Tow Dolly Woe

At that price get rid of it and buy a new dolly WITHOUT brakes. I have used this set up for 20+ years and have yet to have the first problem.

mkirsch wrote:


If the OP is dragged down a boat dock by his car, something is very very wrong.

But don't ignore human ingenuity. Just las week on youtbe I run into video of a boat, who I would estimate at least 15,000 lb, with about 12' width towed by F150.
The best point was going via 11' wide tool gates.

The whole "It's illegal" discussion is irrelevant here, because this is for a car dolly, not a commercial trailer, and not in BC.

If the OP is dragged down a boat dock by his car, something is very very wrong.

JIMNLIN wrote:


However lots of non commercial trailers with surge brakes on the road. I watched a guy on a really steep boat ramp get drug backwards. The rig didn't stop till the heavy boat was mostly floating..

When electric brakes might stop it at the situation, I doubt electric coils would like to be submerged on long run.
I have seen electric over hydraulic brake system on boat trailer, but that was aftermarket conversion. For some reasons manufacturers don't do it.
I just bought new tow dolly with surge brakes and even before I was able to use it, I've got "recall" notice.
Lower caliper bolts require torqueing. I have several wrench sets, but none of traditional wrenches would fit between bolt and frame. I had to make 12-point turns with open wrench, what gave me limited torque.
Having very small space, the design is very packed, so I don't blame shops don't want to work of them for liability reasons.

Surge brakes aren't allowed for commercial trailers down here per dot regs....
"Any trailer with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 12,000
pounds or less, when its GVWR does not exceed 1.75 times the GVWR of the
towing vehicle;"

However lots of non commercial trailers with surge brakes on the road. I watched a guy on a really steep boat ramp get drug backwards. The rig didn't stop till the heavy boat was mostly floating.

Many shops simply don't have the space to work on tall large vehicles.
Big rig trailer repair shops around here handle trailers of all types and sizes for that type of work...or even commercial vehicle yearly inspections.

they still alow them down there? surge brkes on a trailer with a weight capacity over 6160lbs are ileagle up here as they dont meet the requirment of being able to be aplied independently of the two vehicle brakes.

Although, generally when I hear $600 per (anything) to have someone do something for me, my first thought is how long would it take and how much would it cost to do it myself.

Good time to buy a set of wrenches and watch a Utoob video or 2!
Couple the relative uniqueness of a tow dolly vs more common vehicles and trailers with the recent upswing in business and downswing in employees willing to work and the rest of the screwy economy and I could see it being a challenge to get someone to work on it.

I came to suggest calling the boat dealers too, glad other already said it. While mine doesn't work on the trailers, they do inspect as part of my spring service. We have a bunch of trailer sales places (not RVs) but only 2 shops that service and they both seem to be of the mindset that they are only going to service as many as they can and they won't be pressured. As mleekamp suggested get to know them and develop a relationship if you can. I tried with one, failed he made it abundantly clear he services what he sells and not the other guys. :(

A lot of boat trailers use surge brakes. Check with the boat dealers.