Surge hitch question

[dumprat]

I am starting another trailer. A small tent top with built in kitchen etc. I am looking for a small surge hitch that will work with disc brakes. I am pulling it with my jeep LJ and the brakes are not up to the task once everything is loaded to the gills with family and gear. All of the hitches I have found are for large car trailers and heavy stuff. Mine will be fairly light and I want it to work correctly not just lock up. Any suggestions?

 

[rxinhed]

Curious why you want surge brakes? On all the trailers I've had and others that I've towed, the surge brake trailers were the wonkiest.

 

[Woods]

Are you saying that the LJ brakes are not up to the task, or the current trailer brakes?

I wouldn't consider a surge hitch. High cost and can be a serious hassle on the trail. I don't even know how well they would work with a light trailer.

 

[Mark Harley]

Surge hitches are bulky, heavy are not the best working.
I would go electric and keep it simple.

 

[dumprat]

The Lj's brakes with a 35" tire a loaded trailer without brakes is not fun. There is not enough stopping power. I am not a fan of electric brakes, the trailer will be used a lot around beaches and salt water as well as off road.

And I already have the disc brake set up.

 

[rxinhed]

How about an electric-over-hydraulic system, something like this: http://www.easternmarine.com/Electric-Hydraulic-Brake-Actuators/

 

[dumprat]

Kinda want to avoid electric anything. Besides lights of course, Which will be sealed.

 

[NMC_EXP]

Titan Brake Actuators

Titan Intl made surge brakes on some of the military 3/4T trailers. Here is a link to the Titan site. Click on the "Actuator Catalog" selection:

http://www.titan-intl.com/brakes-and-actuators-brochures

Regards

Jim

 

[dumprat]

Hmm I wnder if that would work on a 3000lb trailer?

 

[Mark Harley]

Etrailer.com

several surge couplers:

http://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Tra...-Bolt~On-pc-2_Inch_Ball_Coupler-sb-Price.aspx

 

[elmo_4_vt]

The system on my boat trailer (4000lbs) isn't that bulky and works relatively well... They lare shown on the Etrailer link above. I do, however, still like my electric brakes on my other trailers better. Don't let the wiring thing be daunting if that's the reason. The hook-up is very straight forward and reliable. It's even pretty cheap to have an RV place do it for you.

Also, getting something that is rated for more than your trailer weight won't lock up the brakes. It only brakes as much as it needs to in order to reduce the "push" of the trailer. If the hydraulics are build for more braking, they just won't work as hard.

Don

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[dumprat]

The wiring is easy. I have done it before. But I have a tendency to smash it and tear it off(I also rock crawl the jeep) Surge brakes are a great deal more fool proof in my opinion. Salt water,sand, dirt, and abuse don't do good things to electric components.