Trailer brake controller
5 Year Member
Joined: Feb 2019
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Looks like the equalizer 4pt would work fine with surge brakes.
Finally Weight Distributing Hitch for boat trailers (mrtrailer.com)
Anti-Sway And Weight-Distribution Hitches | BoatUS
Finally Weight Distributing Hitch for boat trailers (mrtrailer.com)
Anti-Sway And Weight-Distribution Hitches | BoatUS
Last edited by MikeD134; Feb 3, 2024 at 04:24 PM.
in the house
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 5,139
Likes: 1,976
From: Kansas
Electric or electric-over-hydraulic boat trailer brakes would be fine with a normal WDH...my only point was, at least for a LONG time, there just wasn't a good option/recommendation for a WDH used with surge brakes. Cool link that MikeD134 found.
5 Year Member
Joined: Dec 2017
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From: Los Angeles and Lake Tahoe
For what it's worth, my boat is right at 7,000 pounds and my truck easily tows it...no drama at all. Unless I am in hilly terrain, I hardly notice it back there. You will be fine. BTW, I have never, ever seen a boat trailer using a WDH.
Ever. It is not needed for the load you are describing...nor do they work with trailers with surge brakes.
Ever. It is not needed for the load you are describing...nor do they work with trailers with surge brakes.
EDIT: 75 years per their website.
I use a WDH with my 26' Cobalt since the tongue weight is 600#
I started with surge brakes but now have EOH.
Last edited by babock; Feb 5, 2024 at 01:28 PM.
5 Year Member
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,602
Likes: 754
From: Los Angeles and Lake Tahoe
Back in the 80s we had an 8,000# boat that we towed with an equalizing hitch. We had this contraption welded onto the trailer that allowed the equalizing bar mounts to roll back and forth.
Thread Starter
5 Year Member
Joined: Apr 2017
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For what it's worth, my boat is right at 7,000 pounds and my truck easily tows it...no drama at all. Unless I am in hilly terrain, I hardly notice it back there. You will be fine. BTW, I have never, ever seen a boat trailer using a WDH.
Ever. It is not needed for the load you are describing...nor do they work with trailers with surge brakes.
Ever. It is not needed for the load you are describing...nor do they work with trailers with surge brakes.
5 Year Member
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,602
Likes: 754
From: Los Angeles and Lake Tahoe
All engines can do braking. A 6 cylinder engine won't be as effective as an 8 cylinder engine but you can still downshift and get engine braking...I do it ALL the time. It's not the same type as a diesel engine but it still provides braking.
Last edited by babock; Feb 7, 2024 at 11:39 AM.
Thread Starter
5 Year Member
Joined: Apr 2017
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It might be called something else but I'll call it engine braking and I've already used it.
When in Tow Mode, going downhill, if you hit your brakes, it will downshift automatically and hold you at the desired speed once you release the brakes. This works regardless if you have a trailer hooked up or not.
When in Tow Mode, going downhill, if you hit your brakes, it will downshift automatically and hold you at the desired speed once you release the brakes. This works regardless if you have a trailer hooked up or not.
5 Year Member
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,602
Likes: 754
From: Los Angeles and Lake Tahoe
Even in the owners manual, they call it engine braking.
When I am going down a long grade towing, I just put transmission into manual mode and select gears to keep my RPMs at a safe level that helps slow me down in addition to using the brakes. I am towing 6500# loads.
When I am going down a long grade towing, I just put transmission into manual mode and select gears to keep my RPMs at a safe level that helps slow me down in addition to using the brakes. I am towing 6500# loads.
Member
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 1,116
Likes: 397
From: St. Marys, GA
It might be called something else but I'll call it engine braking and I've already used it.
When in Tow Mode, going downhill, if you hit your brakes, it will downshift automatically and hold you at the desired speed once you release the brakes. This works regardless if you have a trailer hooked up or not.
When in Tow Mode, going downhill, if you hit your brakes, it will downshift automatically and hold you at the desired speed once you release the brakes. This works regardless if you have a trailer hooked up or not.
