2007 LOAD RITE 5S-AC26T6000102TB2 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

THIS LOAD RITE BOAT TRAILER INCLUDES A TIE DOWN MFG MODEL 125 BRAKE ACTUATOR WHICH PROVIDES A HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM (NOT CONNECTED TO THE TOW VEHICLE). THIS IS A "SURGE" BRAKE SYSTEM. IT APPEARS TO WORK PROPERLY DURING NORMAL BRAKING. THE PROBLEM EXISTS WHEN TRYING TO BACK THE TRAILER ( ESPECIALLY WHEN LOADED WITH A BOAT). THIS SIMPLY COMPRESSES THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND LOCKS THE BRAKES. APPLYING MORE BACKING POWER CAUSES THE HYDRAULIC FLUID TO BE FORCED OUT OF THE FILL OF THE BRAKE ACTUATOR. A DESIGNED ELECTRICAL CONNECTION TO THE TOW VEHICLE REVERSE LIGHT, USED FOR BACKING, IS CONNECTED AND BELIEVED TO BE WORKING PROPERLY. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE INSTRUCTIONS INDICATE THAT THE BRAKE ACTUATOR SHOULD BE FILLED. THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO ACTIVATE A VALVE FROM THE REVERSE LIGHTS AND REDIRECT THE BRAKE FLUID TO THE RESERVOIR INSTEAD OF TO THE TRAILER BRAKES. WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM FILLED, THERE IS NO SPACE TO WHICH TO REDIRECT THE BRAKE FLUID, WHICH CAUSES THE FLUID TO BE FORCED OUT OF THE FILL CAP. (ALSO INDICATING THAT ALL IS FUNCTIONING AS INTENDED). THE TRAILER INCLUDES A BOLT AND HOLE TO MECHANICALLY PREVENT THE MOVEMENT OF THE TRAILER COMPONENT IN REVERSE, AND THE COMPRESSION OF THE BRAKE ACTUATOR. WITH THIS IN PLACE THE TRAILER CAN BE BACKED. OR, THE BRAKE FLUID CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE BRAKE ACTUATOR RESERVOIR, PROVIDING SOME SPACE TO REDIRECT THE BRAKE FLUID. THIS ALSO WORKS (FURTHER CONFIRMING THE ACTUAL PROBLEM). HOWEVER, THERE IS NO GOOD METHOD TO KNOW HOW MUCH BRAKE FLUID SHOULD BE REMOVED. THE DANGER IS THAT THE TRAILER COULD BE PUT IN A LOCATION WHERE IT MUST BE BACKED BUT IT WOULD BE STUCK. A MORE SERIOUS PROBLEM WOULD OCCUR IF THE BACKING WAS FORCED, RESULTING IN THE UNINTENTIONAL, UNNOTICED OVERFLOW OF THE BRAKE FLUID. THAT SHOULD BE SELF LIMITING, BUT COULD BLOW OUT THE PLASTIC CAP ALLOWING INJURY, FURTHER LOSS OF FLUID, OR CONTAMINATION. *TR