I wanted info./opinions on surge brakes vrs. traditional brakes on horse trailers. Brenderup uses surge (inertia) brakes but no other horse trailer manufactures do (that I'm aware of). Is there a reason that they aren't used on horse trailers?

I was thinking about having them installed on my Merhow, I really liked the surge brakes when I had a Brenderup.

What do you all think?

Thanks!!

The fact that there isn't a brake controller and you don't have to make adjustments, etc. was nice!

There are a few things that I don't like about surge brakes. Like Chad said, there is no in cab control. You can not manually apply your brakes, and you are pretty much limited to the pressure that is put against the hitch to stop you.

That brings me to my second thing; it has to put pressure on the tow vehicle to apply your brakes. In other words, it has to push you before it can help stop you. Your tow vehicle has added weight stopping in order to apply the trailer brakes. For all of the surge brake fans out there, I know that the push is minimal, but I still don't like it. 

Just my opinion....

I live in the North East and encounter winter driving conditions. Surge brakes depend on the braking action of the towing vehicle to activate the trailer brakes. In slippery conditions this can cause jackknifing. I have gotten out of several bad moments, by being able to manually activate the trailer brakes using my electric controller while NOT using my truck brakes.

In the marine environment, it was once thought that the surge brakes would solve the electrical maladies, caused by the total immersion into water of the trailer while launching and recovery of the boats. A majority of the boat trailers still use electrical brakes.

The surge brakes depend on a hydraulic actuator, brake lines and wheel cylinders similar to automotive brakes. It is more complex than the electrical systems, and each mechanical part has to be properly working for the entire system to function well.

The new electrical controllers have many features concerning proportioning, rate of application, trouble shooting etc, that, to the best of my knowledge, a hydraulic system can't duplicate.

Electric brakes are a proven application. They are reliable and work well. If one has failed, the others can continue to work unaffected. They are easy to maintain, and when necessary, trouble shoot and repair. I would think that having an electric to surge brake conversion installed, would be a complex and expensive proposition, with few advantages.

Gard

As long as we can agree to disagree, we are doing great!

I know surge brakes work. I never said they didn't. As far as an electrical short killing your brakes...a leaking line or brake cylinder, will do the same with hydraulics.

Hydraulic brakes in general do have superior braking abilities to electric. No questions about that.

However, if you pull long enough and far enough, you will end up in a situation when you need your brakes locked down now. Been there, done that. You will also end up in situations where you want a little more trailer brake than you do vehicle. Easily remedied for anything with in cab controls and adjustments. Surge brakes have neither.

Surge brakes not pushing you? Pull a 10,000# construction trailer, lock your brakes down, and then tell me that surge brakes do not push. Been there, done that too.

As far as surge brakes being superior...if that were the case, more manufacturers would at least offer them as an option. As it sits now, most horse trailer manufacturers don't offer the surge brakes.

They are better than having no brakes. That's about it.

You really want some stopping power? I would go with Electric over Hydraulic and go with Kodiak Disc Brakes. With this setup you will have a smooth, powerful stop. You will pay a little more, but you would have one hell of a setup. A setup like that is pretty easy to install and you won't have no problem stopping. Surge Brakes can cause a jerky stop if not adjusted correctly at all times. I assume you wouldn't want to throw your cargo of balance. Surge works on pressure and with different weights things need adjusting. Not only is it a pain but there are other more efficient Trailer Brake Setups out there. I know Kodiak Disc Trailer Brakes pretty well, because we use them on all our disc trailer brake requests. Good luck finding the right setup for your trailer.

John

I live in Maine and owned a Brenderup for a while.  I hated the surge brakes... every time I hit a frost heave or pothole they applied themselves.  A bumpy ride for the horses just got bumpier!

Back in 2004...  A four-year tussle ended in May when Maryland passed a law defining the legal use of surge brakes. House Bill #551 passed the house and senate unanimously and was signed by Gov Robert Ehrlich, thus allowing surge brakes on trailers with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 10,000 lb or less. A ratio of 1.50:1 (trailer to tow vehicle GVWR) is imbedded in the bill, preventing a small vehicle from towing a large trailer. The new law takes effect on October 1.

http://trailer-bodybuilders.com/mag/trucks_break_brakes/

And the Feds finally got their documents straight just recently...

http://www.forconstructionpros.com/print/Rental-Product-News/Columns/Surge-brakes-declared-legal/6FCP7156

Brenderup brakes are surge brakes. All surge brakes are considered hydraulic.

A hundred years ago, automobiles had cable operated brakes. Technology and experience has taught us new ways to slow a vehicle.

Gard