Trailer - Reverse Lock out

[mcbridek]

I have a nautuque trailer (2000), I know there are a couple of different manufacturers and I did not see a name. But below I pasted a picture of the hitch that is on the trailer and my question is how do you keep the brakes from engaging when backing up ?

[ClemsonDave]

take one of the hooks from the safety cables and insert it here:

[MyWakeIsBigger]

Are you backing up hill?

[ffmedic74]

You can also buy an inline brake fluid device that wires into the reverse wire of your trailer harness.

[DavidF]

I have no experience with the brand prictured, but isn't the lever at the top and rear the back-up lock out? Regardless, the best solution is to get new brake assemblies of the "free backing" type and then you no longer have to worry about reverse lock-out that only works once. What I mean is that as soon as you stop backing the lock-out device usually reverts back to normal automatically. So, if you back and then stop and then back again, the brakes are active and you keep having to get out and set the lock-out device...a royal pain in the you know what. Free backing brake assemblies are usually priced at about $75 or less per side....well worth it.

[mcbridek]

MywakeIsBigger - yes backing up a slight incline - I have to back the boat into a garage, the driveway surface is gravel and slighly up hill (slopes up just before the garage for drainage)

[jchamlin]

I think that is the same as mine. Clemson Dave is correct, but the brakes will still engage a little, at least in my experience. Does the electrical plug on the trailer have 4 or 5 prongs? If the trailer has 5, the fifth prong is to trigger the reverse lockout.

If your tow vehicle is not setup for it, you can sometimes take that 5th prong and stick just that into one of the other plugs to trigger the reverse lockout.

DavidF - I believe that lever on the top has a safety wire you attach to your tow vehicle. If your boat somehow became unhooked going down the road, the lever would get pulled forward and activate the brakes.

[DavidF]

No, not the lever on the top and front, that is indeed the break-away emergency brake control. I am talking about the VERY small item on the side (upper rear)...that could be the back-up lock out.

[DanielC]

"free backing" brakes are drum drakes. The brake is designed so that when you are going forward, the forward rotation of the brake drums drags the brake shoes tighter to the drum. and when backing up, the rotation tends to push the shoes away from the drum. The brakes are still applied in reverse, just not as hard
Disk brakes work a lot better than any drum brake. Disk brakes also require an electric reverse lockout. It uses your tow vehicles back up lights to trigger it.

[crghou]

my trailer does the same thing...would sometimes lock up trying to back into the boat stall. Like ClemsonDave posted, just pull forward and make sure that those 2 prong hooks are not sucked in. I just put a 1/2 extension in the gap to keep those from moving and engaging the brakes. then your good to go, i just keep an extension in my glove box.

Also, I would ONLY do this while I was backing in the trailer...if you want your brakes to work you need to remove what ever you put in there.

[GoBig]

Electric lockout is the way to go. I used to have to deal with that stupid little jamming token that would constantly fall out...it was a pain. Added the electric lockout and backing is a breeze.

[DavidF]

DanielC:

You are correct. I suppose we should know if this thread is for disk or drum brakes. I always assume drum since that is most common. If drum, "free backing" is the way to go, if for nothing else simplicity and ease of use sake.

[wakecrashin]

connect the blue plug to the brown plug and turn your lights on... disengages the brake.

[ClemsonDave]

connect the blue plug to the brown plug and turn your lights on... disengages the brake.

that works with electric brakes, but I believe the above picture is simply a surge brake system. Need a mechanical way to prevent them from engaging like I posted above.

[HS]

Dave:

If it works like my surge brakes do, the fifth pin is for the reverse lights and will deactivate the surge brakes.

You can also call your trailer mfr to ask for a mechanical lockout.