adding trailer brakes and trany cooler

[exp2000]

So, I have a trailer without brakes, and I will be towing it with Grand Caravan. Per Dodge specification, if the trailer is more than 1000#, trailer should have brakes. How hard is it to add brakes, and what do I need, and where to buy, as well as what brand. I also want to add trany cooler; looked at B&M but cannot figure out which one I need. I have 17ft Bayliner with outboard, I think it weighs with trailer around 2000#.

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: adding trailer brakes and trany cooler

Adding brakes will be somewhat pricey and involved.. You may be better off buying a trailer that already has em. I have trailer brakes. You would need a different coupler, have to run brake lines, and maybe an entirely different axle assembly. But to be honest, I haven't shopped for brakes for a while. Maybe there are now easier to install models, call a local trailer shop and tell em what you wanna do. See what they say. That being said. I think Dodge is just trying to cover thier arse by saying you need trailer brakes over a thousand lbs..Thats not much, heck, thats only the combined weight of my last 3 girlfriends:facepalm: Have you towed that trailer/boat with your Dodge yet ? How did it feel ? How much and how far are you going to be towing.. ? Tranny cooler is a great idea however...

 

[Lou C]

Re: adding trailer brakes and trany cooler

I put brakes on my old 94 Load Rite, your axle has to have brake flanges (square mounting pads that are welded to the axle where the spindle comes out). If not then you have to replace the axle. The brake kits range in price, if you are in freshwater you can use drums, but discs require less maintenance. I added a $400 kit from Champion Trailers and it made a huge difference in towing safety. A 17 footer is light but the deciding factor is the max weight rating of the vehicle, if you go by that (how much the manufacturer thinks the vehicle can weigh at most) that's how much the vehicle brakes were designed to stop. And that 1000 figure, thats probably figuring an empty tow vehicle. So for sure I'd add em, took me a day, hardest part was snaking the brake line in the trailer frame.

http://www.championtrailers.com/DRUM BRAKE KITS.htm
http://www.championtrailers.com/techsup.html#techretro

 

[exp2000]

Re: adding trailer brakes and trany cooler

Most towing will be in 15 mile radius, no hills. I have towed it and I don't even notice that it is there; stopping is not an issue. I will be making 2-3 300 mile one way trips a year. Engine is 3.8L and it does not even strain to pull it. So for electronic brakes it would be such a big job?

 

[exp2000]

Re: adding trailer brakes and trany cooler

I put brakes on my old 94 Load Rite, your axle has to have brake flanges (square mounting pads that are welded to the axle where the spindle comes out). If not then you have to replace the axle. The brake kits range in price, if you are in freshwater you can use drums, but discs require less maintenance. I added a $400 kit from Champion Trailers and it made a huge difference in towing safety. A 17 footer is light but the deciding factor is the max weight rating of the vehicle, if you go by that (how much the manufacturer thinks the vehicle can weigh at most) that's how much the vehicle brakes were designed to stop. And that 1000 figure, thats probably figuring an empty tow vehicle. So for sure I'd add em, took me a day, hardest part was snaking the brake line in the trailer frame.

I'll take a look when I get back home how it looks, better yet, I'll take a photo, since I am not on "You" with all the terminology that you used, still a freshman, but very handy

 

[ChampionShip]

Re: adding trailer brakes and trany cooler

I would add the trans cooler for sure. Brakes, well, you're boat isn't THAT heavy to where I'd worry about it.

 

[Splat]

Re: adding trailer brakes and trany cooler

Are you boating in fresh or salt water?

Electric brakes are relatively easy to install if you have some very basic hand tools and a few hours of time. These are my personal preference in trailer brakes. Remember you will also need to install a brake control in the tow vehicle as well as insure you have a proper plug. All in all it really isn't that hard. Equipping a single axle with brakes, buying a controller, wire and a new plug I would estimate $350 range.

First step is to make sure you have the flanges on your axle.

Check out youtube and the videos by etrailer, they do several step by step install videos of electric brakes.

Bill

 

[oldjeep]

Re: adding trailer brakes and trany cooler

I put surge brakes on my trailer a couple years after I bought it. Bought the kit from the manufacturer for about $350 - included the new coupler, lines and drum/hub/backing plates. Took a couple hours to install it.

 

[exp2000]

Re: adding trailer brakes and trany cooler

Just ordered B&M cooler from Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/70268-SuperCo...GE9G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1306268728&sr=8-1) ; hope it will be easy to install.

 

[hibbert6]

Re: adding trailer brakes and trany cooler

Hi! I tow with a Ford Freestar minivan. My 15' tri hull was effortless to tow. But I just bought an 18' Sea Ray w/ outboard, no brakes, and I could definitely feel the difference. I'm looking into adding brakes, too!

