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Question 361584

Best Brake Option For Boat Trailer With Surge Brakes That Overheat and Drag On Steep Hills

Updated 06/11/2019 | Published 06/08/2019

Products Featured in This Question

Double Lip Seal for 3,700-lb Marine Hubs

(178)

$16.54

Curt Echo Wireless Brake Controller - 7-Way Plug-in w/ Bluetooth App - Up to 2 Axles - Proportional

(1769)

$279.95

Hydrastar Marine Electric Over Hydraulic Actuator w/ Breakaway and 7-Way RV Harness - 1,600 psi

(84)

$904.45

Kodiak Disc Brake Kit - 10" Hub/Rotor - 5 on 4-1/2 - Dacromet - 3,500 lbs

(90)

$521.79

Grease Seal - Double Lip - ID 1.719" / OD 2.565" - for 3,500-lb Axles - Qty 2

(2618)

$6.23

Question:

Every couple years I redo drum brakes. This year a pad is cracked that I replaced 2 years ago. The big issue is overheating on yearly trip through steep canyons in hot easter WA 100 degrees out. Surge compression tend to engage brakes down steep canyons so I tend to back off brake adjustments to limit drag but still assist hard braking. Options I am considering: 1. Disc brakes but concerned surge with auto adjusting may be worse downhill 2. Electric over hydraulic but concerned that others also need to tow the boat Any other suggestions? Trailer is double axle from VM Custom Boat Trailers Fresno CA. Drum brakes are on front axle only using UFP Trailer Buddy System: - 3750# axle - 5 Bolt 10inch drum 14inch rims - 4 Bolt mount to axle 2inch 7/8 spacing center to center - Bearings Inner: L68149/L68110, Outer: L44649/L44610 - Inner Seal - Double Lip: 2.56x1.68 - Outer Seal - 2inch Bearing Buddy - Hydraulic Surge Actuator: A-70 - Hydraulic lines mostly tube but hoses at axles for flexibility Empty boat is 4400 lbs across axles on weight station 21foot 2005 Ski Centurion. I tow using 2017 Expedition with heavy tow package has dash trailer controls. It would be great to get a recommended parts list for both options. Thanks!

asked by: DaveR

Expert Reply:

The best option for your situation is to convert to electric over hydraulic with disc brakes because you have a brake controller to activate the brakes which gives you more adjust-ability on steep hills. Disc brakes cannot be manually adjusted however the brake controller gives you more control so the brakes do not stop as hard which should reduce the excessive heat buildup. They also have fewer moving parts compared to drum brakes so the maintenance is lower.

To add electric over hydraulic brakes to your boat trailer I recommend Kodiak Disc Brake Kit part # K2HR35D because of its caliper design. The calipers are designed so the piston retracts farther than other calipers for low-drag and a cooler-running brake. They are also dacromet-plated for corrosion resistance on boat trailers. You will need grease seals part # RG06-050. You would then need to add an electric over hydraulic Hydrastar Marine actuator kit part # HS381-9067. This kit comes with everything you need to wire the actuator and the breakaway kit.

The final competent that you need is a brake controller. I recommend the Curt Echo part # C51180 as long as the vehicle has a 7-way connector with an active 12-volt power circuit and this brake controller can be easily transferred from vehicle to vehicle. It plugs in line with the 7-way and can be controlled with a smart phone or tablet. I have attached a video for your reference.

Switching to hydraulic disc brakes will give you more stopping power and convenience because they are less maintenance but they are not going to give you the adjust-ability that you are looking for. If you decide to go with the hydraulic disc brakes, you can use the disc brakes part # K2HR35D and a hydraulic disc brake actuator part # T47154207K. You can use your same brake line kit.