2004 185 Sport Trailer

dlows185

New Member
Nov 3, 2017
20
Boat Info
2004 185 Sport 4.3 Mercury
Engines
4.3
Hey everyone,
I know my trailer has surge brakes! But it also has the 4 pin connector that wouldn't allow for the reverse lockout when I'm backing up the tow vehicle! Which is weird because I have never had a problem backing my trailer up and having the wheels lock up on me! And this is without using the lock out keys I just learned about!

Also the tongue says the accuator is a A-60, but the A-60 I see online are completely different looking! Looks like I have a A-70!

I guess my question to anyone with a Shorlander trailer like mine, did it come stock with a 4 pin connector? Are my brakes even working if they aren't locking up backing down the ramp?

Thanks for any responses!! My trailer jumped off the ball a few weeks ago (doing about 40mph and ground down the chains, which were mounted on the bottom of the tongue, just as everything came to a stop! This is the reason I'm looking into all of this! My break away cable doesn't look like it pulled out correctly, but I grounded the hook part off, so I'll need to replace that and make sure I secure it the the tow vehicle correctly!!
 
Boy, you must really be excited - lot's of exclamation points in that post!

Your trailer has drum brakes. They only use a 4-pin and are free-backing. Disc brakes use a 5-pin and need a lockout system. And... brakes will NEVER lock-up backing down the ramp... gravity works. Unless you start going really fast, really quickly, of course.

Always, always, always look under the coupler to see that the clamping finger is BENEATH the ball. For the coupler to come off, you must have dropped the clamping finger ON TOP of the ball instead of behind/under it. You're not the first... won't be the last.

The trailer may not have gotten far enough away from your truck to pull out the breakaway cable fully.
 
Ok, that makes scene. Thanks for the clarification. I guess the only way they would engage in reverse is if I was backing uphill! Good to know. I need to find a couple of those lockout keys, just in case.

I am super paranoid now about the coupler and chains now! Will be double and triple checking everything. I also read a good tip to jack the trailer up after hooking up, to see if it lifts the truck up.

Thanks again!

!!!!!!! Its a habit I guess, but your right!!!!!!!
 
You're welcome!!!!!!! ;)

Drum brakes are free-backing - you shouldn't need lockout keys, even going uphill. They don't grab in reverse.

You can do the "jack the trailer up" thing, but a quick looksee is much easier. It's very easy to see from the bottom side. Go take a look at the inside/underside of the coupler and you'll see exactly what I mean. Close the lever as you're looking at things - it's quite obvious once you know what to look for.
 
Great response! Thank you so much!
 

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