 

[Silverbullet555]

Re: adding trailer brakes and trany cooler

Electric brakes would probably be the easies install. If you have the flange you are good to go on adding the brakes. I like etrailer for trailer parts or big stuff. Shipping is free over $150 and you will be over $150.

B&M makes good stuff. Mounting is always interesting and plumbing is usually the fun part as you have to get matching fittings, etc. It's a good idea to add the cooler and change fluid a little more often.

 

[Titanium48]

Re: adding trailer brakes and trany cooler

I've put electric brakes on two trailers. First one had a 2000 lb axle with no brake flanges. New axle with brakes cost $275. Second had a 3500 lb axle with flanges, but when I took the idler hubs off to install the brake assemblies and hub-drums I noticed the seal surfaces were worn. The brake parts cost $190 and the new axle was $115, but they probably would have been a bit cheaper if I bought them together instead of piecemeal.

I got my brake controllers from the junkyard for $10 each. Inertial brake controllers are easy to test - connect to ground (white wire), power (both the black and red wires) and connect a light between the blue brake wire and ground. Tip the controller up to simulate slowing down and the light should turn on. It should be dim at first and get brighter as you continue to tip the controller.

 

[444]

Re: adding trailer brakes and trany cooler

Why bother with the trailer brakes if you're only towing 15 miles? My parents had a 95 caravan with the 3.0/3sp and towed a heavy tent trailer everywhere with it, no trailer brakes and their trailer probably weighed 2500lbs or more once it was loaded with all their camping stuff. They did okay, my dad just drove carefully and a little slower. A trans cooler is always a good idea on any auto trans tow vehicle.

 

[NYBo]

Re: adding trailer brakes and trany cooler

Why bother with the trailer brakes if you're only towing 15 miles? My parents had a 95 caravan with the 3.0/3sp and towed a heavy tent trailer everywhere with it, no trailer brakes and their trailer probably weighed 2500lbs or more once it was loaded with all their camping stuff. They did okay, my dad just drove carefully and a little slower. A trans cooler is always a good idea on any auto trans tow vehicle.

Your parents had a Gen 2 minivan. The brakes on later generation Mopar minivans ('96 and later) are marginal at best for just the van itself, so adding a trailer just makes things worse.

 

[exp2000]

Re: adding trailer brakes and trany cooler

Well, i wanted to add brakes because I will be making 2-3 trips that are about 300 miles one way. I might never need them, but I would rather be safe than sorry. The van had transmission rebuild 2 years ago, and I got 3 year warranty, they say they put some better stuff in than if I would have gotten 1 year warranty. Van has 106K miles (yes you are reading it right, transmission died at 90K), and I was looking at getting Ody, but I am thinking this one has long to go, and it if fully loaded so why waste 600 bucks a month for 5 years/

 

[justchecking]

Re: adding trailer brakes and trany cooler

Have you checked to see if your axle has the flanges installed? If your Grand Caravan is already wired for an electric brake controller (some are with a connector up under the dash somewhere) then adding electric brakes should be simple. I have one trailer with electric brakes and one with surge. I prefer the electric system.

 

[444]

Re: adding trailer brakes and trany cooler

Ok, well if you plan on making some longer trips, I can see why you'd want them, especially in a hilly area. I've rented a uhaul car trailer to haul a 4000lb car, and all those have are the hydraulic surge brakes. For me they seemed to work well. The braking action feels a little different but stopping power was always good. I would go for the electrics because having an adjustable electric brake controller is a nice toy and you can adjust braking capacity based on how much weight you are towing. Adding a brake controller is pretty easy. If your trans won't stay in OD while towing because of the extra load when on the hills, turn off the overdrive.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: adding trailer brakes and trany cooler

Tranny cooler is the wisest investment you can make for towing. Brakes depend on the local law, the weight you are towing and manly common sense !!!!
Remember you can not stop too quickly !!!

 

[nicknight]

Re: adding trailer brakes and trany cooler

I tow with a 2010 Corolla (smaller engine version) with auto transmission. No Tranny cooler and Toyota does not sell one. I made several inquires and was told a couple of hours towing 1200lbs was not an issue.

PS...get the at Bruins logo stowed...you are Canadian!

 

[52Alumacraft]

Re: adding trailer brakes and trany cooler

Sounds like electric brakes are pretty popular. Do you have to buy a special version for marine use or are they all pretty much sealed up and good for use in FRESH water? I would prefer electric but the trailer parts dealers keep pointing me towards hydraulic surge brakes.