Electric vs. Surge vs. Hydraulic: Which Brakes Do You Need?
Quick Summary:
Electric Brakes: The industry standard. Instant response, great control, but lower total stopping power than hydraulic.
Surge Brakes: The "Rental" standard. No controller needed, but terrible for backing up and dangerous on long mountain descents.
Electric-Over-Hydraulic (EOH): The "Heavyweight" option. Massive stopping power, but comes with engagement lag and higher maintenance because the rotors are limited by the rim size.
The Verdict: For most users, Electric is the best balance. EOH is excellent for specific heavy-hauling jobs, but you have to live with the lag and the maintenance.
If you’ve ever towed a U-Haul or a boat, you’ve probably noticed the trailer reacts differently than your heavy-duty dump trailer. That’s because not all trailer brakes work the same way.
Choosing the right braking system isn't just about stopping; it’s about control—especially when you are coming down I-70 with 10,000 lbs behind you.
Here is the breakdown of the three main types of brakes, how they work, and which one you actually want.
1. Electric Brakes (The Industry Standard)
If you own a cargo, dump, or utility trailer, this is likely what you have.
How they work: There is an electromagnet inside the brake drum. When you press the brake pedal in your truck, your Brake Controller sends an electrical signal to that magnet. The magnet grabs the drum face, causing the brake shoes to expand and stop the wheel.
The Pros:
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Instant Response: Because electricity travels instantly, your trailer brakes engage the millisecond you touch the pedal. This is crucial for city driving.
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Driver Control: You can adjust the "Gain" (strength) from the driver’s seat.
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Low Cost & Ease of Maintenance: These are the most affordable brakes to service. A lesson from experience: While you can replace magnets and shoes individually, we recommend avoiding the hassle and buying the whole backing plate assembly instead. Disassembling the springs and hardware is time-consuming and frustrating. Swapping the entire "loaded backing plate" is faster, easier, and ensures you get brand new springs, shoes, and magnets all at once.
The Cons:
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Submersion: Electrical parts hate water. If you dunk these in a lake (boat ramp), they will fail quickly.
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Stopping Power: While good, they generally have less "bite" than a hydraulic disc setup.
2. Surge Brakes (The "Rental" Special)
You see these on boat trailers and rental equipment (like U-Haul).
How they work: There is no electrical connection to the truck for braking. Instead, the trailer coupler slides back and forth on the tongue. When you slow down your truck, the heavy trailer pushes forward against the hitch. This compression pushes a hydraulic cylinder (like a master cylinder in a car) that squeezes the brakes.
The Pros:
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Plug & Play: You don't need a brake controller in your truck. Any vehicle with a hitch can tow it.
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Waterproof: Since they are hydraulic (fluid) and not electric, they are great for boat trailers.
The Cons (The Colorado Problem):
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Mountain Danger: This is why we dislike surge brakes in Colorado. On a long downhill grade, the trailer is constantly pushing against the truck, which means the brakes are constantly applied. They can easily overheat and fade ("burn up") before you reach the bottom of the mountain.
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Backing Up: Have you ever tried to back a surge trailer uphill? As you push against the trailer to reverse, the brakes engage. You have to get out and put a specialized "lockout key" or pin in the tongue to disable the brakes just to back into a driveway.
3. Electric-Over-Hydraulic (EOH) (The Heavyweight Option)
This is a premium upgrade, often found on high-end horse trailers or heavy equipment haulers.
How they work: It combines the best of both worlds. You still use an Electric Brake Controller in your truck, but instead of sending a signal to a magnet, it sends a signal to a hydraulic pump mounted on the trailer. That pump then pressurizes brake fluid to clamp down on Disc Brakes.
The Pros:
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Massive Stopping Power: As our experts say, "These brakes will put you through the windshield." Disc brakes bite significantly harder than drums. If you are hauling extreme weight, this is the safest way to stop.
The Cons:
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The "Lag": This is the biggest complaint. Unlike electric brakes which are instant, EOH systems have a delay. The pump needs time to spin up and build hydraulic pressure. It’s often only a half-second, but in bumper-to-bumper city traffic, that lag is very noticeable. You hit the brakes, and for a split second, the trailer pushes you before the brakes grab.
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Accelerated Wear: A lesson from experience: We typically find EOH brakes on trailers where the rim size is limited to 16 inches, which is much smaller than the wheels on your tow truck. Because we have to fit the braking components inside that smaller rim, the discs are smaller and have less friction material than what is on your truck. This means they have to work harder to stop the same load, leading to faster wear and heat fade if not maintained closely.
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High Maintenance: Because of the wear mentioned above, plus the complexity of pumps and fluid lines, you must inspect these systems frequently. Expect to pay more for parts and plan servicing in advance to ensure enough time to locate the parts.
"So, which one do I need?"
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If you have a Boat: You need Surge Brakes (or EOH with a marine kit) to avoid electrical shorts.
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If you tow heavy on the Highway: Electric-Over-Hydraulic is amazing for open road and mountain passes, as long as you can tolerate the "lag" in stop-and-go traffic and stay on top of the maintenance.
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For everything else: Electric Brakes are the standard for a reason. They offer the best balance of instant control, low maintenance, and reliability for 90% of trailer owners.
A Note on Maintenance
Regardless of which system you have, they all require maintenance.
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Electric: Check the magnets and shoes every 12 months. If they are worn, swap the backing plate assembly.
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Hydraulic: Check fluid levels, lines, and pads frequently.
Hear a grinding noise? Or does your trailer feel like it's pushing you through intersections? It might be time for a brake job.
Contact us at Service@jayhawktrailers.com to schedule an inspection. Or at Sales@jayhawktrailers.com to start finding one with the braking solution you need!
for more information contact Cale@jayhawktrailers.com