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If trailer brakes are actuated when the towing vehicle slows down and the tongue presses forward, how do you keep the brakes from actuating when you are in reverse and backing the boat up a hill?
If you have drum brakes, freebacking brakes do not brake in reverse, so you don't need the back up solenoid. For discs it is a must, they cannot be made freebacking.
__________________ 1988 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee
4.0/NV 242 Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited
5.7 HEMI/Quadradrive II
I was advised by EZ Loader Trailer that a free-backing trailer with drum brakes was only good for up to a 5 degree incline; seemed to prove out my own experience. Further supported by Champions Trailer: they stated that regardless if drum or disc brakes, a bleed solenoid valve kit would take care of brakes locking up while backing up an incline like my driveway. Since I was starting to forget to manually disengage the surge brakes, this was a good fix. Now it's a non-issue.
A mechanic at a big boat store taught me this trick...
When you need to back up a hill and you aren't equiped with the reverse-light circuit or the other fancy equipment, take one of the safety chains off of the hitch and slip the hook of the safety chain into the slider slot on the actuator.
I can't say that this works with all actuators, but it works great with my Tico unit.
Don't forget to replace the safety chain before heading down the highway.
If your not wired in to do it this is how. There should be a pin that inserts into a hole just behind the ball on the tounge. It normally has a small chain or cable attatched to it so it doesn't get lost. When you need to back up, take this pin out. there will be another hole further back that seems to have no purpose. It should be really close to the actuator housing. Put the pin in that hole. When you back up the pin will not allow the hitch to depress the actuator. And whalla you can back up. Allways remember to put the pin back were it was or your brakes will not work. Also if you cannot find the hole pull forward some and then you will find it. Recommend getting it wired up so you won't have to get in and out all of the time.
__________________ Hit em' like Ten pound Hammer with a Five foot swing....
Many of the older units like a Titan 60 do not have a pin, so you have no choice but to have an actuator. On a side note, if you have never bled your system, I recomend doing so. When my boat was delivered, there was air in the system and I was able to back up without the actuator doing anything. Since this was the first boat I have owned with brakes, I thought all systems were working properly. I did not realize that the brakes were not working at all. They worked very well after the system was bled.
You can also install a Manaul Reverse Lock Ball Valve in place of an Electric Reverse Lockout Solenoid. Only thing is that each time u back up u have to remember to change the position if the manual valve then reset to the normal position.
I dredged out a parking lot trying to back up before my dad says hey dumb a@# why dont ya put a pin in that slot?? Boy I felt retarted.
Now I know some stuff!
Trailer Brake Question 
Recommend getting it wired up so you won't have to get in and out all of the time. 
