• If you currently own, previously owned or want to own an Avalanche, we welcome you to become a member today. Membership is FREE, register now!

TOWING WITH SURGE BRAKES

mslater

mslater

Full Member
Joined
Mar 3, 2007
Messages
52
Location
kalamazoo mi.
i just bought an 03....2500.....3.73...i will be towing a boat that weighs around 9000 pounds.....i have the stock hitch setup  ...i know i need to use my old weight equalizer ....i was wondering if this works with the surgre brakes on the trailer?? when i towed the boat with the old sub. i never needed weight equalizers
 
i quess i mean when i hook up the chain and bars on my weight distributig hitch....does it hinder the way surge brakes work by not letting tounge of trailer slide  foreward to engage the surge  brake as easy as if no weght distributing hitch  ?
 
Contrary to what many will tell you surge brakes work with weight distributing hitches.? Most brake actuators require very little travel to work.? If the hitch is set up properly the brakes will work fine.
? Check with the actuator manual about WD set up most tell you to leave at least 5 links between the bars and the snap up brackets to allow for movement.? ?You don't want the chains to be angled to far forward or back either.? This will have a tendency to keep the brakes from working or to keep them from releasing depending on which way the chains are.
Read this: http://boards.trailerboats.com/cgi-...imatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=7;t=000028#000003
 
If you have brand which is called " Equal-i-zer" their add states it works with surge brakes.  The Prodigy does not, it is for electric brakes.
 
thanks for the imfo....since i posted the question i have done more research on the topic of weight distributing hitches used with surge brakes..seems many manufactors dont recommend it whith the chain type hookup like i have... many say talk to trailer manufactor see what they suggest...i tried to find PRESTIGE Trailer(what i have) must be out of bussines...so iam really confused...what do others use to tow their big boats???
 
Prestige Boat Trailers...


Prestige Trailers can be reached at the addresses and numbers below. We are normally in the office 9:00am - 5:00pm, Monday - Friday (CST). You can use the contact form for questions or
e-mail us at any time.

Postal Mail:
      Prestige Trailers, Inc.
    500 South Madison
    DuQuoin, IL 62832
Phone:
      (61:cool: 542-8313
Fax:
      (61:cool: 542-8039
E-mail:
      contact@prestigetrailers.com

    Texas Facility
    1000 Progress Drive
    Atlanta, Texas 75551
Phone:
      (903) 796-8313
Fax:
      (903) 796-3005

website
 
thanks wildfire for that imfo i couldn't find it...i just e-mailed them to see what they suggest...i also went thru the thread SHOW US WHAT YOU TOW looks like many pepole are towing heavy loads without weight distributing hitches..either that or they have changed out original equip.i really have to find answer soon since i need to get my boat out of storage..
 
My Prestige boat trailer works well with the weight distributing hitch.
Prestige told me it might reduce the braking on the trailer but I have not found this to be true.  My trailer has disc brakes on all four wheels and will stop on a dime and give you 2 cents change back.......that may be a slight exageration.  If you get into a panic stopping situation it will lock the wheels for a second and stop very quickly.  Much better than the drum surge brake trailers I have driven before.
I would not hesitate to try my WD hitch on your boat, if the brakes are effected then you will know.  I would not waste my money(about twice the cost) on the Equalizer brand hitch just because they say it is compatible.  In my opinion all WD hitches are compatable with most surge brake systems if set up right.

Happy towing and boating.
 
prestige trailer just answered my e-mail about towing boat....they said the brakes wold be 30% less effective with a chain type weight distributing hitch...so i guess the easiest fix is to buy a new hitch so i dont need weight distribution...
 
Don't understand how a new hitch would be the answer unless it was a wdh that would work safely [which is the only consideration] with surge brakes. The purpose of a wdh is to transfer some weight from the rear wheels on to the front wheels so that the truck will steer and stop safely.  If your  towing short distance at low speeds this may not be needed. If you will be towing longer distance at higher speed get the one that will give you the best braking.  Have safe towing and tell us about it.
 
