Boat trailer brakes locking up.

MitchF150 wrote:
What do you mean "there is nothing to keep it in"???

You put the pin in when backing up. Take it out when your are going forward.

The pin should hold itself in when you put it in??

What you are experiencing is the 'surge brake' type of system and the hitch slides forward slightly when you brake and that applies the trailer brakes.

Putting the pin in keeps it from sliding forward, so the trailer brakes do not apply.

You don't keep the pin all the time... Just when backing up.

Mitch

Agree 100%, the brakes are doing exactly what they are designed to do. By going up the driveway you are exerting force on the trailer tongue thereby putting on the brakes. The pin installed when backing keeps that from happening. The same as when you are going down the road and put your brakes on. The TV stops but the trailer wants to keep going exerting force on the trailer tongue thereby putting on the brakes. Just remember to remove the pin when going forward or they will not work. JMO

What do you mean "there is nothing to keep it in"???

You put the pin in when backing up. Take it out when your are going forward.

The pin should hold itself in when you put it in??

What you are experiencing is the 'surge brake' type of system and the hitch slides forward slightly when you brake and that applies the trailer brakes.

Putting the pin in keeps it from sliding forward, so the trailer brakes do not apply.

You don't keep the pin all the time... Just when backing up.

Mitch

It is a royal PIA. I have the same type of trailer that uses a 5-pin connector. If your TV is not wired with a 5-pin connection, you must insert that metal thingy in the slot to be able to back up without having the brakes lock up. I use duct tape to hold it in place.

If your TV has a 7-pin connection, you can buy an adapter and you won't have to worry about locking up your brakes when backing up.

What holds the lockout pin in? Are you saying always carry a roll of tape?

realter wrote:
I just brought a new boat trailer home, and when backing UP the driveway, the surge brakes prevent me from backing at all. Supposidely you put that little thingy in the hitch, but there is nothing to keep it in. I had to wrap some tape around it, but that would seem to defeat the purpose of the trailer brakes. Any suggestions?

Why do you need trailer brakes when backing up? :h I would just put the lockout pin in when backing up.