Your hub/spindle is equipped with TDE’s SuperLube Lubrication System. The bearings can be periodically lubricated without removing the hubs from the axle. The advantage to this system is that new grease saturates the inner bearing and outer bearing while pushing out the old grease, unlike systems that just push new grease on top of old grease.

1. Remove the rubber plug from the grease (hub) cap.

2. Use a standard grease gun onto the grease fitting located at the end of the spindle, or behind the hub, making sure the grease gun nozzle is engaged on the fitting tightly.

3. Pump grease into the fitting, while slowly turning the wheel. Grease will flow out of the hub around the spindle.

4. When the grease appears to be the new clean grease, remove the grease gun and wipe off any excess grease.

5. Replace the rubber plug in the cap.

Brake Laws

We consider this a safety issue that cannot be ignored.  Dealers are required to sell trailers that comply with the brake laws of the state where the trailer will be registered.  It is our sincere hope that by providing them as standard on all axles on trailers with brakes you will take the time to consider not only the importance of obeying the law, but more importantly that the savings of a few dollars is not worth the risk to your customer, or others on the road.  For those of you in states where the brake laws vary we provide delete options that can be selected. For the safety of our customers, regardless of the brake law of a particular state, Tidewater Trailers will not manufacture any trailer without brakes in excess of 3100# carrying capacity.  While others talk, Tidewater Trailers leads the industry in this regard.

Disc Brakes

Congratulations on your decision to purchase a Tidewater Trailer that incorporates Tie Down Engineering vented rotor disc brakes with aluminum caliper installed on your trailer (pontoon trailers use steel caliper).

  
 

Disc brakes have many advantages over drum brakes.

These include:

• Greater fade resistance

• Self cleaning

• Self adjusting

• Less maintenance

• Greater stopping power

• Easy visual inspection without removing any parts

Vented rotor disc brakes are designed to activate when the vehicle’s brakes are applied. As the vehicle stops or slows, the momentum of the trailer pushes forward developing pressure in the actuator (master cylinder), used to apply pressure to the brakes.

Operating Information

Read and understand the towing information for your trailer and actuator. Check your trailer frequently for any leaks in the hydraulic system, which includes the actuator, brake lines and brakes.  The brake rotors are made of steel and will show surface rust on the braking surface when not used for a week or more. Normal use will wipe the rust off of the rotor surface. If the trailer is used in salt water, it is recommended that you rinse off the brakes with fresh water after each use to reduce the effects of saltwater corrosion. Never park your trailer submerged in water.  Your trailer should tow easily. Disc brakes operate at a higher temperature than drum brakes. This is normal and is very similar to the way disc brakes operate on your vehicle. If for any reason your trailer does not tow easily or wants to veer to one side, stop and investigate immediately and solve the problem.

Towing a trailer (even a trailer with brakes) puts an added load on the tow vehicles handling and braking capabilities. Do not follow to closely; you will need extra distance to maneuver and to stop.  Towing downhill puts added stress on both the tow vehicle and the trailer. Slow down before you start on an incline and maintain a controlled downhill speed with repeated application of brakes followed by a cooling period when brakes are not applied. It is very important to start off with a slow speed and maintain it rather

than trying to slow down from a higher speed. Should you feel the brakes on the trailer or tow vehicle are running hot or showing signs of fade, stop immediately on the side of the road and allow the brakes to cool before resuming your trip.

Should you feel the tow vehicle and trailer brakes are not working as they should; have the tow vehicle and trailer inspected. Make sure your trailer’s GVW is within the tow vehicles capacity. If your trailer has multiple axles, verify that the GVW of the trailer does not exceed the capacity of the brakes, which is 3500 lbs on 8-inch (5 lug) brakes and 6000 lbs on 12-inch (6 lug) brakes, per axle. Most states require brakes on all axles. Check with your state laws and the state laws of where you will be using your trailer.

After long trips or downhill towing, your brakes could be very hot and it is a good idea to let them cool down before submerging in cold water. The change in temperature of very hot brakes submerged in water creates additional stress on the parts and could cause damage to your brakes.

 Brake Actuators

Tie Down’s brake actuator represents over two years of product development and eight months of continuous testing. The unique all aluminum master cylinder incorporates the shock absorber into the master cylinder assembly. The oversized master cylinder design positively provides for quicker stops when using traditional drum brakes due to the significantly higher pressures. Even the coupler is manufactured out of heavier gauge steel when compared to all other actuator manufacturers. Model 66 provides for 6,600 lb. capacity. Model 80 provides for 8,000 lb. capacity and includes an 8,000 lb. 2” hitch ball.