Tandem Tow & Electric Brakes on 2nd Trailer?

[Bionic_Man]

Does anyone have experience towing tandem and using electric trailer brakes on the 2nd trailer?

My usual haul is my 32' fifthwheel followed by my 21' boat. My boat currently has surge brakes with discs on both axles. I'm having trouble with the brakes on the boat trailer and am considering going to electric, but I want to make sure it will work properly. I've spoken with a couple of folks that say no problem, and a couple that say that it will negatively effect both the 5er brakes as well as the boat trailer brakes. And, just to get it out of the way, I am happy with the integrated trailer brake controller on my RAM and I am not interested in changing from it.

What say the experts here?

Moderator edit to re-size picture to forum limit of 640px maximum size.

[carringb]

You'll need a hydraulic actuator for your boat trailer. I know you cannot parallel one of those with electric drum brakes because they use different signals. Also, some factory brake controllers are not compatible with some hydraulic actuators anyways.

I would suggest adding a 2nd controller to the truck for the boat trailer. Should make setup easier too.

Now, if you change your boat to electric drums, then you can run it all off one controller. But electric drums don't like being submerged, and hydraulic discs are much better anyways.

[dbbls]

No experience with brakes on the second trailer, but most states have a length limit. Looks like you will exceed any limit I have seen. Limits generally range from 60 to 70 feet.