both surge AND electric brakes ?

cj11363 · Dec 17, 2012

I've read numerous threads on surge vs. electric brakes and I thought, why not have BOTH ?

I'm looking to buy a tandem axle 16' flatbed trailer to haul approx. 3800 lb. of tractor+equipment. Tow vehicle is an 07 Dodge megacab w/ 5.7L hemi & factory tow package. Most of the trailers that I'm looking at come standard with surge brakes on one axle, and at least a couple of trailers that I'm considering come with brake flanges on both axles and a $125 - $150 option to add brakes to the second axle. I'm thinking that I could buy a trailer with surge brakes on one axle and then easily add electric brakes to the second axle. Seems to me that I could run most of the time with the gain set to minimum on the electric brakes, and dial up the gain for backing down hills ?

I'm thinking that if the trailer has a lockout pin on the surges brakes, I could easily switch between using just electric or just surge brakes if need be. Braking on the front axle might be more efficient than on the rear axle, but perhaps the GCVW is low enough to mitigate most concerns ?

/cj

Gary Fowler · Dec 17, 2012

That really makes no sense at all. Why spend money to put brakes on both axles and then only use one axle for braking. Even if you dont pin the surge brake, I dont think it would work correctly with the electric brakes as they would tend to hold back on the trailer which wouldnt allow the surge to operate. It has to "surge"forward on the hitch in order to apply the brakes which may not happen with the electric brakes operating and if you tune down the brake force for the electric then you arent applying the amount of brakes necessary to stop.
You need to either go with double axle surge or double axle electric, you can mix them up. Personally I would go with electric, they only brake when you brake and you dont have to get out and pin them when backing up to keep from locking the wheels.

oldballs · Dec 17, 2012

Being new to a heavy trailer about ten years ago, I wondered why my dual axle surge brakes locked up when backing. Afterwards some of the wheels even would lock up going forward. But what is this "pinning" that is recommended? If you give me some explanation I'm going outside to check it out. Thanks....Mike

vwnotrunning · Dec 17, 2012

I just about burnt up a clutch on a shop truck when I was just 17-18. Trying to back a trailer with surge brakes up a hill. Never heard of surge brakes before then. Typically there is a hole (pin attached on a chain) that will prevent the moving portion of the hitch from activating the brakes. This allows you to back up without activating the brakes.