Never understood why trailer use surge brakes and not electronic brakes.

I tow a 18 foot ranger without brakes. Under normal driving it's fine. But in a panic stop I really wish I had them. About a month ago I was pulling the boat home between Kaufman and Ennis. A BMW came up to a stop sign, stopped, waited until I was less than 100 yards from the intersection and then pulled out in front of me. Nearly didn't get stopped that time. Actually I didn't but was able to go around them. Thanks goodness no one was in the oncoming lane. Last weekend between Canton and Kaufman came over a hill to find a dog in the road. Again, I wasn't able to get stopped but was able to miss him in the oncoming lane. In both instances I think trailer brakes would have made the difference. So, you don't necessarily have to have brakes. But if the trailer is equipped I would get them fixed. If not just keep a safe distance as best you can. If some idiot realizes he missed his turn and slams on his brakes and you nearly hit him, you're following too close! You should maintain enough distance that if traffic in front of you comes to a complete panic stop you can get stopped as well.

I was always under the impression that electric brakes didn't work well with total water submersion? Maybe false. All boats I have ever owned had surge and all other trailers had electric. Electric are simpler and can be adjusted "on the fly".

I pulled a trailer that the breaks were hit and miss (sometimes worked sometimes they did not). I would have a trailer without breaks than a trailer that you never knew from one stop to the next. I this case get them fixed or don't but the driver of the truck needs to know... Must watch the road way ahead and try to avoid the quick response. Try to is a big deal in this case