www.iFourWinns.com

My 2004 trailer has brakes with the nice Tie Down Engineering coupler. It also has a swing away tounge (I love this feature).

The rubber brake line that goes from the actuator through the tounge got caught at the hinge point at some point and got torn apart.

Has anyone ever had to replace the rubber line in the tounge of a Four Winns trailer?

Right now the best solution I can come up with is some stainless braided line and some AN fittings. I don't mind this route other than the cost. The guy at my local autoparts store scoured a couple of different catalogs trying to find something that was close in length with the correct fittings on each end. He suspects that the line was custom made (I pretty much figured this already).

The stainless braided setup would be nice I guess and really not all that expensive. It would sort of be a little hidden bling too.

However, if anyone has suggestions on where I might find a replacement line for relatively low cost, I'd appreciate it.

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Current Operational Boats:
'04-Four Winns 180 Freedom 150 HP Evinrude
'72-Chris Craft Commander 31 Sedan Twin-350Qs

Try http://shop.easternmarine.com.

They have a few actuator hoses and everything else needed for trailers.

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2006 Four Winns 278 Vista.
Volvo Penta 8.1L, Duo Prop,
Kohler 5E Generator.

I agree, you should be able to get that hose replaced relatively easily.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

We have a local hydraulic shop that can custom make just about anything. Might want to try that?

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1998 Baja Boss 252 7.4L MPI Bravo 1 (SOLD)
2007 FW H200SS 5.0GXI (Sold)
2004 Chevy Silverado 2500 Crew 6.0L (tow vehicle)
1991 FW 170 Freedom 4.3L (SOLD)

Also...most of the time, NAPA auto parts can make hydraulic lines if you have one of those in your area....

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Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

I looked around a bit. The parts store I stopped at had a sign out front that said they made and repaired hydraulic lines. I thought, "Great, just the place I need." They don't do brake lines though.

I actually think the solution they came up with will work well. The stainless braided line wont chafe or get cut nearly as easily as the rubber did. I'll be stopping back at the store this evening to look at the parts they got in. The price they gave me was $43 out the door. I guess that is pretty good actually.

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Current Operational Boats:
'04-Four Winns 180 Freedom 150 HP Evinrude
'72-Chris Craft Commander 31 Sedan Twin-350Qs

Yep. You tell them it's a brake line and they will stop dead in their tracks. (no pun intended)
Try a different one & just tell them it's for an old tractor.

Personally, I rather have the SS braided line to prevent this from happening again.

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H210SS 6.2
F150 Platinum

Why the aversion to brake lines? Liability? +1 on the braided. You'll be the only guy on the block whose trailer has bling with the tongue folded.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

Yep...I just remembered...if you tell them its a brake line...they wont do it. I ran into that with an ATV many years ago.

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Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

Yup. I went with the stainless braded line. It actually ended up being only $37 with all the fittings and a quart of fluid.

I got it all hooked up and bled the brakes. It lookes like it has been a while since the brakes worked on this trailer. The rotor are/were pretty rusty. I got them cleaned up pretty good. I'll be taking the boat to the lake tomorrow. Hopefully everything works well.

I actually ended up covering the line with a plastic conduit piece to just add that little bit more protection from getting pinched or chaffed. I also covered the wires for the lights with plastic conduit. I kept the stainless line exposed where it attaches to the hard line on the frame rail.

Pictures are always fun:

Broken...


New...


You can see that the brake fluid attacked the paint where it leaked out


Bling

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Current Operational Boats:
'04-Four Winns 180 Freedom 150 HP Evinrude
'72-Chris Craft Commander 31 Sedan Twin-350Qs

Well done.

_________________


Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

Everything worked great. The brakes work really good. I had to get an 7 round-5 flat adapter so the little selonoid for the reverse brake override thing would work. I almost got stuck in my driveway trying to get the boat out today...backing up hill with surge brakes and forgetting to put the pin in the reverse lock until after you are on the hill with no room to go forward....it was almost comical. Luckily I was able to chock the trailer and move the truck just far enough foward to get the pin in the hole.

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Current Operational Boats:
'04-Four Winns 180 Freedom 150 HP Evinrude
'72-Chris Craft Commander 31 Sedan Twin-350Qs