That's not the only answere. I have used a WD hitch with surge brakes with no problems. Also, you could convert the trailer to electric over hydraulic which I have used on an older Airstream trailer. On the the Airstream it was originally vacuum over hydraulic which newer(since 80 to 90?) vehicles aren't compatible with, vacuum system can't handle it. The electric over hydraulic system seemed like the smoothest braking system on any trailer I've ever experienced.

Here is a place that has a controller for this on page 35 of there pdf catalog, it's not the kind I used but that was about 10 years ago and I can't find it right now.
http://www.championtrailers.com/
 
they said the brakes wold be 30% less effective with a chain type weight distributing hitch
Click to expand...

Byron Wink  A VP of Prestige trailers told me the same thing.  I have found no difference on my 2005 Prestige trailer with UFP actuator and disc brakes. 
Try it out and see for your self.

Biggest problem with Surge and WD is poor set up.  You need to make sure you have enough free chain to let the actuator work.  Most WD manufacturers recommend 5 free links anyway.  If you have the free chain and the chains are straight when the actuator is compressed like when braking they work great.

Only one way to find out is to try it out for yourself.

Good Luck
 
thanks for all the advice... i think it would be a pain backing down some of the steep boat ramps that i use with a weight distributing hitch ,and i dont think i dare to without it....so i think i will try to find a Putnam hitch that every one was recommending on some other threads..
 
If your truck does not sit level when towing with the OEM hitch it is not going to sit level with the Putnam hitch.  That is what a wdh is for.  The Putnam hitch will let you carry more hitch weight where  the wdh lets you move some of the hitch weight to the front of the truck and to the trailer.
 
yes i understand that ...its the surge brakes that dont work as they are designed while using a weight distributing hitch...that is the problem
 
Don't know about others but the wdh called the "Equal-i-zer" does,  that is why I went with it.  They will tell you this in writing.  I would not go with one if the manufacture would not say it would work. It is a safety issue and if you have an accident you could have a problem with your insurance.  The point I previously have made is also a safety issue. If you have to much weight on rear wheels and not enough weight on the front wheels you truck may not steer or stop safely
 
i already own a reese weight distributing hitch,and am to cheap to spend the $300-$400 for the Equalizer brand....i havent gotten my boat out of storage yet to know if i need one to make my truck sit level...only that Chevy says its too much weight for their hitch.so i figure the first step is replace the hitch for $134 hopefully that will be it...
 
From Draw Tite WD hitch Instructions:
Draw tite and Reese owned by same company I couldn't find Reese instructions
NOTE: SURGE BRAKES
Surge brakes usually require a small amount of fore-aft movement for their actuating mechanisms to
function. To avoid restricting movement, it may be necessary to increase the number of chain links
between the lift units and the spring bars. CHECK TRAILER AND/OR SURGE BRAKE OPERATING
INSTRUCTIONS FOR SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS REGARDING WEIGHT DISTRIBUTING HITCHES.
Click to expand...

From same instructions on set up:
There must be at least 6 links between the lift unit and the spring bar. This is necessary for
proper operation of the spring bars during turns, If there are less than 6 links, the angle of the head
assembly must be increased.
Click to expand...

From UFP Actuator instructions(used on Prestige Boat trailers):
WEIGHT DISTRIBUTING HITCHES
Weight distributing (equalizing) hitches may be used. Chain must be vertical (straight up
and down) under pulling load (actuator extended). Excessive tongue weight beyond
actuator rating must be avoided as it will reduce brake performance and could damage
the actuator. Always follow hitch and weight distributing manufacturer?s instructions.
Click to expand...

I think you are worrying too much about this, hook the thing up and try it out.? I am pretty sure if you follow the instructions from the trailer boats forum linked above you will have great success.?

Changing your hitch will not give you any advantage that I see.? The truck is rated to tow 5000 pounds or 500 pounds tongue weight without WD hitch no matter what hitch you use.? The weight distributing hitch will make it a safer combination and a pleasure to drive.


 
thanks for all the input ...your probably right....i have had a couple times where i lost my surge brakes pulling my 9000# boat with my old suburban it drove me sideways thru an intersection...never want to experience that again..........
 
Let us know how the towing goes.

By the way Prestige trailers offers electric brakes as a no cost option on a new trailer.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top