Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 02-15-2009, 05:29 PM   #1
Ensign
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: King George, VA
Posts: 7
Send a message via MSN to NSWCAEGF7
Default help with surge brakes

Hello to all. We just drove 6 hrs to pick up our new toy and are on our way home. We got a 2100 sr that came with an Escort trailer with surge brakes. It seems to be tugging on the truck a lot when the road is bumpy. Not sure if its the surge brakes engaging or we're just not used to it. It does it even when going uphill. The truck is a ford f150 5.4 L. Got at least 5 more hrs on the road so any advise would be appreciated.
__________________

NSWCAEGF7 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2009, 05:38 PM   #2
Lt. Commander
 
Stressleave's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
Posts: 138
Default

Are your hubs smoken hot when you stopped to check them.
Do both sides feel the same temperature?
A bumpy road could cause some weird feelings on the truck but not going up hill.
When I had a sticky brake on our old trailer we also had some vibration to go with it.
Check the brake fliud on the trailer, you could have a leaky cylinder.
Hope this helps
Paul
__________________

__________________
Stressleave
2008 Maxum 2500 SE
Stressleave is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-16-2009, 10:52 PM   #3
Lieutenant
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Posts: 57
Send a message via MSN to Flying_Maxum
Default

I had the wheel cylinders on a couple of mine lock up completely. Could still pull the trailer, but it was like the brakes were partially engaged the whole time. Turns out my whole brake system was a mess. The previous owner did not use the trailer much apparently, I had to completely bleed the system of all the old fluid, replaced all four wheel cylinders and replaced one brake line. They work great now, the only issue I still seem to have is trying to back up, I thought there was some kind of reverse lock out, but I get resistance. Might have to switch to electric brakes one day. If your wheel cylinders are locked, you wont be able to easily find the parts around town, except from a boat service center. The auto parts stores around here and the trailer dealers dont carry marine stuff. Seems like I ordered my parts from Boatfix.com, but I am not sure. What year 2100 do you have? I have a 97 2100 SR2, great boat for the family, plenty of room.
__________________
2100 SR2 5.7 - Bat out of hell
Flying_Maxum is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-17-2009, 01:54 PM   #4
Commander
 
tglee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: PA
Posts: 334
Default

Quote:
...I thought there was some kind of reverse lock out, but I get resistance.
You should see a selenoid with a wire coming from it. This is what connects to your reverse light circuit. If you are using a 4-pin flat plug for your tow vehicle connection, then you need an extra wire to connect the selenoid.

This is a typical reverse lock out kit:



I get my trailer parts here, they have everything:
http://shop.easternmarine.com/
__________________
"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote."

MMSI# 338052622
tglee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-17-2009, 04:51 PM   #5
Lieutenant
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Posts: 57
Send a message via MSN to Flying_Maxum
Default

Well thats just skippy, I dont have one of those. This is my first experience with trailer brakes, I thought the reverse lockout might be mechanical. Doesn't look like it would be too hard to install, might have to pick one up.
__________________
2100 SR2 5.7 - Bat out of hell
Flying_Maxum is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-17-2009, 05:34 PM   #6
Commander
 
tglee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: PA
Posts: 334
Default

Here is a link to installation instructions: http://www.tiedown.com/pdf/a152.pdf
__________________
"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote."

MMSI# 338052622
tglee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-18-2009, 04:15 PM   #7
Lieutenant
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Posts: 57
Send a message via MSN to Flying_Maxum
Default

I see that most of these are for disc brake setups, mine are drums which are supposed to apply only part pressure in reverse. One of these solenoids says it is compatible with drums as well, so now I have no idea if I should use one. Sorry to have hijacked this thread, still waiting to hear from the author what the outcome was!
__________________
2100 SR2 5.7 - Bat out of hell
Flying_Maxum is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-18-2009, 10:03 PM   #8
Lt. Commander
 
Stressleave's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
Posts: 138
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Flying_Maxum
I see that most of these are for disc brake setups, mine are drums which are supposed to apply only part pressure in reverse. One of these solenoids says it is compatible with drums as well, so now I have no idea if I should use one. Sorry to have hijacked this thread, still waiting to hear from the author what the outcome was!
Have you had your drum brakes apart?
Are both your front and rear shoes in each brake the same?

Some drum brake systems have free backing shoes on the forward shoe in each brake. This is a two part assembly which allows the front shoe to swivel back when aplied in reverse thus having no brake action.
The rear shoe is a solid one piece shoe.
In forward braking the shoe connot swivel so you have normal braking.
In this system you do not need a solinoid on the brake cylinder.
I had this system on my last trailer and it worked fine.
Paul
http://drydockboat.com/ProductView/Boat ... cking.aspx
__________________
Stressleave
2008 Maxum 2500 SE
Stressleave is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-19-2009, 12:07 PM   #9
Ensign
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: King George, VA
Posts: 7
Send a message via MSN to NSWCAEGF7
Default Made it home but not without incident

We made it home, but it wasn't pretty. After checking the temps on the hubs (cool to the touch) we made it about another 3 hours then all hell broke loose literally. The hitch jumped off the ball, the boat and trailer swayed violently from side to side until the winch strap broke then the chain broke the bow eye. Next thing I know I’m looking at my boat sitting on the pavement blocking 2 lanes of I85 in North Carolina. Luckily I had gotten the truck slowed to around 30 to 35 MPH by the time it came off the trailer so it just slide about 50 feet and did not flip. So far everyone that has looked at it say they are amazed at the condition there really is minimal damage for what it went through, I’m taking it to the repair shop today hopefully they say the same thing. I had the brake actuator replaced before we got back on the road and the ride is 100% better so I think there was something wrong with the actuator that was on it, but not having any experience with surge brakes I wasn’t able identify it and just had the I’ll get it home and figure it out mentality. Kind of a rough learning experience but at least I had put insurance on it before I left the hotel. Sorry for such a long post but I thought the story was worth sharing.
NSWCAEGF7 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-19-2009, 12:51 PM   #10
Admiral

 
seapuppy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Everett Wa
Posts: 4,681
Default

wow!!..thanks for sharing and glad no one was hurt!!..also glad the damage was minimal....which also translates to not expensive..

keep us informed and take pic's so we can see!!.

