Can a Trailer Use Both a Brake Actuator and Electric Brakes

Updated 10/17/2011 | Published 10/15/2011

Question:

I bought a used trailer and it came with and actuator and electric brakes, the brakes aare connected to a Tekonsha controller and the actuator is locked. Can a trailer use both actuator and electric brakes?

asked by: Jean A

Expert Reply:

A trailer can have electric-over-hydraulic brakes. This system will use an electric brake controller to send a signal from the tow vehicle to an actuator when the brakes are applied. The signal triggers the pump and motor on the actuator and activates the trailer brakes.

The actuator on an electric-over-hydraulic will look like the Titan BrakeRite I Plug and Play Electric-Hydraulic Actuator Kit, part # T4813102. It will not look like a brake actuator coupler that is used on surge brake systems and bolts to the trailer tongue. If you have drum breaks, you will add a reducer to the # T4813102. The reducer is part # T4844100.

On a surge brake system, the brake actuator that is used, is activated by the trailer moving forward when the tow vehicle is decelerating. It applies force to the master cylinder in the actuator, which will then apply hydraulic pressure to engage the trailers brakes.

You might want to check if you have hydraulic brakes or electric brakes on your trailer. Electric brakes will use a magnet to apply the brake shoes.

Somebody might have switched the brakes over to electric brakes from hydraulic on your trailer and just disconnected the brake actuator from the trailer brakes.

expert reply by: Jeff D