[Rhodes22-list] Trailer Surge Brakes

Tue Aug 31 10:49:21 EDT 2004

Julie,

Trailer surge brakes are controlled by hydraulic/mechanical linkage device
which is built in to the master cylinder mechanism on the trailer's tongue.
This brake controller has a so called "dead band" or range of deceleration
within which the trailer brakes are not applied.  This dead band helps
prevent premature trailer brake lock-up during gentle braking and while
decending hills and also allows the trailer to be backed up a gentle uphill
slope.  What you will find while backing uphill is that if the trailer's
brakes ever do engage, the pressure on the trailer tongue from the weight of
the trailer will not permit the brakes to disengage.  There should be a
small lever with a push button lock-out on the surge brake master cylinder.
Depress & hold the button and the lever can be moved to the disengaged
position.  Now, the trailer brakes will not engage or will disengage if they
were locked up and the trailer can be backed up any sort of hill.  Just
remember to always reengage the trailer surge brake mechanism after you've
finished backing up.

It sounds like the dead band on your surge brake controller may be adjusted
a little too wide.  I would take the trailer to a trailer specialist and
have the brakes inspected.

Roger Pihlaja
S/V Dynamic Equilibrium

----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Meltzer" <mjm at michaelmeltzer.com>
To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Monday, August 30, 2004 11:23 PM
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] MJM Trailer Brakes

