Not bothering with trailer brakes

Peter J · 04 December 2005, 17:54

I read in another thread that was on the topic of seized trailer brakes about avoiding the problem in future by taking the brakes out altogether. The member that suggested siad he did it because he did not travel far with his boat.

I find myself in the same situation. Seized brakes that need replacing but I only have to go about 7 miles to my favorite slipway.

I have a 6m RibX on a de graaf trailer towed by a Land Cruiser Amazon. Do you think I can get away without any brakes?

Peter.

Robox · 04 December 2005, 17:57

Not if its over 750kg,i think it might be illegal?

George8910 · 04 December 2005, 18:03

Hi Pete

I recent constructed a trailer out of an old caravan chassis and the back of a hilux (now being a family man need home projects) - this involved shortening the chassis, and I have yet to 'reconfigure' the brakes - needless to say the trailer was horribly overladen with logs, all up had to be a tonne, and towed behind my wife's faithful Rav4 - didn't go fast or down big hills, but no problems with the physics - of course legally it's another story...

randski · 04 December 2005, 18:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter J

I have a 6m RibX on a de graaf trailer towed by a Land Cruiser Amazon. Do you think I can get away without any brakes?

Peter.

DON'T you will never live with youself if something goes wrong.

Nasher · 04 December 2005, 18:50

Peter

There is no doubt the Amazon will handle it, however you won't be legal because your over 750kgs.

From memory, the previous post related to a trip of 200yards or so.

If you have an accident and the truth is discovered your insurance will be invalid, with all the associated charges to be brought, and paying for any damage yourself. And have you ever tried getting insurance after being caught without any? It gets very expensive.

I can do some reckless things at times, but its not worth the risk in my opinion.

Nasher

randski · 04 December 2005, 19:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nasher

Peter

There is no doubt the Amazon will handle it,

Nasher

I drive a Land Cruiser myself, and have spent over 25 years in the driver training industry, don't believe that accidents just happen to other people.

Mollers · 04 December 2005, 21:20

"That guy" is actually me. I agree with all the safety arguments, but in reality they don't work after a dunking. One of my boating buddies is a brake specialist I've had him stripping an adjusting the things so many times. Once they've been submerged in the sea and given a week or so to rust they start to bind. Then they get hot and the shoes are wrecked and the grease runs out of the bearings. I reckon that in an emergency most boat trailer brakes are as likely to hinder safe braking as aide it, as in pull up unevenly causing the boat to slew out. If you're going to crash big style, you're going to lose the boat whatever.

fred bolton · 04 December 2005, 21:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollulnan

"That guy" is actually me. I agree with all the safety arguments, but in reality they don't work after a dunking. One of my boating buddies is a brake specialist I've had him stripping an adjusting the things so many times. Once they've been submerged in the sea and given a week or so to rust they start to bind. Then they get hot and the shoes are wrecked and the grease runs out of the bearings. I reckon that in an emergency most boat trailer brakes are as likely to hinder safe braking as aide it, as in pull up unevenly causing the boat to slew out. If you're going to crash big style, you're going to lose the boat whatever.

But as Nasher says you will be insured

Hugh Jardon · 04 December 2005, 22:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollulnan

"That guy" is actually me. I agree with all the safety arguments, but in reality they don't work after a dunking. One of my boating buddies is a brake specialist I've had him stripping an adjusting the things so many times. Once they've been submerged in the sea and given a week or so to rust they start to bind. Then they get hot and the shoes are wrecked and the grease runs out of the bearings. I reckon that in an emergency most boat trailer brakes are as likely to hinder safe braking as aide it, as in pull up unevenly causing the boat to slew out. If you're going to crash big style, you're going to lose the boat whatever.

i tend to disagree with the notion that brakes are knackered after just one dunking, my roller coaster 7 has been in the sea a lot of times over the last 7 years and the brakes work fine and still do, i pulled the hubs off to change the bearings cos after 7 years they had slight pitting on some of the rollers but the brakes are fine, slight surface rust in places but they work fine and needed nothing doing except to adjust the cables and regrease the cables. the service i did on the trailer is the first in 7 years!!.

admittidly they have a slight layer of grease over them, copper grease and it has kept em perfect for 7 years and look like they have another 7 years left, by the way i dunk my wheels all the way to the mudguard every time

by the way trying to explain why no brakes are fitted is different to trying to explain why they are not at 100% effiency to the insurance assessor

Nasher · 04 December 2005, 22:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh Jardon

by the way trying to explain why no brakes are fitted is different to trying to explain why they are not at 100% effiency to the insurance assessor

The phrase Pre-meditated springs to mind!

Nasher

Nos4r2 · 04 December 2005, 23:00

Dont do it. The one time you'll need the brakes will be the time you kill someone or total your boat because they arent there.

