Coupling To The Tow Vehicle
Charge the battery every three months.
Replace the breakaway brake battery according to the intervals specified by
battery manufacturer.
4.3.1.9 Test Surge Brakes (If equipped)
Hydraulic surge actuator systems provide automatic and smooth trailer braking
without special application by the tow vehicle driver. While this is extremely
convenient it can sometimes be difficult to determine if the surge setup is
functioning properly. The following steps provide a quick field-test to confirm that
the trailer brake system is operational.
! WARNING
The field-test procedure indicates only if the trailer brake system
is functional, but DOES NOT provide information on how
efficiently it will operate.
Regular inspection, maintenance, and adjustment of all brake
system components (including the surge actuator, tubing, hoses,
brake clusters, drums, and associated hardware/support
structure) are still required to ensure maximum brake
performance and smooth, even brake operation.
Move the trailer to flat, level ground, pulling FORWARD several feet before
parking. This forward motion will ensure trailers equipped with free-backing brakes
are in their normal operating mode. Disconnect the trailer from the tow vehicle and
jack up the trailer's tongue until it is horizontal.
Hook the trailer's safety chains (NOT the actuator's breakaway cable) together to
form a loop, which is centered below the actuator's coupler. Place wheel chock
blocks two feet behind the trailer to prevent a runaway trailer.
Place a sturdy board, such as a 2 inch by 4 inch piece of lumber, into the chain
loop below the coupler. The board should be 4 feet or longer so it will extend
several feet above the actuator. Keep the end of the board a few inches off the
ground, and position it to press against the front end of the actuator's coupler.
Press the board towards the rear of the trailer.
Keep pressing the top of the board to stroke the actuator and its internal master
cylinder. If the trailer brake system is operational, the brakes will apply and keep
the trailer from rolling away from you. Properly adjusted uni-servo or duo-servo
type brakes will prevent you from moving the trailer back more than a few inches.
Free-backing type brakes will initially provide rolling resistance, but continued force
on the board will switch them into free-backing mode, and you'll be able to move
the trailer backwards.
If you have uni-servo or duo-servo brakes, and stroking the actuator (as described
above) causes the trailer to roll away from you freely or with only minimal
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