PGParish
Delaware
New Member
Joined: 10/28/2006
View Profile
 Offline
|
Hi,
I have a 1996 1206 King Bed Popup with a sway problem during emergency stops. During normal travel it is ok. I have owned it since 1998 and have put on thousands of miles. I have had one near accident and another time it jacked knifed so bad it ripped one wheel off the lugs and bent the other. Luckily I didn't hit any thing and I was able to put the spare on and go home.
It has a Dexter axle with hydraulic surge brakes. The axle is torsion type. I never used any sway control because I was told you could not with surge brakes. I pull with a Chevrolet Suburban that has an electric brake control. I have a car trailer and a closed in trailer that I built, both with electric brakes.
I was trying to sell it and in fact took $1700 --- but just could not with out telling about the sway problem. Needless to say I gave back the money. So selling it leaves me a with a problem.
The trailer GVWR is 2460 and the axle is rated for 2400lbs. I think the current axle is a little on the light side and the trailer needs an electric brake axle and sway control. I am considering scraping it, or finding a 3500 lb. electric brake axle. I have built a couple of trailers before. Any ideas?
Thanks for taking the time of reading this and any replies.
Patrick
|
skipnchar
Topeka Kansas USA
Senior Member
Joined: 12/17/2003
View Profile
|
If your problem occurs under braking then it sounds like your brakes..."AREN'T". I've never been a big FAN of surge brakes myself but it does sound like yours aren't braking near ENOUGH in quick stop situations. If it was mine, i'd be swaping out the axles for some with electric brakes on it but AT LEAST get the brakes looked at. Good luck / Skip
2004 F-150 HD 3,050 lb. payload
Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
We have enough YOUTH...how about a fountain of SMART
|
donn0128
Pronounced Ore-gun
Senior Member
Joined: 04/21/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
Just what i was going to say. Swap out the surge brakes for regular electric brakes and a quality brake controller and likely your problems will disappear.
Donn
|
Airstreamer67
Pineville, LA USA
Senior Member
Joined: 11/07/2002
View Profile
|
I always thought you could use friction-type sway-control bars with surge brakes. No?
* This post was
edited 04/10/08 10:50am by an administrator/moderator *
|
younger85
Wisconsin
New Member
Joined: 03/10/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
I actually had the identical trailer many moons ago, towed it with a 1/2 ton ext. cab chev. It had plenty of wiggle to it going down a straight road, and braking was a bit of an adventure...on hard brakes. I had many issues with the surge brake (just not a good design), and after discussing it with a Jayco service rep, decided to cut the brake line by the axle and just "free wheel" it. I had much much better braking after that, since my vehicle was in control of the whole deal. If at all possible, put an electric brake system on it, but otherwise I'd recommend cutting the brake line and just going free. Your 'Burb is plenty heavy to keep in control. Good luck!!!
'08 Rockwood 23SS
'00 Ford Excursion Limited V10
|
|
|
LIKE2BUILD
Mt. Zion, IL
Senior Member
Joined: 09/30/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
PGParish wrote:I have a 1996 1206 King Bed Popup with a sway problem during emergency stops. During normal travel it is ok.....It has a Dexter axle with hydraulic surge brakes.
Your surge brakes are not working properly. There are many installations of this brake type on boats and, when properly maintained, they work fine. So, there's no reason yours shouldn't work fine as well. However, I would agree with others that in your case, electric brakes would give you more control.
You should be able to contact Dexter Axle, give them model # of the axle you have, and they can give you the proper Complete Electric Brake Kit that will retrofit your axle. Really, I don't see why they wouldn't have a kit that is a direct, bolt-on replacement. This I linked here is $300 for both sides.
KJ
2002 Jayco Qwest 324G
2004 Chevy 2500HD CrewCab |6.0L|2X4|4.10:1
Curt MagnumV receiver
Eaz-Lift Hitch with Reese Dual Cam
1981 Seastar 18' Runabout
1996 Polaris SLT780 Waverunner
3 Wonderful Sons (9, 3, & 1 year)
1 forgiving wife!!!
|
BarneyS
S.E. Lower Michigan
Moderator
Joined: 10/16/2000
View Profile
Offline
|
Airstreamer67 wrote:I always thought you could use friction-type sway-control bars with surge brakes. No?
No, surge brakes do not work with a friction sway control because the sway control stiffens the connection between the trailer and truck which will then not allow the surge control mounted on the tongue of the trailer to slide forward during a stop. It is this forward movement that activates the brakes of the trailer. That is the same reason that most normal WD systems will not work with surge brakes. (Yes, I know that Equal-i-zer claims that theirs will work.)
Barney
2004 Sunnybrook 30FKS TT
Hensley "Arrow" 1400# hitch
2002 Ford F250 Super Duty, 7.3L PSD
Check out the new RV.net Blogs!
Visit our website here
|
the hangman
Green Bay, Wi
Senior Member
Joined: 05/09/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
Sounds like maybe only one wheel is braking ???
Get it looked at by a qualified technician
Jeff
2005 Fleetwood Valor
2007 Nissan Pathfinder
|
PGParish
Delaware
New Member
Joined: 10/28/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
I thank every one for their help. I have towed this trailer about 5,000 to 10,000 miles and only had two real problems. The first time I had the brakes locked up on the Suburban when the trailer started to sway. I let up on the brakes and it straighten up and I reapplied the brakes and stopped in time. The second time I swerved hard to avoid hitting a vehicle right in the side and when I swerved back the trailer jackknifed back and forth. I did not apply the brakes tell after it straighten up. I think both problems would have been avoided if I had a sway bar or a sway hitch. I have Emailed both Jayco and Dexter to get information to change the trailer to electric brakes.
The axle just bolts in with 4 bolts.
|
Pete D
Washington
Senior Member
Joined: 11/19/2005
View Profile
|
I do NOT think a sway bar or sway hitch is going to help.
Sounds like one side is working and the other one isn't. First thing I would do is check the shoe adjustments on both wheels and bleed the hydraulic system. Consider taking it to place where they work on boat trailers with surge brakes rather than RV place.
BTW, you shouldn't have to change axles to change the brakes. Pull the hub/drum, unbolt the hydraulic shoe plate, bolt on the electric shoe plate, hook up wires, hook up break-away switch, put wiring in tow vehicle, install controller in tow vehicle and Bob's Yer Uncle!
Be easier to get surge system working right...
1998 Ranger 4.0 4x4
1991 Scamp 13'
|
|
|
