How to Activate Reverse Lockout on Boat Trailer When Moving it By Hand with a Tow Dolly

Question:

Hi. I need to know if someone makes something. I bought a trailer dolly that I can hook to the trailers and move them around. Unfortunately my boat has surge brakes and just locks up when its not attached to the trucks electrical. Does anyone make a handheld or portable brake controller? Otherwise my dolly is useless for my boat.

asked by: Jeff M

Expert Reply:

It sounds like you're just needing to activate the reverse light function on a standard 5-Way connector so your boat trailer actuator will use the lockout for you to move the trailer around by hand with your dolly. I don't know of any handheld 12V power sources but you should be able to use a small battery like what you find with a breakaway kit # 50-85-313 and then wire the power only to the last pin on a 5-Way like part # HM47910 to send power to the lockout function on your actuator.

It might also be a good idea to use a switch like part # PK34513 so you get more control over when the trailer brakes become inactive and your trailer doesn't start rolling the second you plug in the 5-Way.

You will need to get creative with how you mount the battery and you'll want to protect it from any water and have a good way to keep it topped off. We have chargers like the NOCO # 329-GENIUS2D that can help out with that.

expert reply by: Jon G