www.iFourWinns.com

The Four Winns trailer for my 2004 Horizon 230 has a Titan Model 6 Surge-o-matic brake actuator. I've noticed that taking off from a stop I get a metalic "thump" when pulling the boat. I move forward slowly until it is done, then accelerate normally. Sometimes I get annoyed honks.

Inspired by another thread here, I decided to check out the damper. In this model, the damper is separate from the master cylinder and looks like a little car shock absorber.

Here it is: http://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Titan/T1242600.html

I took it out, and I'm able to compress it, and to extend it, with some force. On the eTrailer site, one of their "experts" says it should extend by itself, but mine does not, and I'm not convinced that it should.

So, if you've had one, can you tell me if yours extends on its own or not?

Any other tips for testing it?

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2004 Horizon 230
Volvo/Penta 5.7 DuoProp

Only if I see a pretty girl, oh wait, we were talking about dampeners. Sorry, I coudn't resist

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2011 SL242 5.7 VP GXi - 320 HP Dual Prop

LOL
Why not email Titan tech support?

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

I suspected ya'll would be more likely to answer on a weekend, and anyone who has handled one in working order would know the answer to the question, so it seemed easy.

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2004 Horizon 230
Volvo/Penta 5.7 DuoProp

My Titan Model 6 does not extend by itself, and gets a little bit of a clunk. However, it was 12 years old when I bought it, so I don't know if it ever did extend by itself. It would be nice if it did.

After coming to a stop, I try to ease forward a few inches during the red light. That prevents the clunk (unless the red light was on a downhill slope).

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"Knot Easy" 2000 Horizon 240 Volvo 5.7GS /SX
tow: 2017 Honda PILOT EXL-AWD
prev. boats:
'87 Chaparral 198CXL 4.3 OMC Cobra
'69 Jetstar 16ft Ski Boat, 115hp Yamaha
'68 Aluminum Jon Boat, 3hp Sears
'64 Water Wings

Just be sure to consult a trailer mechanic for an extension lasting more than 4 hours.

LOL.
...that's what I said: If you get the red light, then get it extended again and ready to go...

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"Knot Easy" 2000 Horizon 240 Volvo 5.7GS /SX
tow: 2017 Honda PILOT EXL-AWD
prev. boats:
'87 Chaparral 198CXL 4.3 OMC Cobra
'69 Jetstar 16ft Ski Boat, 115hp Yamaha
'68 Aluminum Jon Boat, 3hp Sears
'64 Water Wings

Yeah, easing forward while waiting can mitigate the clunk, unless you're facing downhill.

I'd still like to know if it is normal.

I couldn't get hold of anyone at Titan that would actually know, so I just ordered a new damper as they are pretty cheap and a little on-line searching suggests this is a pretty common problem often fixed by a new damper.

I'll report the results.

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2004 Horizon 230
Volvo/Penta 5.7 DuoProp

OK, I got a new damper and tried it out today.

The answer to the basic question (does the damper extend by itself) appear to be no, it does not. However, the new damper was quite a bit harder to compress and extend than the old one.

When driving, there is still some thump, but it is very much reduced, and easier to prevent. I had not told my wife about the change, and she commented on the difference, so it was definitely worthwhile.

-- Rich

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2004 Horizon 230
Volvo/Penta 5.7 DuoProp

Thanks for the follow up.

For future use, can you post P/N, source, price?

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"Knot Easy" 2000 Horizon 240 Volvo 5.7GS /SX
tow: 2017 Honda PILOT EXL-AWD
prev. boats:
'87 Chaparral 198CXL 4.3 OMC Cobra
'69 Jetstar 16ft Ski Boat, 115hp Yamaha
'68 Aluminum Jon Boat, 3hp Sears
'64 Water Wings

I purchased from etrailer.com after searching their site for "titan 6 damper".

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2004 Horizon 230
Volvo/Penta 5.7 DuoProp