I am running a Hydrastar 1200 which is doing a decent job the past 3 years since new. It just surprised me though on reading the documentation that came with it that it not to be exposed to rain or such. Now almost every unit I see fitted to trailers out there is just sitting out in the elements getting either rained on or wet when washing the boat down etc.
The filler cap is also very weak and vulnerable to either fall off or just too inviting for someone, even just a child to play with it, pour sand in what ever. Also very easy to kick and break the hydraulic line off to the back of the unit.. Would appear to be a bit of engineered "design to fail" to me.
For what the units cost to repair or replace plus the risk and inconvenience of a failure wouldn't it be sensible for we owners to to install a cover for it?
Mine was just sitting out there on the drawbar for a year or so then I made a cover for it and it is much better protected now plus the cover doubled as a handy step to jump up on front of the boat.
I have heard the early Sensa Brake units were troublesome but better these days and a good unit, hope it's true. They used to have to have a special in car controller for them but I am not sure if that is still the case.
A couple of pics of my hydrastar cover
Attachment 93696
Attachment 93697