The 'it'll total your boat anyway' argument doesnt ring true-last year I was towing my old microplus cabin cruiser with a full complememnt of gear aboard with the girlfriend's Rover 418....the trailer weighed over a tonne with it onboard. Some blind old granny pulled out on me making me slam on the brakes at 30mph in a corner (not a blind one!) and the trailer brakes were the only reason I stopped in time. The trailer would have jack-knifed without them-and the boat was fine.

jwalker · 04 December 2005, 23:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollulnan

...but in reality they don't work after a dunking.

Quote:

One of my boating buddies is a brake specialist I've had him stripping an adjusting the things so many times.

It ain't what you do, it's the way that you do it....

Nos4r2 · 04 December 2005, 23:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwalker

It ain't what you do, it's the way that you do it....

yep.... the microplus's hallmark trailer brakes had been fully submerged 5 times and were still fine....and still are. Spoke to the guy I sold it to last week.

roycruse · 04 December 2005, 23:30

I can only comment from a different perspective - I tow my boat with a standard front wheel drive car and without my brakes I would be buggered. I have already had an emergency stop situation on a blind bend and am 100% certain that without the brakes I would have crashed.

I read all the discussions on corroding brakes with great interest as I depend on them with my tow vehicle.

Its encouraging to hear that some people have never had problems with their brakes and scary to hear others stories.

I will be inspecting mine at least once a year, probably more often.

Hugh Jardon · 05 December 2005, 09:33

ensure hubs are packed with grease and some light layer of copper slip on some brake parts works wonders

also check the adjusting rod for movement

Quote:

Originally Posted by roycruse

I can only comment from a different perspective - I tow my boat with a standard front wheel drive car and without my brakes I would be buggered. I have already had an emergency stop situation on a blind bend and am 100% certain that without the brakes I would have crashed.

I read all the discussions on corroding brakes with great interest as I depend on them with my tow vehicle.

Its encouraging to hear that some people have never had problems with their brakes and scary to hear others stories.

I will be inspecting mine at least once a year, probably more often.

Mollers · 05 December 2005, 10:51

I reckon, and I'm yet to be convinved otherwise, that the only way to keep them in perfect working order when they are regularly being dunked in the sea is to remove th hub wash and lube them EVERY time after submersion. The only reason I can think of why most of you guys don't appear to suffer as greatly as me and my oppos is that on recovery you tow much greater distances. This might dry the brakes out more thoroughly, my ten minute tootal home might not. As for fancy lubes and greases? Been there.

Mollers · 05 December 2005, 10:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh Jardon

ensure hubs are packed with grease and some light layer of copper slip on some brake parts works wonders

also check the adjusting rod for movement

Pack the hubs with grease and the brakes wont work at all and may result in a fire!!

Hugh Jardon · 05 December 2005, 10:54

yes i do normall have to travel some 30 miles and othertimes a minimum of 6 miles so that might be it......but it might be down to my manual shifting in my auto box with incredible smooth technique that helps the hubs...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollulnan

I reckon, and I'm yet to be convinved otherwise, that the only way to keep them in perfect working order when they are regularly being dunked in the sea is to remove th hub wash and lube them EVERY time after submersion. The only reason I can think of why most of you guys don't appear to suffer as greatly as me and my oppos is that on recovery you tow much greater distances. This might dry the brakes out more thoroughly, my ten minute tootal home might not. As for fancy lubes and greases? Been there.

Nos4r2 · 05 December 2005, 18:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollulnan

I reckon, and I'm yet to be convinved otherwise, that the only way to keep them in perfect working order when they are regularly being dunked in the sea is to remove th hub wash and lube them EVERY time after submersion. The only reason I can think of why most of you guys don't appear to suffer as greatly as me and my oppos is that on recovery you tow much greater distances. This might dry the brakes out more thoroughly, my ten minute tootal home might not. As for fancy lubes and greases? Been there.

Good point- I tow 75 miles each way, hose the trailer down straight after engine flushing and all the grease nipples got a good going over with a grease gun with marine grease in too-including the cables.

It's nice not having to have brakes now!

Swifty · 05 December 2005, 23:26

Just for the record, my searider is on an unbraked trailler and has to weigh in about 650kgs which is ok for my Discovery. This year I was cut up at a roundabout and had to do an emergency stop. Sad to say i stamped revoR dnaL into the back of a brand new vauxhall, well allmost, it was 2 weeks old. Worst bit about was it bent my bumper

. Insurance sorted it all out but the driver was a bit miffed.

Even though I was within the weight limit for the vehicle, my brakes and tyres were in good condition and the road was dry, it was an unfortunate mistake that would not have happened if my trailler had had brakes. I will finish building my new combi trailler...

Tim'mers.