> sounds like they work, very surprized use can back up a hill with them,
mine leaves skid marks all over the grass
>
> mjm
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Julie Thorndycraft" <julie at circle7.net>
> To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> Sent: Monday, August 30, 2004 10:55 PM
> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] MJM Trailer Brakes
>
>
> >
> > Most definately! When you're going down a hill you can feel when the
brakes
> > engage when it tries to outrun the vehicle. We got lots of experience
with
> > this when we brought the boat from NC to MN and when we've towed it
since
> > then.
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Michael Meltzer" <mjm at michaelmeltzer.com>
> > To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> > Sent: Monday, August 30, 2004 9:31 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] MJM Trailer Brakes
> >
> >
> >> have you ever "felt" the brakes work?
> >>
> >> MJM
> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> From: "Julie Thorndycraft" <julie at circle7.net>
> >> To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> >> Sent: Monday, August 30, 2004 10:21 PM
> >> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] MJM Trailer Brakes
> >>
> >>
> >> >
> >> > We have a 2003 Triad trailer with surge brakes and we have to back it
up
> > our
> >> > very steep driveway everytime we get ready to take the boat on a
trip -
> > we
> >> > can't leave it on the street overnight so the driveway is the only
> > option.
> >> > We've had no issues with the brakes. Am I missing something here?
> >> >
> >> > Julie
> >> >
> >> > ----- Original Message -----
> >> > From: "Mark Kaynor" <mark at kaynor.org>
> >> > To: "'The Rhodes 22 mail list'" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> >> > Sent: Monday, August 30, 2004 7:42 AM
> >> > Subject: RE: [Rhodes22-list] MJM Trailer Brakes
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >> Ed,
> >> >>
> >> >> Not necessarily. If you back a trailer w/ surge brakes up hill, the
> > load
> >> > can
> >> >> compress the actuator on the tongue and cause the brakes to engage.
If
> > you
> >> >> back it down hill, the likelihood of the actuator activating is
> >> > considerably
> >> >> less - although if your trailer comes up against an obstruction like
a
> > log
> >> >> or a rock, the brakes can still come on. Mine has a switch on the
> > actuator
> >> >> assembly that allows me to disable the brakes - then I just need to
> >> > remember
> >> >> to re-enable them before towing forward.
> >> >>
> >> >> Mark Kaynor
> >> >>
> >> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> >> From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
> >> >> [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of ed kroposki
> >> >> Sent: Monday, August 30, 2004 8:35 AM
> >> >> To: 'The Rhodes 22 mail list'
> >> >> Subject: [Rhodes22-list] MJM Trailer Brakes
> >> >>
> >> >> Michael:
> >> >>
> >> >> I have the Triad with surge trailer brakes.  I can back up without
> >> >> disconnecting the brakes.  Are the brakes not working?
> >> >>
> >> >> Ed K
> >> >>
> >> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> >> From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
> >> >> [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of Michael
> > Meltzer
> >> >> Sent: Sunday, August 29, 2004 10:43 PM
> >> >> To: Saroj; The Rhodes 22 mail list
> >> >> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] New Rhodie in N.J.
> >> >>
> >> >>  surge breaks, I am assuming the electric know that backing up is
not
> >> >> "stopping"
> >> >>
> >> >> MJM
> >> >>
> >> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> >> From: "Saroj" <saroj at pathfind.net>
> >> >> To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> >> >> Sent: Sunday, August 29, 2004 10:28 PM
> >> >> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] New Rhodie in N.J.
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> > I assume you are referring only to surge breaks and not electric
> >> > brakes -
> >> >> > or both?
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Saroj
> >> >> > ----- Original Message -----
> >> >> > From: "Michael Meltzer" <mjm at michaelmeltzer.com>
> >> >> > To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> >> >> > Sent: Sunday, August 29, 2004 9:42 PM
> >> >> > Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] New Rhodie in N.J.
> >> >> >
> >> >> >
> >> >> > > I will add one more, make sure to disconnect the brakes before
> > backing
> >> >> up.
> >> >> > >
> >> >> > > MJM
> >> >> > >
> >> >> > > ----- Original Message -----
> >> >> > > From: "P&M Beals" <beals at rci.rutgers.edu>
> >> >> > > To: <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> >> >> > > Sent: Sunday, August 29, 2004 1:08 PM
> >> >> > > Subject: [Rhodes22-list] New Rhodie in N.J.
> >> >> > >
> >> >> > >
> >> >> > > > Thanks to Joe Ware who introduced me to Whisper, formerly his
> > Rhodes
> >> >> 22,
> >> >> > and
> >> >> > > > to the art of trailering (set up and all) I am pleased to say
> > there
> >> > is
> >> >> a
> >> >> > > > BEAUTIFUL recycled Rhodes in our driveway in Central NJ.  I
made
> > the
> >> > 6
> >> >> > hour
> >> >> > > > 58 mph trip from Onancock, Va. solo with my 6 cyl. minivan.  I
> > put
> >> > Joe
> >> >> > to
> >> >> > > > work yesterday getting him to get Whisper out on the water,
mast
> > up
> >> >> and
> >> >> > mast
> >> >> > > > down in the heat, test-sail and all.  It will take some time
to
> >> > learn
> >> >> > the
> >> >> > > > art of sailing with the big Genoa jib, and I may still take
Jay
> > up
> >> > on
> >> >> > his
> >> >> > > > offer to sail at LBI area-  My family is excited and we look
> > forward
> >> >> to
> >> >> > a
> >> >> > > > lot of good sailing ahead.  Now if I can just teach myself how
to
> >> > back
> >> >> > up
> >> >> > > > the trailer into the yard.  Within a couple weeks I hope it
will
> > be
> >> > in
> >> >> a
> >> >> > > > different place for Sept, Oct. and maybe even Nov? sails.
> >> >> > > >
> >> >> > > > The list has been very helpful, and I count on future expert
> > advice
> >> >> from
> >> >> > > > all.
> >> >> > > >
> >> >> > > > and yes I will give Rummy the ID # though what was Joe's for
> > Whisper
> >> >> is
> >> >> > now
> >> >> > > > mine.
> >> >> > > >
> >> >> > > > Joe mentioned that a while back someone had info. on how to
avoid
> >> > the
> >> >> > hex if
> >> >> > > > you change a boat's name....I might keep the name but it's not
> >> >> certain.
> >> >> > > >
> >> >> > > > Phyllis Beals
> >> >> > > > __________________________________________________
> >> >> > > > Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> >> >> > > >
> >> >> > > __________________________________________________
> >> >> > > Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> >> >> >
> >> >> > __________________________________________________
> >> >> > Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> >> >> >
> >> >> __________________________________________________
> >> >> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> __________________________________________________
> >> >> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> __________________________________________________
> >> >> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> >> >>
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > __________________________________________________
> >> > Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> >> >
> >> __________________________________________________
> >> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> >>
> >
> >
> > __________________________________________________
> > Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> >
> __________________________________________________
> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>