Will Electric Trailer Dolly Work On Boat Trailer Surge Brakes Or Will It Lock Up When Backing Up?

Updated 10/20/2025 | Published 10/13/2025

Products Featured in This Question

Parkit360 Transformer Electric Trailer Dolly with Kingpin and Hitch Adapter - Wireless - 15,000 lbs

(4)

$4800.00

Hopkins Multi-Tow Trailer Connector Adapter - 7-Way to 5-Wire Flat/4-Wire Flat and 12-V Power Socket

(118)

$23.94

Parkit360 Force Electric Trailer Dolly - 5,000 lbs

(46)

$1600.00

Question:

my boat trailer has surge brakes, can i use this dolly or will it lock up when i try to back it up? , John

asked by: John

Expert Reply:

That’s a great question John, and one a lot of folks run into. The Parkit360 dollies like 5K # PA96VR and 10K # PA66VR can absolutely move a trailer with surge brakes, but you’ll need to keep the actuator from engaging in reverse. The dolly’s 7-way Smart Brake plug doesn’t connect to a surge coupler unless you adapt it.

If your trailer uses a 5-flat plug, you can pair the dolly with a 7-way to 5-way adapter like the Hopkins # HM47675. That lets the dolly send 12V power through the reverse-light circuit to your lockout solenoid, so the brakes don’t grab when backing up.
If you don’t have a solenoid, you’ll need to use the manual pin lockout on the actuator and won't actually use a 7 way to 5 way adapter at all since you wouldn't be needing electrical power with no solenoid.

What kind of surge coupler do you have now - is it electric lockout or mechanical?

expert reply by: Andrew N

John

10/20/2025

Got it, mine has the manual pin style lockout, so I guess I don’t need the adapter then?

Andrew N.

10/20/2025

@John Exactly, John - with a manual pin lockout, you’re all set. Just slide the pin in place before using the dolly so the actuator can’t compress, and the brakes will stay released while backing.

John

10/20/2025

@AndrewN So the trailer’s brakes won’t work then… does the Parkit360 have any way to stop the trailer on its own?

Andrew N.

10/20/2025

@John Good question, John! Yes, the Parkit360 handles its own braking. Both the Force and Transformer models have a built-in Smart Brake system that automatically stops the trailer as soon as you release the throttle. It holds the load steady even on slight grades, so you don’t rely on the trailer’s surge brakes at all while maneuvering. Even if the dolly battery dies, it defaults to a gearing lockup for safety so it can't roll away.