Electric over hydraulic trailer brakes utilize the electrical signal from your truck’s
braking system to operate a separate, hydraulic disc or drum brake actuator located
on the trailer, which converts that signal into hydraulic pressure which then presses
against brake pads on your trailer to stop it.
Disc Brakes
A disc brake system utilizes a wheel (rotor) and caliper instead of drum brake
assemblies for greater stopping power compared to traditional drum brakes, and is
more cost-effective in terms of maintenance costs and replacing pads over time.
As hydraulic pressure in the wheel cylinder increases, a push rod extends and
applies force against primary and secondary shoes within a drum cluster. This
levered force causes them to move in an arc against the hub drum, providing necessary deceleration.
As the brakes actuate, friction produces heat which radiates out from the rotor.
While this heat may help reduce brake fade and extend longevity compared to
traditional drum brakes, its effects may mean disc brakes need replacement more
frequently due to pad wear or heat degradation; which could impact your budget in the long run.
Drum Brakes
If you plan to haul your boat with a standard surge brake coupler or don’t have
space in your truck for hydraulic disc brake upgrades, electric over hydraulic (EOH)
brakes could be an ideal choice. These systems utilize your existing trailer brake
controller to control an independent hydraulic disc or drum brake actuator mounted solely on the trailer itself.
Hydraulic trailer brakes differ from electric systems by applying equal and full
pressure across all wheel positions for consistent braking action, eliminating any
tendency for “pushback”. Furthermore, unlike some electric brake systems that tend
to “pushback”, hydraulic trailer brakes provide equal pressure at every wheel
position without “pushingback”.
One notable disadvantage of drum brakes is that as their brake pads wear down
they require increased hydraulic volume for each wheel slave unit to engage the hub
drum, leading to noticeable clunking noise during braking. They also require regular
maintenance as their small surface area makes heat dissipation difficult.
Brake Controllers
Most states mandate the use of a brake controller when operating trailers with
hydraulic or electric brakes, typically connected via light plug (typically 4 pin or 7 pin
round plug) in order to use an electronic signal to control actuators on your trailer.
Modern vehicles typically come equipped with factory systems customized
specifically to their vehicle and trailer combination, making setup quick and simple
through simple adjustments on the digital display screen.
Time-delay brake controllers use basic electrical principles to recognize when the
vehicle’s brake pedal is depressed, applying a fixed amount of power (known as
gain) to trailer electromagnets. They can be adjusted for various applications but are
less precise than proportional controllers which use inertia sensing technology and
an accelerometer to produce an electric signal proportional to deceleration rates.
Brake Lines
With electric over hydraulic brakes, an electrical signal from your trailer brake
controller is sent directly to an actuator on the trailer which then increases hydraulic
pressure to engage calipers on your wheels and apply brakes that mimic those found on a truck.
With conventional surge brakes, your truck must slow before trailer tongue parts can
compress the actuator rod to activate them – creating an extra step between when
your foot hits the brake in your truck and its trailer finally stopping. This may result
in a delay between when you step on your footbrake and when its effects take place.
EOH brake lines are constructed of high-grade stainless steel tubing that is UV
protected to help avoid breakdown under direct sunlight.