Trailer Brake Questions/Help

[EmeryZ28]

In May 17 I purchased a 2017 AR195 from Cycle Springs in Clearwater Florida. From what I gather the average 19ft Yamaha comes with a trailer that has NO brakes, but the dealer opted for an upgraded Shorelander trailer with surge brakes. As we enter our 6th summer of use, the brutal salt water and florida sun have completely rusted the trailer rotors, calipers, pads. It is all a seized mess and I am almost 100% certain they are not functioning at all anymore. We are on the list for a 25ft but I fear that day wont come until 2023. I am not comfortable going into this spring with the rusted mess, but I also do not think it is necessary for the surge brakes. I drive on all flat land and tow with a sturdy Silverado that has way more pulling and stopping power than is needed for a boat of this size. My question to the rest of the owners out there is, who has a 19ft yamaha on a trailer with NO brakes? Has anyone converted to brakeless?

thanks,

 

[Crob83]

In May 17 I purchased a 2017 AR195 from Cycle Springs in Clearwater Florida. From what I gather the average 19ft Yamaha comes with a trailer that has NO brakes, but the dealer opted for an upgraded Shorelander trailer with surge brakes. As we enter our 6th summer of use, the brutal salt water and florida sun have completely rusted the trailer rotors, calipers, pads. It is all a seized mess and I am almost 100% certain they are not functioning at all anymore. We are on the list for a 25ft but I fear that day wont come until 2023. I am not comfortable going into this spring with the rusted mess, but I also do not think it is necessary for the surge brakes. I drive on all flat land and tow with a sturdy Silverado that has way more pulling and stopping power than is needed for a boat of this size. My question to the rest of the owners out there is, who has a 19ft yamaha on a trailer with NO brakes? Has anyone converted to brakeless?

thanks,

The 19 foot yamahas have surge brakes

 

[EmeryZ28]

OK, I was misinformed. So with that, has anyone replaced them?

I believe this is what I need

Shorelander SK0107 5 Bolt Hub - Vented Rotor 10 Disc - Hardware Included

Shorelander SK0107 5 Bolt Hub - Vented Rotor 10 Disc - Hardware Included

www.hannarv.com

Shorelander SK0045 Complete Left Side Caliper Assembly 9.75 with Bolts

Shorelander SK0045 Complete Left Side Caliper Assembly 9.75 with Bolts

www.hannarv.com

Shorelander SK0046 Complete Right Side Caliper Assembly 9.75 With Bolts

Shorelander SK0046 Complete Right Side Caliper Assembly 9.75 With Bolts

www.hannarv.com

 

[AZMark]

I didn’t know that either. You could temporarily disable yours without removing anything permanent with some of those magnetic lockout insert things and maybe pull your pads too.

 

[Jim_in_Delaware]

Something else to consider, besides whether your tow vehicle can stop the load without trailer brakes, is that I believe in Florida all trailers (with loads) over 3,000 lbs need to be equipped with brakes.

I would offer to just go ahead and get the brakes repaired, as you will either pay for it now or take a hit when you decide to sell the AR195 when the new boat comes in.

Jim

 

[2kwik4u]

In May 17 I purchased a 2017 AR195 from Cycle Springs in Clearwater Florida. From what I gather the average 19ft Yamaha comes with a trailer that has NO brakes, but the dealer opted for an upgraded Shorelander trailer with surge brakes. As we enter our 6th summer of use, the brutal salt water and florida sun have completely rusted the trailer rotors, calipers, pads. It is all a seized mess and I am almost 100% certain they are not functioning at all anymore. We are on the list for a 25ft but I fear that day wont come until 2023. I am not comfortable going into this spring with the rusted mess, but I also do not think it is necessary for the surge brakes. I drive on all flat land and tow with a sturdy Silverado that has way more pulling and stopping power than is needed for a boat of this size. My question to the rest of the owners out there is, who has a 19ft yamaha on a trailer with NO brakes? Has anyone converted to brakeless?

thanks,

Only the 195 series got brakes, the 190 series did NOT. My '17 AR190 does NOT have brakes for certain, and I bought it brand new with the wrapper still on it.

I scaled my AR190 with all it's gear last spring at 3,200lbs. Research your state laws to see what is mandatory. For me, Indiana is a 3,500lb lower limit. For KY right across the river there is no requirement at all (Yay farm implement loophole).

I've towed my 190 with a Traverse, Trailblazer SS, Sierra, Q7, and a Titan. NONE of those vehicles had any issue stopping, however the Sierra had the worst brakes of the bunch.

If I was in your shoes I would fix the system. It's not terribly expensive, and it's good piece of mind. I've been considering putting electrics on my 190 for years, but haven't pulled the trigger on that just yet.

 

[212s]

If you haven't greased and maintained them, you probably need bearings too.

