be submerged in water (think boat trailer) without damaging the brakes. Surge brakes are "true" proportional brakes, the harder the tow vehicle stops, the more pressure is applied to the tongue and the brake's actuator thus causing the brakes to increase braking pressure

As with any brakes, it is friction that makes you stop so thee is maintenance.  The first thing that comes to mind is shoes and the drums but there are probably other things like fluid levels and making sure all of the hoses are in good shape.

Does the axle/brakes have a sticker on them to identify the manufacturer?  If so they may still be around and be able to provide information on the running gear.

[tlhdoc]

Tim filled you in on the brakes, so I would like to say congratulations on the new PU!

[birol]

Congratulations on the new PU. I hope you will have many nice camping days in it.

[Gone-Camping]

Having had a couple of trailers with surge brakes, I think the "back-up" comment above needs a little "enlightenment"....

I've never found it necesary to get out and do anything to the brakes in order to back up. The reason is, the brakes work on pressure, and perhaps a sudden rearward push on the trailer might activate them, but under normal backing conditions the pressure actuated coupler doesn't move enough to engage the brakes.
 
However, if you are backing up with them still engaged, and press the trailer wheels against a root or rock in the drive, this could make the coupler actuator engage the brakes. In two years of towing (and backing) I only ran into this problem once, and at most it was a minor irritation.
 
The electric brakes are more popular, and provide some independant control as was pointed out above. But you also need to add an electric brake controller, and the good one cost upwards of $100....
 
For a starter trailer, I think the surge brakes will serve you well. I believe Jayco still equips most of their units with them (but have an electric brake option). There are also a few souls out there that might tell you they have been outlawed, but that is only so in larger commercial trailers.
 
And congratulations on the trailer, & welcome to the Pop-up world!

[jaycocamprs]

We have surge brakes on our 99 Jayco. As Gone-Camping stated, backing up isn't a real problem.  We have had to disengage them backing uphill a couple of times.  And they work pretty well.  We've had a couple of very close calls in the last 4 years and they worked great!  Of course, we were pretty tied up in knots!  It's a scary feeling when you're traveling 55-60 mph and have to hit the brakes that hard!

[rsmith]

thank you everyone!!!

one more question:  how do i disable them if it comes to that?

thanks again

[jaycocamprs]

Ours has a lever on the side of the coupler. The thing that I have found the most trouble is that the lever can't be moved to the "lock out" position if the coupler has any forward pressure, and that if you need to pull up it will disengage. I have on tied the lever in the "lock out" position upon entering the campground or circled that loop and locked it on a up hill several times.