Hunting Washington Forum

Other Activities => Fishing => Topic started by: birddogdad on October 20, 2022, 09:42:54 AM

Title: Boat trailer maintenance PSA
Post by: birddogdad on October 20, 2022, 09:42:54 AM: So i will tell my story. purchased a used (2004) boat/ trailer last summer. Thing was clean very little use, runs great ect... i used it all summer, replaced ORIGINAL tires on trailer first thing! The spares even still had injection nipples on tread. Tires literally came apart when pulled by tire machine (sidewalls).

i ran it all year and decided to check the surge brake system as i was putting up for hunting season. Found the tongue actuator was frozen rusted! looking closer, the brake wheel cylinders had seals torn and worn.

Have a 20K actuator on trailer, was in ballpark of 300$ for all new internals, 1 axle brake system from Kodiac (most common company for boat trailer brakes) was in ballpark of 600$ and while at it, update to rubber DOT brakelines is in progress... i have attached a picture of the actuator internals and trust me the caliper/rotor ends look as tired.

I guess what i am saying here is that trailers are often overlooked and now at end of your year, is the best time to go over them. I consider how it will be about a month of order/ship/install everything (DIY) and say to myself it would have really sucked to find out first day out next season and be ooc for a month then! hope this thread triggers your actions and saves you heartaches down stream!

B
Title: Re: Boat trailer maintenance PSA
Post by: Buckjunkie on October 20, 2022, 10:06:23 AM: Had a problem with the surge brakes on my new/used boat. The brakes themselves were new, but the surge system failed. I used a lock out that I found on Amazon temporarily, but then had a local shop replace the hitch part of the system. Cost me about $1,200 and it still wasn’t working. Turned out to be a $3 fuse. It was time to replace the hitch part of the system due to corrosion, so I’m not too disappointed.

I’ve had problems with surge brakes before, so I will keep the orange lock out handy.
Title: Re: Boat trailer maintenance PSA
Post by: metlhead on October 20, 2022, 01:16:09 PM: My best advice is never put the boat up for winter. Keep hauling it all season and regular maintenance has kept both both trailers in great shape. My sled trailer has almost 40k and pulls great.