2008 Boatmate trailer surge brake question

[jkimman]

I just recently purchased a 02 SANTE 210. It came with a 08 Boatmate trailer with surge and apparently also electric brakes. My tow vehicle is a F150. In order to back up, I have to put this little piece of metal in the trailer tongue to keep the brakes from locking. It still does not work well. Can I permanetly add something to do away with the surge brakes and just have the electric brakes? I can install a brake controller in my truck very easily.

[Whitetail15]

i believe you are confused on the braking system of your trailer. you have surge brakes that are applied when the toungue of the trailer is pressed it. that happens when you are moving forward and you apply the brakes on your truck. the truck slows but the boat does not and as a result the tongue gets pressed in and the brakes are applied. it also happens you try to back up and your boat is not rolling down hill. either you are on level ground or backing up hill. the tongue will press in and brakes will be applied and you will not be able to back up. that is where the electric part comes it. the trailer wire harness is plugged in and gets the reverse signal from your backup lights. it opens an electric solenoid that bypasses the surge braking system so that the brakes are not applied to the wheels in reverse when the tongue is pressed in. all the metal thing does is keep the tongue from being pressed in anytime. you should be able to backup with that in place even with your wire harness not plugged in. this is because the hydrolic brake cylinder can not pressed in with the tab in place. hope this helps.

[bsb4fsu]

i believe you are confused on the braking system of your trailer. you have surge brakes that are applied when the toungue of the trailer is pressed it. that happens when you are moving forward and you apply the brakes on your truck. the truck slows but the boat does not and as a result the tongue gets pressed in and the brakes are applied. it also happens you try to back up and your boat is not rolling down hill. either you are on level ground or backing up hill. the tongue will press in and brakes will be applied and you will not be able to back up. that is where the electric part comes it. the trailer wire harness is plugged in and gets the reverse signal from your backup lights. it opens an electric solenoid that bypasses the surge braking system so that the brakes are not applied to the wheels in reverse when the tongue is pressed in. all the metal thing does is keep the tongue from being pressed in anytime. you should be able to backup with that in place even with your wire harness not plugged in. this is because the hydrolic brake cylinder can not pressed in with the tab in place. hope this helps.

Exactly right. It sounds like your brakes are still being applied when your trailer lights are plugged into vehicle. If this is the case, it may be because your vehicle is using a 4 wire plug. You need a five wire plug for the reverse light wire to de-activate the brakes.

[NautiqueOasis]

I had the same problem with the brakes locking up when backing the boat/trailer uphill (with even a slight grade). I used the pin as you did for awhile until I discovered it was just the plug that just needed to be replaced. I have an Expedition with a 7 prong plug; replaced the plug and problem went away.

[NautiDave07]

The plug on your truck needs the reverse lights wired. Most trucks don't come wired that way, but the plug has a pole for it. My truck did that and after I had the plug on the truck replaced and reverse lights hooked up problem solved.

[Whitetail15]

on any round harness. the center pin is the reverse pin for backup. its not one around the perimeter.

[jkimman]

Thanks. I have the plug that goes into the 7-pin harness but I guess the back up lights are not wired.

[ski4evr]

I had same problem last year. The RV (7-way round) factory receptacle on my truck checked ok with voltmeter. Went to trailer, and after some trouble shooting, realized the back up lockout solenoid on the trailer only had one wire to it. That was the hot wire from the harness. The solenoid was using the trailer ground to complete the circuit. The corrosion on the swing away tongue was not making a good circuit. I added a "jumper" from the ground point on the tongue to the base of the solenoid to make a good circuit. Problem solved.

good luck

[uncalumx2]

I had this problem with my ford 2002.

Had to buy a "relay" and plug it into the master fuse panel. $20.00 total.

One minute.....problem solved. No rewiring.

Ford people offered little help. PM me if you haven't figured it out yet.

[jkimman]

Uncalumx2 was right on. I went and bought a $20 relay, plugged it in to the trailer reverse light slot in the power box under the hood and that's all it took. Back up lights on the trailer now work and she backs up with no problem.
Thanks again.