Ameritrail Trailers

[blueplastic]

I lost the metal clip to lock the brake for the front of my trailer. I'm talking about the 3" metal bracket that clamps onto the trailer. I do not have light plugs on the towing vehicle yet, so I'm a bit stuck.

I called Boat U.S., local boat dealers and even a specialized trailer shop and none of them had that part or at least didn't have it for sale.

I did some research on the web and found Ameritrail's contact info.

Unfortunately, even Ameritrail does not sell that part anymore.

My questions are:

1) The guy on the phone at Ameritrail was describing a method to back up the trailer (without having the brakes lock up) by opening a compartment at the front of the trailer and turning a wedge? And then pushing a button to turn on brakes again? I've been using the metal clip to do this. Anyone know what the guy was describing? He said it was located at the front, near the ball...where the brake fluid goes.

2) How do I maintain the trailer? How often am I supposed to change brake fluid? What are those buddy bearning things? And am I supposed to grease those everyonce in a while?


For the record, here's Ameritrail's info:

Ameritrail Trailers
 Phone 407-892-1100
 Fax 407-892-1228
   
 Postal Address:  
 4840 East Irlo Bronson Highway
 St Cloud, Florida
 34771

"Ameritrail Trailer is quite possibly the very best trailer built. Our trailer that carries our boat is a custom Aluminum Tandem Axel Trailer. Ameritrail is based in St Cloud Florida, and can build any custom trailer for any trailer needs. Boats, Cars, Specialty Trailers and more. Their after sale customer service is incredible, and they will always be there to help."

[phenom_1819]

Hey Blueplastic,

I have the bracket you are talking about, but I have a different method that I think is much easier.   I also have a 4-prong connector on my truck, but the trailer has a 5-prong connector...

When I need to back up, all I do is turn my headlights on, which sends power to the second prong on the harness.  I unplug the harness, then plug the 5th connector on the trailer into the second connector (first female connector) of the truck harness.

Maybe this makes more sense (forgive the crappy diagram):

Truck looks like this:
O I  I  I  
1 2 3 4

Trailer looks like this:
O I  I  I  I
1 2 3 4 5

Hook the truck's "2" into the trailer's "5".  As long as your headlights are on, it will trigger the trailer brakes to release, and you're golden to back up.  

That's what I do, anyway... it only takes a few seconds each time, then you don't have to worry about carrying (and losing) the little metal bracket.

[chicoepic]

Until two weeks ago I was always fighting the back up brakes.  Two options;

1.  A half inch socket with some tape works fine.
2.  Go to radio shack and get a lighter extension cord, and cut off the end and hook the positive side to an aligator clip, attach to fifth pin on trailer to back up.
3.  Get the vehicle wired.

[krejciman]

I too fought this for about 2 years.  I used to tape a washer in the spot where the brake actuator slides back.  Then, a guy at Newport Marine showed me a little metal 'key' he uses that is made for that and does not require any tape or stuff like that.  

Bu t really what you should do is find your reverse lights wiring... tap into that and put a new plug that includes a wire that is hot when you back up.  That should do the trick...

Trailer maintenance tips:  I make frequent trips across the desert(about 240 miles) with my boat behind me.  It's usually over 100 degrees and I usually have a car full of kids and a wife.  If something goes wrong, I'm screwed!  I do my best to lube the 'bearing buddy things' before any long trips, some guys lube them EVERY time their boat goes in/out of the water.  Tire pressure is the next big thing to worry about.  Make sure you've got them aired up.  Tire condition is also something to inspect before long trips.  Brakes (IMO) seem to have alot less issues as the other things.  Oh yeah, I don't care what anybody says - check your lugs EVERY trip.  I know plenty of people who have been passed on the highway by their own wheel/tire!

[brad]

See this thread for trailer information:

http://www.cyclone-cj.com/forum/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=227

Note the trailer maintenance "how to" on epicmarine.com as well.

I got my flat 5 wiring harness from UHaul.  Just tap into your flat four wires and find the backup light wire on your tow vehicle for the 5th wire.  It sure beats having to mess with the metal insert or changing the harness connection each time you back up.

