Bleeding Surge Brakes on a UHaul VT

[Kevin A]

Those of you who have UHaul VT trailers: When you do periodic maintenance on your surge brakes on the VT, how do you activate the surge brake actuator (piston) to bleed the brakes? Do you do this with the large top lever/cover pushed down flat or standing upright? The directions given for other surge brakes indicate using a large screwdriver inserted in a hole in front of the brake piston. There is no such access place on the UHaul model. One other suggestion was to put a large 2x4 or pipe on the front of the hitch anchored with a chain and used as a pivot to work the piston. Anybody done this?

We are just getting our surge brakes to work and I would like to find the best way to do this bleeding task.

Thanks!

[Roy in TO]

Kevin,

Is the actuator on the VT all that different from what U-haul might have on their regular trailers?

Roy

[Kevin A]

It looks like the same surge brake unit on the modern trailers. However, the folks at the local UHaul trailer place looked kind of blank when I asked them how to bleed the brakes. My guess is that they don't do it! Makes you wonder about the last time the brakes were checked on UHaul equipment!

Their only suggestion was to hook up the trailer to the tow and move back and forth. Seems kind of like swatting a fly with a missile. I'm going to try the pivot method with a 2x4 this weekend.