Bleeding trailer brakes??

I’ll soon be putting a new actuator on my boat trailer and will need to bleed the brakes. My instruction manual doesn’t say anthing about how to build up the pressure before opening the bleeder valves. Do I just park on a hill and build pressure or what? Any advice would be much apprieciated.

There should be a way to actuate the brake right up on the hitch. I did it on a Yacht Club trailer a few years ago. Used a large screwdriver to pump the brake. Just like a car. Its a 2 person job. Open the valve at the wheel, pump the brake hold it down, close the valve, release the brake, repeat. The reservoir was right up on the hitch. Keep the fluid full on each pump.

maybe i am wrong, but don’t you pump the brakes to build up the pressure first then open up and shut the bleeder valve, add fluid, pump up the brakes, open up and shut the
bleeder valve…………
i am not a wreach head and it has been a while since i have bleed brakes, or maybe trailors are different……………..tom fellegy

I had work done on a boat trailer of mine a few years ago at a local repair shop and they had a doohickythingamabob that they put on the front of the trailer to do it.

Hi Ben. How’s it goin’? My advise (experience) on surge
brakes? Don’t spend another dime reworking them! Convert
to electric. I did it on my last trailer and loved ’em.
I’ll be putting them on another trailer this spring. I also
suggest switching to the oil bath type hubs at the same
time. You’ll need new pre-assembled backing plates (these
include the shoes) & new drums plus oil bath kit. Your
light cord plug will need to be the round 7 blade type
because you’re adding two more wires. Although surge brakes
are fine when they are new, most guys who pull the inclosed
type construction trailers will tell you electrics are
safer and more reliable. Good luck with which ever way you
go.

Best way is to beg, borrow or steal a power bleeder or one of those Mini Vacs that you pump by hand. If you cant find one you can try this. Mount a trailer ball on the end of a strong 2X4 or piece of steel. Put this into the hitch and have a helper lift the 2X4 so that it operates the surge brake. This works just like stepping on the brake pedal of your car so the lever must be held while the brake bleeder screw is opened and then shut. If the lever is release while the bleeder screw is open you will suck air back into the line. The power bleeder or Mini Vac only requires one person and a lot less effort.