For those of you who tow trailers, you already know what reverse lockout is. For anyone else, it's a solenoid in the coupler housings of fairly new trailers (unless you've added it to an older trailer) that kicks on when the truck is put into reverse, in order to prevent surge brakes from activating while in reverse.

Anyway, the last time I put my boat into storage, everything was fine. Since then the only thing that has changed (that I'm aware of) is that I've disconnected my cruise cutoff switch on the master cylinder. Last night I had to pull the boat out a few feet and then back up, in order to move it over to the other side of the storage unit. I had everything connected. But when I tried to back up, the trailer brakes were locked. There's a slight uphill grade into the unit, causing the surge brakes to activate, but the lockout solenoid should have activated.

Before I go on a troubleshooting odyssey, does anyone know if the disconnected cruise switch could have any involvement here?

BTW, this is a '98 XLT. Thanks for any help you can provide!

 

You ask an interesting question.
I have looked at my 02 and there is a brake switch on the pedal arm.
With a Prodigy, the switch 'wakes' up the controller with my cruise connector off.
I would say not. The cruise connector being off won't be a factor.
I have to tow one more time before winter and will be looking at this situation.
If your controller is a Prodigy there is a procedure to cancel the reverse braking.
I would not think a sleight incline would be a cause of lock however there may be elements that I have not yet run into.
Let us know what you find.