Would you recommend such a set up with a M17? Do other M17 haulers use trailer brakes. Joe SeaFrog M17 #651 ----- Original Message ----- From: Nebwest2@aol.com To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com Sent: Saturday, October 01, 2011 3:06 AM Subject: Re: M_Boats: braker braker As usual...I'll open my mouth and throw in my 2 cents. I have an M23 and I tow it with an f-350. I have towed it over 20,000 miles in the last 6 years. We've towed it to the San Juans twice, up and down 6 percent grades and also the heavy grades to get us over the mountains to the coast. I purchased my trailer new from Pacific Trailers when we bought the boat and it was equipped with "the latest" of everything when we got it including stainless steel disc surge brakes. This is the best setup I have ever used and I have had two other 23 foot boats with electrics. I also had a promotional searchlight company in the Phoenix area for years where I towed multiple 7000lb tandem axle searchlight trailers around daily. Some surge and some electric. My experiences have made me of the opinion that if I was ever to buy another trailer with electrics, the first thing I would do is rip them off and chuck them in the garbage and replace with the system I have now. The brakes on Dauntless' trailer have not given me one bit of trouble in 6 years. Any modern surge brake setup has an automatic lockout valve that is triggered by the back up lights that blocks hydraulic fluid from being pushed to the cylinders when you back up, preventing the brakes from coming on when you backing the trailer up a hill. If you don't have one, they can be added on, are cheap and easy to install. I have never had Dauntless' brakes actuate because I am going downhill, and we have traversed some pretty steep hills. After 6 years of going to the coast and dunking in salt water multiple times a year, there is no rust anywhere on them. When I "get on" the trucks brakes I can feel the trailer kick in and it is a solid and reliable stop. One key of long life of the system is to keep water out of the reservoir. All the reservoirs have an air vent. If you dunk the surge brake controller you will eventually get water in the fluid and then the cylinders can rust on the inside. To avoid this, my trailer tongue is removable and I always take it off, and replace it with an extension that gives me better reach into the water and leaves the brake controller sitting on the concrete ramp high and dry. This requires a quick connect in the brake line, similar to an airchuck to remove the tongue with the brake controller on it. For me, a trip to salt water with electric brakes meant I was replacing them every 2 years regardless of how well I flushed them. Also, it seemed like I always had to be fidgeting with the "gain" switch on the controller to keep the trailer and truck braking levels in sync. The one thing I will say for electric trailer brakes is that yes, you can apply them solely, without using the truck brakes. This is a Godsend if you have a trailer start swaying as it will stop it immediately and get the trailer back in line and behaving itself. I had a searchlight trailer that was too light in the tongue and would do this. BUT, if your trailer is setup correctly weight wise this should not be an issue. I have never had a sway issue with the M23. If your surge brake trailer is routinely applying the brakes when you are headed down a steep hill I would think that something is out of adjustment. Also, with respect to backing up. Even if you don't have the automatic hydraulic lockout for backing up....every surge brake actuator I have ever had has had a lever on it's side that you can depress that will lockout the brakes while you back up and then reset itself as soon as you pull forward. Towing an M23 without trailer brakes with an F-350. Not a good idea in my book. Yes the truck can pull it great, and stop it reasonably well, but if you get in a pinch and really gotta get on it, that boat's weight will really push the truck, extending your stopping distance, and also, the trailer (since it is not braking and the truck is) is going to try to swap ends and jacknife in a a panic stop on a loose surface. I learned this when i forgot to hook the quick disconnect back up after switching tongues one day, which effectively leaves you towing with no trailer brakes. Scared the crap out of me at a stoplight intersection when a motorcycle in front of me stopped on a dime on an amber light. He almost became a hood ornament and I was looking at the entire starboard side of the boat in the right side mirror by the time we I got stopped. ok ....so maybe 5 cents. :-) S M23 "Dauntless" M17fd "Sneakers" _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats When posting, remember that there is no privacy on the Internet!