I'm back!

gwheeler · Post by **gwheeler** » April 9th, 2007, 10:52 am

After taking a long hiatus because of work I'm back. Question, I just bought a 19' Wellcraft 190 CCF with an old Evinrude 112 on it. I've just one issue...the trailer has hydraulic brakes that aren't working and need to have them worked on or I need to buy a new trailer. I'm pretty sure the whole braking system will have to be replaced. What do you think the replacement would cost me vs. buying a new trailer?

Post by **dolphinatic** » April 9th, 2007, 11:27 am

Just from personal experience, I never noticed a considerable difference between having brakes on the trailer and when the actuator went bad and the brakes were not functioning. The cost to repair the problem(s) was not worth the little added braking I was getting. The trailer was $2500 new and to fix the brakes was going to cost about $1200. At the time the braking problems started, the trailer was barely a year old. It was an EZ Loader tandem axle that was equipped to carry up to a 25 ft. boat. I tried for 3 months to have the work done under the " 2-year warranty" offered by EZ Loader. I found out the HARD way that EZ Loader does not like to warranty their trailers for pretty much anything if it is more than 60 days old. The 2-year waranty basically covers nothing outside of the trailer falling apart. So, I never fixed it and never noticed a difference. It was the first and only EZ Loader I'll ever own. Just my $.02

gwheeler · Post by **gwheeler** » April 9th, 2007, 3:09 pm

Guess what...the trailer is an EZ loader. I've never owned a trailer with hydraulic brakes before. I've been towing fine for the last 2 weeks without them...just have to remember to check my truck's brakes more frequently. At $1200 I can just wait a while and save up for another trailer.

Post by **dolphinatic** » April 9th, 2007, 4:52 pm

Sorry to hear that it was an EZ Loader.... I wouldn't say that you need another trailer just because of the brakes. I've had friends that have disassembled their brakes systems on their trailers and removed the brake hardware altogether and never had a problem stopping while towing their boat.

Post by **KarstRanger** » April 10th, 2007, 4:05 pm

My 2 cents on trailer brakes - is pay me now or pay me later. I've got a 20ft. cuddy cabin that I carry on a tandem trailer that never had brakes. Since I have had it about 2 years, the 4-wheel disks on my F-150 wear out about twice as fast as they used to. But, then I haul this thing all over Georgia and Florida, so if your miles are more moderate, and the fixing cost isn't justified, then don't fix 'em.

I will admit there have been a couple of hard braking incidents that got me to start saying my prayers and ferverently wishing for trailer brakes RIGHT NOW!, but you learn to keep your distance and take it easy with a big tow load. (Or if you don't learn, then the Darwin principle kicks in and takes care of you for good...)

gwheeler · Post by **gwheeler** » April 11th, 2007, 10:09 am

I think I'll just let the trailer brakes 'slide' as they are. I tow from Tallahasse to St. Marks so it's not very far. I drive it like an old lady anyways LOL.