 

[drewkaree]

No idea if it was this way with that trailer, but my trailer uses off-the-shelf brake components from a Kia vehicle. I'm willing to bet if you're buying brake parts that are labeled "Shorelander", you're overpaying for them. See if you can track down the manual on your trailer to see if they note some such thing, as that's exactly where I found this information - the manual. Check to see if Shorelander has the manual on their site, or if anyone else has the same type of trailer, etc.

Another thing to consider about NOT doing the brakes - if you were to get into an accident, even if it weren't your fault, what's the potential for damages of a trailer that had no operational brakes? While your vehicle may tow it just fine, weird things happen in accidents, and the potential for a trailer with 3000+ lbs to get sideways and do supernatural things that you can no longer control seems like it would be...concerning.

Doing the brakes would also be another thing I'd want to see the manual about. Track that thing down, if at all possible.

 

[captainhook]

Be careful with trailer brakes and rust. The calipers will seize closed onto the rotors and prevent the wheels from moving at all. Luckily for me, both times it happened was in my driveway. I sure wouldn't want to have this happen at the ramp or on the highway.

 

[212s]

Another thing to consider about NOT doing the brakes - if you were to get into an accident, even if it weren't your fault, what's the potential for damages of a trailer that had no operational brakes?

Yup brakes are there and must be operational. Just like lights, if they're there they have to work.

 

[Betik]

if you take it easy you should be okay. That being said it is rather straight forward to change the brakes yourself. Rotors, pads, calibers and even hoses. One question you probably should ask yourself is the trailer condition aside from the brakes. If the brake componets are eaten up, how is the rest of your trailer holding up ?????

 

[EmeryZ28]

rest of the trailer seems fine, I replaced the u bolt shackles for the leaf springs last year with all new hardware as the original stuff was pretty rusty.

 

[lazergeek]

I would get Stainless Rotors and Calipers

 

[Betik]

rest of the trailer seems fine, I replaced the u bolt shackles for the leaf springs last year with all new hardware as the original stuff was pretty rusty.

Granted I have disk brakes on both my axles, i would says that if you are being careful you should be okay without.

 

[EmeryZ28]

I would get Stainless Rotors and Calipers

from what I can find there is only one option and that is stock shorelander replacement stuff

 

[212s]

from what I can find there is only one option and that is stock shorelander replacement stuff

My painted Shoreland'r trailer has stainless or galvanized brake parts from the factory. They should have replacements. Did you put in your trailer serial number to locate parts?

 

[EmeryZ28]

Yes and I linked the parts above, they might actually be stainless

 

[Richardb]

In May 17 I purchased a 2017 AR195 from Cycle Springs in Clearwater Florida. From what I gather the average 19ft Yamaha comes with a trailer that has NO brakes, but the dealer opted for an upgraded Shorelander trailer with surge brakes. As we enter our 6th summer of use, the brutal salt water and florida sun have completely rusted the trailer rotors, calipers, pads. It is all a seized mess and I am almost 100% certain they are not functioning at all anymore. We are on the list for a 25ft but I fear that day wont come until 2023. I am not comfortable going into this spring with the rusted mess, but I also do not think it is necessary for the surge brakes. I drive on all flat land and tow with a sturdy Silverado that has way more pulling and stopping power than is needed for a boat of this size. My question to the rest of the owners out there is, who has a 19ft yamaha on a trailer with NO brakes? Has anyone converted to brakeless?

thanks,

I'm going through the same issue myself (also in Tampa Florida). Your boat is light enough to not violate the 3k Florida law requiring brakes. The brake unit looked okay, however the hydraulic presser on the caliper was rusted out and all of the pads had disintegrated. The master hydraulic unit by the tongue was also experiencing issues. I did everything I was suppose to do with salt washes and greasing and it made little dent against the Bay's salt. The Shorelander trailer itself also has many galvanized and zinc components (why??????) in need of replacing after only three years of usage, so now I'm going through a trailer overhaul.

Removing the brake system causes some challenges at the tongue. The tongue is meant to slide to activate the braking, so welding or drilling and bolting the tongue to not slide is...well fun. Removing the outer brake caliper uses a 7mm Hex Key. The inner caliber uses another hex system that I cannot get into without removing the axle springs. You cannot replace your hubs with the caliber on, so it's a bigger job of removing the springs (which needs replacing now anyway). My plan is to replace every bolts, u-bolt, springs, and hubs with stainless steel.

Braking - I do not feel any difference with braking before and after as I believe the brake system failed early on and was not functional after the first year maybe two. I have a tundra 5.7 and just don't feel the boat much back there anyway. Hard braking certainly would matter if the system was functional, but is it worth the expense of replacing all of that gear every two years to have the trailer brakes? Just drive with a little more distance if it concerns you.

 

[McCrayCoastal]

I am experiencing this right now - a rusted mess. Also, the lug nut is rotating with the lug so I have to break the nut off or drill through it. I'm doing all of this so I can trade my boat in Key Largo next week but have to wait on parts and do the repair myself. It's been such a hassle.