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I have a Magic Tilt Aluminum Signature Series (Als) Model TALS-2044 Tandem Axle trailer for my 2006 Sea Chaser. The trailer is equiped with Hydraulic Surge Drum Brakes. Maybe I am doing something wrong here so help me out.
In order for you to back the trailer up, you have to put this little special (tumb stone) shapped key into the trailer so stop the brakes from enguaging. If you do not, you can not backup because the brakes will be on. This key does not stay in or have any way of staying it. I guess you are supposed ot have someone stnd on the frame of the trailer and hold the key in which in my opinion is very dangerous. I ran into a situation the other day. I was on a highway and had to make a tight turn. About 3/4 way through the turn, I realized the trailer was not going to make it and I had to backup to get a little more angle on the trailer, well of course I had to get out in the middle of traffic, getting all sorts of dirty looks from all the folks who do not have a boat probably while I scrambled in my back-seat for some duct tape so I could take the key in position so I could back the trailer up a few feet and get on my way.
Is this really the way the trailer works or am I nuts? I'm not sure if this matter much in this equasion but I drive a stick shift manual truck. Anyone?
You need to replace the backing plate with a free backing setup. This is a mechanical setup in the drum brake system that allows you to back up without the brakes engaging. It requires no intervention on your part to activate. I am surprised why Magic Tilt did not supply this as part of the drum brake option. Just about every other manufacturer does. Why not call Magic Tilt and ask them why this was not the configuration installed on your trailer? The freebacking plate comes complete as an assembly. It only requires you to bolt it on connect up the hydraulics, bleed, and adjust the shoes.You can get the two wheel assembly at West Marine, Boat US etc. it will cost you about $170 for both backing plate assemblies. Just make sure you get a full galvanized set with aluminum cylinders. Look at this one. http://www.boatus-store.com/webapp/w...2/750/11210/17
I just spoke with tech support at Magic Tilt and I think I may have discovered my problem. The dealer told me to have a 4-way blade tow kit installed on my truck when the trailer really requires a 5-way plug. The 5th wire sends a signal from the reverse lights on the truck to the trailer and disenguages the disc brakes on the trailer. Oh well, my boat dealer is a screw ball, what do you want. This is not the first time I got bad informaiton from them.
No, you're not supposed to have someone stand on the trailer when backing up. The key should stay in while backing but it's designed so you can't leave it in for normal travel (which would disable the brakes).
Many brands of drum brakes are "free backing", that is they have little effect in reverse but work in the forward direction. The original brakes on my trailer were as yours, the pin had to be inserted to back up at all. They corroded and failed and I replaced them with "free backing" drum brakes which worked fine and allowed me to back up without using the pin.
I am about to replace these drakes with disk brakes which work equally well in forward or reverse. With disk brakes it is necessary to install a "free backing solenoid" in the brake line and connect it to the tow vehicle's backup light circuit. This solenoid disables the brakes when the vehicle's transmission is put into reverse gear.
For a relatively simple solution to your problem, purchase and install a free backing solenoid and connect it to the backup light circuit of your tow vehicle. Use a five wire harness. Many vehicles with a factory tow package already have this circuit to the backup lights installed and you can use a matching plug on your trailer.
Either do as Kevin says, or install a reverse solenoid that is usually used for disc brakes, which cannot be made free backing. For the solenoid, you need to have the 5 wire flat connector, so you would have to add a wire to pick up the current from your back up lights. I have the free backing Tie Down Galvax drums and they work well, never a problem backing up. I am suprised that any trailer manufacturer would not have either the free backing drums or the back up solenoid.
Ron ya beat me to it!
If you put in the solenoid, if you ever want to convert to discs you will be all ready, except for having to remove the residual valve in master cylinder.
__________________ 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 just spoke with tech support at Magic Tilt and I think I may have discovered my problem. The dealer told me to have a 4-way blade tow kit installed on my truck when the trailer really requires a 5-way plug. The 5th wire sends a signal from the reverse lights on the truck to the trailer and disenguages the disc brakes on the trailer. Oh well, my boat dealer is a screw ball, what do you want. This is not the first time I got bad informaiton from them.
OK, you have disk brakes, not drum? Does the trailer have a five pin plug? You're plugging it into a four pin socket?
If so, get the tow vehicle rewired and you should be on your way.
Don't forget there are 2 kinds of these solenoids, one just blocks flow, the other relieves pressure and blocks flow, so if you have the blocking kind, and the brakes are applied you have to pull foward to get them to relieve pressure, whereas with the type that relieves pressure you don't need to do that. You need a return port in the master cyl to install the type that relieves pressure.
__________________ 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
now I have to go look at my trailer. I'm all confused. Not sure if I have disk brakes or drum. Magic Tilt told me if it's a 2006 trailer, it has disc brakes but per the specs on the web site, it says it has drum. I also am not sure if the trailer has a 5 or 4 pin. I know my truck has a 4. I need to go look at my trailer again before I can figure out which way to go with this problem. Is there an easy way to look at the brakes and tell if I have drum or disc? I am obviously not very mechanical. I am a software engineer.
OK I know what my problem is. I went out to my trailer. I have DISC breaks and I have a 5-pring on my trailer. I have a 4 on my truck end. That is the priblem. I'll either run another wire from my reverse lights or have it re-wired next season.
My answer was strictley geard toward your drum brake comments. Since we now know you have dic brakes. If you do not have the adequate wiring for the backup solenoid at the hitch. You will have to run a wire that is spliced into your backup bulb circuit on your tow vehicle and run it through a disconnect to the backup solenoid.
OK I know what my problem is. I went out to my trailer. I have DISC breaks and I have a 5-pring on my trailer. I have a 4 on my truck end. That is the priblem. I'll either run another wire from my reverse lights or have it re-wired next season.
Scott
No sense waiting until next season (unless you're in the southern hemisphere).
The sooner you have it rewired, the less trouble you'll have with it. Suppose you have to back up in a hurry?
Those 7 to 5 flat adapters are harder to find than you might expect. The 5th wire is for disabling the brake activation solenoid as stated above. Because even with LED's you really want to disconnect the lights when dunking the trailer, wait until you are on the incline down before you do this and the brakes will not activate.
Location: Los Angeles, FL.or Georgia, depends. In Fl now.
Posts: 5,979
Re: Trailer Brake Question
Quote:
dematteoss - 4/12/2006 9:06 AM
I just spoke with tech support at Magic Tilt and I think I may have discovered my problem. The dealer told me to have a 4-way blade tow kit installed on my truck when the trailer really requires a 5-way plug. The 5th wire sends a signal from the reverse lights on the truck to the trailer and disenguages the disc brakes on the trailer. Oh well, my boat dealer is a screw ball, what do you want. This is not the first time I got bad informaiton from them.
Yep the fifth line activates a switch that allows reverse without getting out of truck.
Trailer Brake Question 
