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.

[Bionic_Man]

transamz9 wrote:

Bionic Man wrote:
There really isn't anyplace to grease the tongue on the trailer.

I was also worried about the actuator sticking, but it didn't seem to be doing so.

With the research I did, I couldn't convince myself to pull the trigger and switch from hydraulic to electric. So, I now have 4 new hubs and rotors, 8 new calipers, 4 new disc brake pads, and new bearings.

I usually say that BOAT means Best Of All Times, but today it was the old addage of Break Out Another Thousand (almost exactly).

If you did all that, why not change out the tongue parts too? That is more than likely where your problem is coming from.

The tongue tested to be working fine. Getting ready to leave on a 500 mile one way trip, so that will be a good test.

[wittmeba]

I think you will have more problems with electric brakes if you back into the water. Id find the problem with the surge system and get it fixed. It should work fine.

Dont think you can use 1 controller for 2 sets of brakes - they may take different settings. And that would be like having a controller for 8 brakes which some wont handle.


Here is some brake controller information - includes a little info on Hydraulic Brake Actuators Mfgs (mainly Dexter, Carlisle & Kodiak).
http://gotnarcosis.com/brucewittmeier/technical/BrakeControllerSelection.html

[transamz9]

Bionic Man wrote:
There really isn't anyplace to grease the tongue on the trailer.

I was also worried about the actuator sticking, but it didn't seem to be doing so.

With the research I did, I couldn't convince myself to pull the trigger and switch from hydraulic to electric. So, I now have 4 new hubs and rotors, 8 new calipers, 4 new disc brake pads, and new bearings.

I usually say that BOAT means Best Of All Times, but today it was the old addage of Break Out Another Thousand (almost exactly).

If you did all that, why not change out the tongue parts too? That is more than likely where your problem is coming from.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

I would go electric over hydraulic. A trailer place I take my trailer to for repairs was doing a conversion and I saw the results. It was NICE and worked even better.

[_40Fan]

BurbMan wrote:

Bionic Man wrote:
I know what my overall length is and I also know what the laws are in the states I tow.

...yet you mention neither, LOL.

I outlined the photo's vehicle, trailer, and crank down jack in an AutoCad 3D transparency overlay on my engineering computer and then rotated into sky view and WALLA!

It is shorter than mine and longer than yours. 😄

[BurbMan]

Bionic Man wrote:
I know what my overall length is and I also know what the laws are in the states I tow.

...yet you mention neither, LOL.

Good luck with the brake job, as was stated if the pads were that thin it could have been messing with the surge actuator.

[carringb]

My brother had a 24' Monterey Cabin cruiser, and the trailer brakes would always drag coming down the Portland freeways unless he tapped the throttle to make them release.

[Bionic_Man]

There really isn't anyplace to grease the tongue on the trailer.

I was also worried about the actuator sticking, but it didn't seem to be doing so.

With the research I did, I couldn't convince myself to pull the trigger and switch from hydraulic to electric. So, I now have 4 new hubs and rotors, 8 new calipers, 4 new disc brake pads, and new bearings.

I usually say that BOAT means Best Of All Times, but today it was the old addage of Break Out Another Thousand (almost exactly).

[transamz9]

Bionic Man wrote:
Thanks to those who have replied to my topic.

In regard to the off topic issue, I know what my overall length is and I also know what the laws are in the states I tow. I hope this does not continue off my topic. I know that subjects like this always are steered off topic by those that are adverse to tandem towing.

The problem that I have is that for some reason the brakes on the trailer were dragging during my last trip (I was towing the boat solo). The trailer needs new rotors and brake pads. This is the second time in 10 years that this has happened, and I know that if I had electric brakes I would not have this problem.

I live in Colorado, and do not boat in brakish or salt water. I know that most high-end boats now come with electric trailer brakes. Heritage, who makes my boat trailer, offers it as an option, so there is no problem with using electric brakes in this type of a marine environment.

I haven't decided yet what I want to do, although I am leaning towards just fixing what I have now (disc surge brakes on both axles) as I have a trip with the boat next week and need to get it fixed before I go.

It sounds to me like your actuator is sticking. This happens most of the time from the actuator traveling too far from either air in the system or the pads worn down. Also there should be a shock absorber in the tongue that should if working properly help keep this from happening under panic stops. One more thing, you do keep the tongue greased correct?

[Bionic_Man]

Thanks to those who have replied to my topic.

In regard to the off topic issue, I know what my overall length is and I also know what the laws are in the states I tow. I hope this does not continue off my topic. I know that subjects like this always are steered off topic by those that are adverse to tandem towing.

The problem that I have is that for some reason the brakes on the trailer were dragging during my last trip (I was towing the boat solo). The trailer needs new rotors and brake pads. This is the second time in 10 years that this has happened, and I know that if I had electric brakes I would not have this problem.

I live in Colorado, and do not boat in brakish or salt water. I know that most high-end boats now come with electric trailer brakes. Heritage, who makes my boat trailer, offers it as an option, so there is no problem with using electric brakes in this type of a marine environment.

I haven't decided yet what I want to do, although I am leaning towards just fixing what I have now (disc surge brakes on both axles) as I have a trip with the boat next week and need to get it fixed before I go.

[foneguy493]

well i would not do that, because, electric brakes going into the water, or worse salt water is very bad !!! that is why you have surge brakes on all marine trailers, but if it were me i would go iin parellel or use 2 controllers. but still i reccomment avoiding electric brakes on your boat trailer

[byronlj]

Fix your surge brakes. It will be cheaper and probably work better.
Dave

[KD4UPL]

I'd want a second controller for the second trailer. That's the only way I'd do it. However, my 21' boat on a tandem axle trailer has disc brakes on only the front axle and stops great. Granted, I don't double tow because VA won't let me. I'd just get your boat trailer brakes fixed.

[transamz9]

OP, I would think it would be hard to get the brakes set up right running from one controller. I believe I would add one just for the boat.

What problems are you having with the surge brakes? Can't you just fix them? Mine have worked great for 4 years.