Trailer Brakes

roycruse · 07 November 2005, 19:33

Now that Ive got a bigger and heavier boat I now have my first braked trailer.

Im very pleased with the trailer but due to lack of experience with them I don't know if its set up 100% correct.

My question is - how much slack should there be in the brake cable that runs from the tow hitch to the splitter where it pulls on the brake cables.

The reason I ask is that when I brake suddenly (or even when braking not so suddenly) there is a fair amount of travel before the cable goes tight and applies the brakes - I therefore get a thump up the backside from the boat.

Its not causing me any problems so far but was wondering if it would be better with all or most of the slack adjusted out - or is there a reason for it being there ???

Stuart M · 07 November 2005, 20:15

I had the same thing, trip to the indespension dealer and £90 (inc vat) and they did a full service - included adjusting the damper (which was the thing that caused the thump - I think), checked the bearings, which were like new apparently! they were originals, four years old - fitted with bearing buddies if that helps. It's all perfect now - no thump!

Hope that helps

Mollers · 07 November 2005, 20:34

Not wishing to sound like the profit of doom Roy, but unless you meticulously wash and lube those brakes after every dunking they'll be knackered in a few months anyway. So just use a hefty tow vehicle. A mate of mine bought a new Chapparal hardboat a few years ago, he merrily towed it from Truro to Falmouth all summer. When after 8 months a wheel fell off, he was horrified!! No thought of what that salt water was doing in there everytime he launched.

Tim M · 07 November 2005, 20:36

I get this from a kayak trailer I have. I assumed it was normal. Odviosly not! Does anyone know how to adjust a dampened hitch. Mine is a Bradley hydra-hitch mk3 (if i recall)

roycruse · 07 November 2005, 20:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart M

I had the same thing, trip to the indespension dealer and £90 (inc vat) and they did a full service - included adjusting the damper (which was the thing that caused the thump - I think), checked the bearings, which were like new apparently! they were originals, four years old - fitted with bearing buddies if that helps. It's all perfect now - no thump!

Hope that helps

my trailer is brand new so i dont fancy paying anyone £90 it should be set up - i presume its ribcrafts responsibility to have set it up - i might give them a call.

Mollers · 07 November 2005, 20:48

Bearing buddies are a must. A pump of grease every now and again and you can forget the bearings. Apart from when the brakes bind and the whole issue gets so hot that the grease melts and runs out! As happened to me when taking her for a service in Sept.

roycruse · 07 November 2005, 20:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollulnan

Not wishing to sound like the profit of doom Roy, but unless you meticulously wash and lube those brakes after every dunking they'll be knackered in a few months anyway. So just use a hefty tow vehicle. A mate of mine bought a new Chapparal hardboat a few years ago, he merrily towed it from Truro to Falmouth all summer. When after 8 months a wheel fell off, he was horrified!! No thought of what that salt water was doing in there everytime he launched.

i have no choice but to keep these brakes working - i do not have a 4x4 neither am i going to get one - boat has skint me out.

i have to do 40,000 miles a year for work so i have a standard 2 litre diesel car.

she tows the boat fine and have had no problems launching or recovering but i have been glad of the brakes on a few steep descents.

i do wash the hubs and wheels down after recovering lets hope that that + a yearly service will be enough.