This trailer uses a set of surge brakes for controlled stops.
Many trailerable boats, especially powerboats and small keeled sailboats, are heavy and are a challenge for the brakes of your tow vehicle. Going down a hill with a heavy trailer pushing your car, SUV or truck, your vehicle’s brake system can easily be overpowered. Your stopping distance can become excessive, your brakes may overheat and you can start to swerve from side to side, putting you, your passengers, your boat and other motorists in danger.
Trailer brakes are required above certain weight limits by laws that vary from state to state. See a section of the American Automobile Association’s Digest of Motor Laws, or check with your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles, to determine the requirements in your state.
Brakes can be added to an axle that does not have brakes if the axle has brake flanges welded to the axle. These flanges are metal plates with four holes for 10" brakes and five holes for 12" brakes. According to Tie Down Engineering, it is not advisable to try to weld these on. The brake flanges must be straight and 90° to the spindle. If they are not “square” to the spindle, the brakes will not center properly in the brake hub or rotor and this will create wear problems.
Brake actuating trailer coupler for surge brakes.
If your trailer is equipped with hydraulic surge brakes, the brakes are activated by the surge actuator/coupler located at the front end of the trailer tongue. When your tow vehicle stops, the trailer pushes into the tow vehicle, compressing the master cylinder that is located inside the actuator, forcing the fluid to the drum or disc brakes. Inside each brake is a wheel cylinder that expands with the surge of brake fluid, pushing the brake shoe against the inside of the drum or squeezing the caliper tight over the disc.
Surge brakes are entirely self-contained within the trailer and need no electrical or hydraulic connections to the car. Surge brakes are a passive system, acting only after the car has begun to slow down. This results in a split second of delay during which the trailer load pushes the car, requiring a longer distance to stop your rig.
Electric brake systems are controlled by the car’s brake pedal pressure and require an electric brake controller in your car. When you step on the brake pedal the brake lights come on and voltage is simultaneously sent to the trailer’s electromagnetic actuators, engaging the brakes. The trailer always brakes first, and this positive brake action is safer for downhill driving and quick stops.
However, few boat trailers are equipped with electric brakes, but they’re used on many RV and utility trailers. RV-grade systems, with painted automotive-grade components, are not intended for submersion, especially in salt water. Submerging a pair of electromagnet actuators and their wiring is generally regarded with the suspicion that occurs whenever you mix water with electricity. Tie Down Engineering does not recommend their electric brakes for marine applications.
Emergency breakaway system: Federal law requires all trailers with brakes to have a system that automatically applies the brakes if the trailer detaches from the tow vehicle. Surge brake systems use a mechanical cable or chain connected to the tow vehicle that activates the master cylinder. Electric brake systems use a battery-operated activator that energizes the electromagnets in the wheels. These kits often include a battery and charger, emergency switch and battery case in one package.
Disc vs. drum brakes: Trailer brakes are either disc or drum brakes. Disc brakes can replace most drum systems with minimum modifications and offer the following advantages over drum brakes:
Disc brakes require a higher static brake line pressure to operate than drum brakes, which begin to grab at lower pressure. Drum brakes are more effective for lighter boats.
Eliminator disc brakes have vented rotors and fit trailers with 13", 14" or 15" wheels.
Drum brakes come in two styles, Uni-Servo and Free Backing.
Uni-Servo brakes, with a single-pushrod wheel cylinder, retain about 20 percent of their braking ability in reverse. They should be connected to a reverse lock-out solenoid for backing up an incline or over soft ground.
Free Backing brakes have a unique design that moves the front brake shoe away from the drum when backing. This lets the trailer roll free when backing up, but they have no braking power, so your tow vehicle’s brakes carry the entire load.
Reverse lock-out solenoid switch: Disc brakes maintain 100 percent of their braking force in both directions and require a reverse lock-out solenoid switch to disengage them when going in reverse. Solenoid switches, like Free Backing drum brakes, render your trailer brakeless when you are backing down a slope or a ramp.
Vented rotors: Brakes work using friction. Friction creates heat. Vented disc brake rotors have a hollow cage design that allows air inside to keep the system running cooler.
Corrosion resistance: Corroded brake systems are prone to failure. If you have to immerse your trailer in saltwater to launch your boat, make sure your brakes are corrosion-resistant galvanized or stainless steel systems. Inexpensive flushing system kits extend the life of your drum brakes.
Thoroughly rinse the brake system with fresh water after wet launching your boat. Freshwater flushing systems that attach to your garden hose are the easiest way to keep your system clean. At West Marine, we also offer Salt-Away, salt removing treatment in spray bottles for flushing outboard engines, which also works well to prevent corrosion on trailer brakes. If you are confident, mechanically inclined, and have some familiarity with hydraulic systems (bleeding lines, for example) upgrading or replacing brake components may be a backyard project for you.
Diamond C offers three types of brakes: Electric Drum, Electric Over Hydraulic Drum, and Electric Over Hydraulic Disc brakes. Below are some helpful tips for choosing the right brakes for your trailer.
BREAK-IN PERIOD MANUALElectric drum brakes are the utility and flatbed trailer industry standard for trailer braking systems. They are controlled by an in-cab controller that comes standard on many of today’s trucks and SUVs. Electric drum brakes are well suited for most general use applications – trailers that are used moderately within their capacity and towed with some regularity. If you plan to use your trailer aggressively in relation to its PAYLOAD CAPACITY and plan to tow it on a more regular basis, then keep scrolling to see our electric over hydraulic brake options below.
(VALCRUM caps come standard on all 8-16K axles)Electric Drum Brakes require a proper BREAK-IN PERIOD to achieve full performance. Watch below for a step-by-step guide from Lippert Axles on the proper burnishing procedures.
Electric over hydraulic drum brakes are similar in that they are controlled by the same in-cab controller as standard electric drum brakes. They also share the same actual drum braking components. Where they differ is that instead of electromagnetic force being utilized to help slow the trailer, the electric pulse from the tow vehicle activates a small hydraulic pump that sends fluid into the drum to forcefully apply braking pressure.
Electric over hydraulic disc brakes are similar to both previous brake types in that they are operated by an in-cab controller. However, disc brakes are what avid heavy-duty trailers users would describe as “the ultimate” when it comes to trailer braking systems. They use the same hydraulic force we mentioned in electric over hydraulic drum Brakes for better braking pressure, but where they differ is the use of disc (rotor) / caliper braking components instead of the drums. Disc brakes provide increased stopping power over drums. In addition, disc brakes are more cost-effective when it comes to upkeep and preventative maintenance over time. With disc brakes, you can replace individual brake pads versus replacing the more costly full drum braking assembly.
We are proud to partner with DEEMAXX COMPONENTS for all our 7K – 16K Disc Brakes.
(Download DeeMaxx Flyer)
If you are a gooseneck HOT SHOT trailer user who has put in a lot of miles over the years, we highly recommend hydraulic disc brakes.
In early 2021 we announced the 16K Electric over Hydraulic Disc Brake option. This industry-first option has been a long time coming, resulting from a 2-year collaborative journey between Diamond C and LIPPERT. These 16K Disc Brakes are now available on all FMAX216, SDX216, & PX216 models.
Tune in below for the whole story:
Watch the video below for a step-by-step process and guide to correctly bleeding hydraulic brakes on your trailer.
Watch as Jacob highlights important maintenance tips for your disc brakes and gives tips on maintaining the correct oil level on your hubs.
Ready to build your trailer with your choice of brake selection? Click below to view and price all our trailer models:
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