Recommended Brake Actuator With Lock Out for 7000 LBS. Boat Trailer

Question:

Hello etrailer. I just got a boat recently and it's sitting on a trailer that has seen better days. I want to address the brakes on the trailer. I'm looking for a new coupler with a lock out on it. The boat and trailer weigh approx 7,000 LBS and the boat is 25 ft long. do all the 8k couplers max out at 800 lbs tongue weight? I'm not sure what the tongue weight is currently. Just want to be on the safe side. Haven't had the wheels off yet but I'm wondering about replacing the brakes as well. Do you sell rebuild kits or full assemblies?

asked by: Paul H

Expert Reply:

The standard tongue weight on a trailer is approximately 10-15 percent of the GTW. On a boat trailer it generally stays at 10 percent because most of the weight of a boat is towards the back end of the trailer, reducing the need for more tongue weight. This is why all of our couplers have a tongue weight of 10 percent of the GTW. If you'd like to be more definite in your tongue weight, you can always use a scale like the Sherline Trailer Tongue Weight Scale # e99044.

The Titan Zinc-Plated Brake Actuator w/ Electric Lockout for Disc Brakes # T4747220 will work for your 7000 pound trailer if you have disc brakes and a 2-5/16 inch hitch ball. In order to power the electric reverse lock out you will need at least a 5-way connector, like the Hopkins Endurance # HM47910, on your trailer.

If your trailer has drum brakes the Titan Zinc-Plated Brake Actuator # T43397007K will work for you.

When replacing brakes it's recommended to replace the full assembly to make sure you get everything new. If you start replacing them piece by piece it will add up quickly and cost you a lot more than just buying the assembly in the first place.

It is important to know your axle capacity and brake size before purchasing replacement parts or new brake assemblies. Since you have a 7000 pound trailer I'm guessing it's a tandem with 3500 pound axles. If that's the case you can get the Titan Premier Disc Brake Kit # T2HRCM10DAC if you have disc brakes or if you have drum brakes, # AKFBBRK-35R-D for the right side and # AKFBBRK-35L-D for the left will work.

Make sure to verify your axle capacity before you purchase a brake assembly. If those brakes will not fit your axle and you'd like me to recommend some that will provide me your axle weight capacity and I will.