brake kits- what's the difference?

[horiconducker]

looking at the disc brake kits from Tie Down. Northern Tool has the 10" kit for $459 while Eastern Marine has the 9.6" kit for $339. Otherwise the two look identical. The manufacturer part # on the two websites is even the same for both kits. What's this all about?

Thanks for the help.

Tony

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: brake kits- what's the difference?

Bag the Tie Downs, get Kodiaks. Champion Trailer has the best price I found.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: brake kits- what's the difference?

Do NOT get the Tie Downs, especially the stainless ones. I have a set for 2 axles sitting in my garage gathering dust after one year on my trailer. They are horrible.

 

[Bob's Garage]

Re: brake kits- what's the difference?

looking at the disc brake kits from Tie Down. Northern Tool has the 10" kit for $459 while Eastern Marine has the 9.6" kit for $339. Otherwise the two look identical. The manufacturer part # on the two websites is even the same for both kits. What's this all about?

Thanks for the help.

Tony

To answer your question, there is no difference. They are both junk. How do we know? Because they are Tie-down. 2 year life, if you are lucky.

I never felt this way before, I had TD's on my new trailer. Then everything happened just as it was predicted by past Posters, that I thought were just bashing TD.

1st their actuator failed, then their calipers. Brakes received normal care, no better/no worse than most owners might give.

Kodiaks may cost more, but they seem to be worth it. Time will tell, but I know TD's are not.

As a point of interest, most of the trailer part suppliers in my area will not carry TD parts. They tell me TD's are poor quality. The local trailer manufacturers use them due to price point advantage. TD's cost less, so they can sell the trailers for less, as specified by the boat builders/retailers, and the customers don't know any better.

At least the 1st time buyers.

To be fair, there are a couple Posters that like TD's.

 

[horiconducker]

Re: brake kits- what's the difference?

I should mention I'm in Wisconsin and this trailer will never see salt. Seems with all the research I've done, the TD bashing only comes from salt water users. Does this change anyones opinion?

Tony

 

[bruceb58]

Re: brake kits- what's the difference?

Salt doesn't make a difference. They are just a poor design.

Like I said, I have 4 sets f these in my garage. It wouldn't be worth the time installing them if I gave them to you for free.

 

[180shabah]

Re: brake kits- what's the difference?

Seems with all the research I've done, the TD bashing only comes from salt water users

Dig deeper there are plenty of fresh water failures

Two in particular come to mind from the boatus site

one was a desert dweller - no salt ever and had TWO brake seizures
the other was a salt and fresh water boater, but takes frequent x-country trips and has been through multiple brake/tire combinations - guess what brand got eliminated early - TD

 

[horiconducker]

Re: brake kits- what's the difference?

thanks for the suggestions

i'll look around and order Kodiak- either piece it together or order a kit if there's money to be saved. Now let's hear some opinions on what brand actuator to purchase to top this whole deal off. I centainly need one that has a manual reverse lockout option. Not opposed to using the selenoid, but also need the manual option. It seems there are selenoid lockout actuators out there that have no manual pin option?

Thanks again for all the feedback.

Tony

 

[bruceb58]

Re: brake kits- what's the difference?

Even the ones that don't have the manual lockout, you can do a simple drillling of a hole and inserting a pin to accomplish the same thing.

I have the Kodiacs...they work great. The non-vented tie down stainless discs warped on me within 500 miles.

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: brake kits- what's the difference?

I was going to install a manual pin, but didn't bother after how well the reverse bleed solenoid worked. Like Bruce says, it's just a matter of drilling a hole at the coupler slider for a drop pin if you want one. The Kodiak kit I got was 379.00 with 20' lines from Champion. I rebuilt my coupler and added the solenoid for about another 125. Awesome brakes, I didn't put them on both axles, just the rear, and they easily stop my 6200lb boat in mountain terrain.

 

[horiconducker]

Re: brake kits- what's the difference?

dockwrecker- what brand actuator are you running?

i'm looking at basically the same kit from champion with a 20' main line. I've got a Mako 23 that was weighed on the trailer @5220... add maybe another 1200# for full fuel and gear. Now I just need some advice on what brand and capacity actuator I should order up. Would a 6600# be sufficient or is there a %/margin below max rated capacity I should maintain?

Tony

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: brake kits- what's the difference?

Mine's a Dico D60 master. My coupler is welded on, thus just replaced the master cylinder. If yours bolts on, Champion has Dico complete couplers that already have the reverse solenoid hole in the master for about the same price as the master alone!?? Anyway from talking to the Champion guys, most any master and servicable coupler works just fine with Kodiaks sizewise, the trick is to get quality. The 6600# will be fine.

 

[Sparkinator]

Re: brake kits- what's the difference?

I just got my Kodiak 6 lug vented discs in and installed. I got the Titan model 60 disc coupler and a kip valve (reversing solenoid). It looks like a pretty good kit.

My invoice was:

399.95 Kodiak with 16 foot mainline 6 lug K1611DB
134.95 Titan Dico MO 60 disc coupler drilled for bleed solenoid MO60D2
54.95 Kip valve solenoid (reversing) 1504

Pretty straight forward installation. Bleeding the brakes was a pain, but got done with a little help. I tied the back of my trailer to a tree while hooked to my pickup. I reversed/forward making sure the trailer coupler was sliding in and out. My son and buddy sat on the trailer and cracked open the valves. It wasn't too bad, but your main line is so much longer than brakes on your pickup, its just seems to take forever.

Oh, I got mine from Champion as well, and they are really good to deal with.

I had some of the same questions you have, and I just gave them a call. They answered all my questions.

Good luck!

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: brake kits- what's the difference?

Sparky you should have read my posts about pressure bleeding through the return hole for the brake solenoid using a garden sprayer. I bleed mine in under 10 minutes and a beer.

 

[Sparkinator]

Re: brake kits- what's the difference?

That did look pretty sweet, ... I'm just not that organized. :redface:

That set up would have done the job quick! While we were banging the crap out of that tree, I told my brother, "Man, I saw a deal on a pump up sprayer that would have been sweeeet." He looked at me like I was crazy!

 

[bruceb58]

Re: brake kits- what's the difference?

Or you just operate the break away lever.

Or you use a vacuum bleeder.