[crispy]

Try north coast marine I bet they have one...
(707)544-3030
Those guys have everything for toyota's

[Bitzco]

I got sick and tired of fighting this issue and took my vehicle to a trailer shop. Left it for a couple of hours while they hooked up a five prong connector to the back up lights. It cost about $75.  No more headaches, frustration or wasted time trying to deal with the backing up issue. For only $75 bucks I should have done it two years ago. I just bought a new Landcruiser to tow with and will be getting the five prong connector installed on it this week. I tried everything and wouldn't do it any other way.

[2000epic]

Hooking up the five way plug is a snap.  If you have a four prong already, cut the wires and match the wire colors from the four way to the wire colors on the five way.  You'll have one left over, that one will splice into a tail light wire with a wire tap and a length of extra wire.  Also check this out:  

http://www.etrailer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=E&Product_Code=37515&Category_Code=A

or:

http://www.etrailer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=E&Product_Code=20016&Category_Code=VWH

I did this on my 03 dakota in about 20 minutes.  My 97 grand cherokee had a seven post connector, the RV dealership had an adapter that pluged right in and gave me five way.

http://www.etrailer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=E&Product_Code=37379&Category_Code=A

As per bearing buddies, I carry a grease gun with me for this reason:  When you drive down the road the bearings get warm, and the air and grease inside expand.  When you back the warm bearings into cool water the air and grease contract creating a vacuum which draws water through the best of seals.  So I give each a squirt when I park the trailer

[Lakeside]

This forum is a vacation-saver!  

Last month we picked up our new (to us) Epic as we were driving on our family vacation.  With just a few hours of Epic ownership under our belts, we got to our cabin in the woods and learned the hard way about how touchy our surge brakes were.  Our truck and boat got wedged in among the trees.  After a long time, I think we finally accomplished a 73 point turn to get the truck and boat turned around without hitting a tree.  

Fortunately, I had read this thread a few days before we bought the boat and we took the truck to the U-Haul in Duluth, MN where they installed the 5 pin plug that disables the surge brakes when you are backing up.  It burned a 1/2 day of vacation to have this done, but it was worth it.  Ever since, we've had trouble free trailering.  This is a great forum.  Thanks for sharing all of these tips.

By the way... it's a great boat!

[toyotafreak]

73-point turn, I love it!!!

Hey, among other things, this year I added two spare tire mounts to the tongue of the trailer. And two spare tires. And added a nice long breaker bar/lug wrench. And anti-siezed the lug nuts. Still haven't done the Bearing Buddy thing, but....I'm holding out for when Turbo Lube puts out a disk version.

HEY!!! What we really need is the spare tire cover from the back of the RAV4s. They're painted in Toyota colors and have the Toyota logos on there. In my dreams, I have the trailer repainted from black to Sequoia Silver, add two RAV4 spare tire covers, and add four Highlander rims to the trailer. Pee Eye to the mother f-in Em Pee. The DNA would REALLY be strong then...

[2000epic]

could you post a pic of that (those) spare tire mounts?  Pretty please.

[toyotafreak]

Will do. They're just the cheap ones from West Marine. I did it cuz somebody explained that often you'll lose one tire and not realize it. The extra load causes the remaining one to heat up and blow. Lotta extra tongue weight, but really don't have anywhere else to put it.

[cyclone]

Derek, I have no idea what you just said. I can show a pic of the 20$ mount that I bought for a spare, it works fine. There is a bracket that bolts onto the factory trailer, probably costs more to ship it from Orlando than the aftermarket mount.

[toyotafreak]

Pete, you're not alone in not knowing what I just said.

I will send a picture of the mounts as requested.

I put two mounts on my trailer.

They're up on the tongue cuz that's the only place they'd fit.

Being up on the tongue increases tongue weight a bit.

[lesman01]

I saw a picture of the one on Sandy's boat on the site...under the boat's belly.  Is that the factory one? I bought a spare tire from Overtons, but the side mount they sent won't fit a 6 lug wheel.

Anyone??

Derek, I have no idea what you just said. I can show a pic of the 20$ mount that I bought for a spare, it works fine. There is a bracket that bolts onto the factory trailer, probably costs more to ship it from Orlando than the aftermarket mount.