SP
__________________
Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
------------------------
SSN683 Association member
Par Excellence
------------------------------
2008 Bayliner 340 - "Wild Whim"
--------------------------------------
I live in my own little world....but it's okay-they know me here!!!

Avid practitioner of the martial art: KLIK-PAO.
Tap-Rack-Bang

Anyone that sez "Size doesn't matter" has never owned a boat!
seapuppy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-19-2009, 06:48 PM   #11
Lt. Commander
 
Stressleave's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
Posts: 138
Default

Hey
I am so sorry to hear about your aweful experience after you made a attempt at finding the problem through us.
That has to be every trailer boaters worst nightmare.
We all feel your pain when it comes to looking at damage to our new toys. I am glad it looks minimal and hope you get a perfect fix and have a great season on the water.
Cheers
Paul
__________________
Stressleave
2008 Maxum 2500 SE
Stressleave is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-20-2009, 06:46 AM   #12
Commander
 
tglee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: PA
Posts: 334
Default

Glad to hear you are ok and the boat isn't that bad.

What do you think actually caused the trailer to come off the ball?

It seems like the safety chains worked to keep the trailer off the ground, even though the end result was less then desirable. Learning that the bow eye broke is disturbing, I thought that would have held the boat on the bunks once the strap snapped.

Thanks for sharing your experience with us.
__________________
"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote."

MMSI# 338052622
tglee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-07-2009, 12:24 AM   #13
Ensign
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: King George, VA
Posts: 7
Send a message via MSN to NSWCAEGF7
Default

Holy crap fiberglass repair is expensive!!!!! We just got back the estimate from the shop and insurance adjuster and was told that we were only a couple of hundred from them totaling the boat (almost 11K). And all that for basically cosmetics, they haven’t found any cracks or structural problems, but thankfully the insurance company has approved the repairs and they should start soon. After talking to the shop he explained that they have to repair the hull and the trailer back to the condition it was in before the accident and since there is no way of telling what damage was there before he said they had to return it to new condition. So I guess in 4 to 6 weeks I should have a shiny new hull. On a different note my wife says we need to name the boat Mad Max II (The Road Warrior) I know that isn’t real original for a Maxum boat but considering the history it’s pretty appropriate.
NSWCAEGF7 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-07-2009, 02:13 AM   #14
Admiral

 
seapuppy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Everett Wa
Posts: 4,681
Default

haha....now that's funny!!..good luck with the fiberglass work....how bout taking some pic's of the damage before and after!!..


SP
__________________
Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
------------------------
SSN683 Association member
Par Excellence
------------------------------
2008 Bayliner 340 - "Wild Whim"
--------------------------------------
I live in my own little world....but it's okay-they know me here!!!

Avid practitioner of the martial art: KLIK-PAO.
Tap-Rack-Bang

Anyone that sez "Size doesn't matter" has never owned a boat!
seapuppy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-07-2009, 04:49 AM   #15
Commander
 
tglee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: PA
Posts: 334
Default

I was still wondering. What do you think actually caused the trailer to come off the ball?
__________________
"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote."

MMSI# 338052622
tglee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-07-2009, 06:36 PM   #16
Ensign
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: King George, VA
Posts: 7
Send a message via MSN to NSWCAEGF7
Default

No pics of the damage, you really can't see much anyway. Just the bottom scratched up a bit. I do wish I would have taken some pics of her on the road but at the time it really wasn't something I wanted to remember.

As far as what caused it I think it was the brakes. The constant tugging or lurching of the trailer snapped the pin holding the handle down and then it released and came off the ball then we were all along for the ride from there out. That's my guess anyway. What really sucks is we where looking for a place to stop for gas, lunch and check the brakes and trailer to make sure everything was still connected and working. I guess I waited just a little too long. I will post some pics when we get her back home. I did post one from the dealer, not sure if its working because I get a server error when I try to open it on the site.
NSWCAEGF7 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-09-2009, 01:45 AM   #17
Lt. Commander

 
Mad Max's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Commuting weekly from South Central Idaho. Got Water?
Posts: 150
Default

Ouch! So much for 'cosmetic' budget repairs. At least no 'skin' was hurt or damaged.

I approve of the 'Road Warrior' reference (Mad Max II).
__________________

__________________
Mad Max
95 Max 2300SC
Nine Mile Falls, Washington

"If you look like your passport photo, you probably need the trip"
Mad Max is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Will It Stick? bmetro Maxum Owners General Discussions 1 01-18-2010 06:58 PM
Hi everyone Seahorse Maxum Owners General Discussions 7 11-02-2009 11:20 AM
Photos taken from just the right angle MaxumNewbie The Dock Walk 0 04-15-2007 06:10 PM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT. The time now is 06:10 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.