Switching from Hydraulic Surge Brakes to Electric Over Hydraulic Disc Brakes on a Boat Trailer
Question:
I am looking at changing my 7000 pound rated boat trailer from surge disc brakes to electric over hydraulic disc brakes and I am looking for information as to what will be needed. I have read the questions and answers on the units I am considering, which are the Titan T4835700 or the Carlisle HBA16. I will be using this with a MaxBrake controller with a 2009 Dodge Ram 3500. Below is a list of what I think I may need. I am open for suggestion and any input that you can provide. Electric-Hydraulic Actuator for Disc BrakesCarlisle HBA16 or Titan BrakeRite T4843800 From what I can tell on what I have read I will not need an adapter. Breakaway battery kit Gel Cell Breakaway Kit for Titan BrakeRite Systems - 2 Batteries T4822100 Or Tekonsha Push to Test Breakaway Kit with Premium Integrated Charger 50-85-313 And Titan Zinc-Plated Straight-Tongue Coupler - 21,000 lbs 2 5/16” ball T4853100 to replace the Tiedown Engineering TDE-80 8000 pound 2” ball Surge Actuator. It appears to be slightly more expensive to go the Titan route but as I said I am open for suggestion. Since I have to replace rotors and calipers because I had a failure of the surge actuator that applied all four brakes while driving 400 miles I am also looking at the Titan Disc Brake Kit and BrakeRite II SD Electric-Hydraulic Actuator - Tandem, 3,500-lb Axle T4843700, but I don’t think the bearings and seals are the correct size. Can the proper size bearings and seals be supplemented? Would there be a change in price? Thank you.
asked by: Lanny V
Helpful Expert Reply:
First, you may not need to replace the coupler at all. In most cases you can still use the surge coupler it just won't actually do anything with the brakes after switching to electric over hydraulic. And its even better if you are able to lock out the actuator so you don't get the clunking of the actuator during starts and stops.
Since you have a Maxbrake brake controller I would go with the Carlisle HydraStar, # HBA16, since it is confirmed to work with that brake controller without the use of any sort of adapter. And for a breakaway system go with # 50-85-313.
Coupler # T4853100 is rated for 21,000 pounds and fits a 3 inch wide tongue. It also fits a 2-5/16 inch ball. This is a departure from what you had with the Tiedown coupler rated for 8,000 pounds and a 2 inch ball. But if the Titan coupler fits then you can use it if you want.
Since the Titan kit # T4843800 does not have the right bearings, I would need to know the bearings that you have, stamped into the inner and outer bearings. The bearings cannot be swapped out of the kits but we may have an option with the correct bearings or a kit could be pieced together from individual parts.
I have also included a link to our help article on parts needed to add electric over hydraulic disc brakes to a trailer. Some of the parts you already have but it is still a good resource for you.
Products Referenced in This Question
Tekonsha Push-To-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit with Built-In Battery Charger - Top Load
- Trailer Breakaway Kit
- Kit with Charger
- Top Load
- Single-axle
- Tandem-axle
- Triple-axle
- LED Tester
- Tekonsha
more information >
Hydrastar Electric Over Hydraulic Actuator for Disc Brakes - 1,600 psi
- Brake Actuator
- Electric-Hydraulic Brake Actuator
- 1600 psi
- Disc Brakes
- Hydrastar
more information >
Dexter Zinc-Plated Straight-Tongue Coupler - 21,000 lbs
- Straight Tongue Trailer Coupler
- Standard Coupler
- 2-5/16 Inch Ball Coupler
- Bolt-On
- 21000 lbs GTW
- 3 Inch Channel
- Trigger Latch
- Dexter
more information >
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