Surge brakes

[dennych1]

Quick question when you have surge brakes can you backup with them without them activating. This question is for my neighbor I never had surge brakes
Thanks Dennis

[All_I_could_aff]

In less you put a significant force on the ball you should have nothing to worry about if for some reason you needed to back the trailer over a curb that would likely activate the brakes for a moment, in less the manual lockout or reverse light sensing lockout was activated

[rekoj71]

They are also usually spring loaded enough that when backing up slowly the spring will keep the trailer brakes from actuating.
If you watch it you will see that the hitch doesn't retract much into the brake actuator when backing.

[Bionic_Man]

Yes. They should either have a solenoid in the trailer that is activated by the reverse lights, or a lock out switch on the tongue of the trailer.