Adding Trailer Brakes

[jgoeden]

So if I ever wanted to add trailer brakes to a trailer that has the 4 bolt plate for mounting brakes, is the following list basically all I need?

Electric Brake assy (L&R):
http://www.easternmarine.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.prodInfo&prodId=10798&ex=651652

Brake drum hub (x2):
http://www.easternmarine.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.prodInfo&prodId=6952&ex=651654

Brake controller of my choosing

Breakaway kit

All of those items I can get at eastern marine for $370 (includes shipping). Seems like a decent price for adding brakes. I have to be missing something....

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Adding Trailer Brakes

If you boat in saltwater at all, I would not put on electric.

 

[Outsider]

Re: Adding Trailer Brakes

I would not put on electric.

And I darned sure wouldn't put on electric drums ... :facepalm:

 

[rallyart]

Re: Adding Trailer Brakes

I think you'll find that adding disk brakes operated by a surge system would be just about as easy and not much different in cost.

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Adding Trailer Brakes

And I darned sure wouldn't bother with drums at all. Go Kodiak discs.

 

[Splat]

Re: Adding Trailer Brakes

It's personal preference but I wouldn't ever run surge brakes. They are clunky, can be loud and you loose the ability to fine tune braking on the fly. You also loose the ability to apply braking force before the vehicles brakes, or manually to help regain control of a sway.

Electric over hydraulic is the best option imho, but electric drum works just fine even in freshwater applications. Can be used I. salt water too but more maintenance is required, as well as a more expensive backing plate and components are recommended.

Bill

 

[superbenk]

Re: Adding Trailer Brakes

I'll second the Kodiak disc suggestion. I put these on my trailer last year & have absolutely loved them (I'm only in fresh water):

http://www.championtrailers.com/KODIAK UNITS.html

 

[jgoeden]

Re: Adding Trailer Brakes

So you all think I should suck it up and find an extra $150 or so to put on surge disks? I wanted to do that but costs are an issue. Plus I'm only towing 2,500 lbs so it's not like I have to put them on. Plenty of people ride those weights without brakes, I just want a peace of mind.

 

[Splat]

Re: Adding Trailer Brakes

So you all think I should suck it up and find an extra $150 or so to put on surge disks? I wanted to do that but costs are an issue. Plus I'm only towing 2,500 lbs so it's not like I have to put them on. Plenty of people ride those weights without brakes, I just want a peace of mind.

Not this guy. Imho surge brakes are harder to install, and I'm unsure of the cost difference. You'll need to change the coupler on the trailer as well as run hard and soft lines. These jobs arent particularly hard, but a bit time consuming.

I use surge brakes as a last resort. I have used electric exclusively for years and have no problems. Like any system, electric and hydraulic do require some amounts of maintenance to keep running well.

Bill

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Adding Trailer Brakes

Big money to go to electric/hydraulic. You're towing a relatively light load, surge disc is my vote for this.

 

[superbenk]

Re: Adding Trailer Brakes

Remember that with electric you'll need a brake controller and proper wiring for your tow vehicle too. I think you'll find brakes on even 2500 lbs will make a huge difference and make your rig much safer.

As far as the difficulty of installing surge, it really isn't that hard. The hardest part was bleeding the lines which was actually pretty easy. An added benefit of the surge setup is that it's completely self contained & will work no matter which tow vehicle you use. With electric (as I said) you'll need a controller in the tow vehicle.

 

[Bob's Garage]

Re: Adding Trailer Brakes

So if I ever wanted to add trailer brakes to a trailer that has the 4 bolt plate for mounting brakes, is the following list basically all I need?

Electric Brake assy (L&R):
http://www.easternmarine.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.prodInfo&prodId=10798&ex=651652

Brake drum hub (x2):
http://www.easternmarine.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.prodInfo&prodId=6952&ex=651654

Brake controller of my choosing

Breakaway kit

All of those items I can get at eastern marine for $370 (includes shipping). Seems like a decent price for adding brakes. I have to be missing something....

In answer to your original question; yes, that appears to be all you need to install your chosen system, except for wiring. This assumes your vehicle has the required support system on it.

A lot of opinions have been expressed relative to your, and their, chosen preferred systems. Everyone is correct, and wrong at the same time.

Different systems work best for different applications and budgets. I prefer the electric/hydraulic, kodiak disc systems, but am using the Dico surge brake actuator. And as it is new and still works, I can not rationally change it.

I have read that the new electrics are making great strides in improving their boat trailer applications. If they ever become as reliable (oxymoron?) as surge, then they will indeed find ready users. There can be no argument that the electric brakes are better when used in the correct environment, which right now is land use trailers.

If someone was required to tow a boat trailer consistently in a hilly, mountainous area, they would be well advised to use electric/hydraulic as in the surge system the trailer can push forward, applying the brakes when in a down hill run, causing the brakes to heat up and fade, even over heating and ruining the bearings. This may seem extreme to some, but is a valid concern.

The same can be said if someone were driving in stop and go traffic in a heavily populated area. Surge brakes do "jerk and slam", it's the nature of the beast, and only just so much can be finessed out of them by focused driving and stopping. Some drivers may not be aware of it, but as you grow older, the "body slams" become more noticeable.

As of now, if there were no budget constraints, and a change was needed anyway, I believe electric/hydraulic is the best all around system for ease and comfort of operation, and peace of mind.

But, as some have stated, this is just my opinion.

 

[N3UP]

Re: Adding Trailer Brakes

I'm going to be getting a new trailer built soon and I have already dropped consideration of one quote because they don't offer electric over hydraulic.

My camper had surge brakes when I got it (it was special ordered w/surge by the O.P.) and after the first season I converted it to electric. With surge it just never felt like it had good brakes. A world of difference with electric.

On a boat trailer in saltwater the best setup seems to be disc, and disc with electric activation should be the cat's pajamas.
Simple mechanically (at the wheels anyway) and no adjustments required.
They now have self adjusting electric drum setups and I'll be going that way on a trailer I tow for the School marching band when we renew the brakes on it this spring.

 

[jeffnick]

Re: Adding Trailer Brakes

I've towed my boat over 50,000 miles and have used disc, drum, and totally electric. My conclusion is that totally electric is the way to go...if you rinse them after saltwater dunking.

 

[possum2082]

Re: Adding Trailer Brakes

for 370, you can get surge discs with an accuator and lines:
http://www.pacifictrailers.com/complete-trailer-disc-brake-conversion-kit-by-UFP-DB-35-actuator/source=googleps/

 

[NHGuy]

Re: Adding Trailer Brakes

I don't know if you caught it but your link goes to a 5 lug drum and you have 4 lug wheels.

 

[jgoeden]

Re: Adding Trailer Brakes

Thanks everyone for the advice. Don't know what I'll do, but my trailer is pretty crappy right now and my dad's buddy is wanting to sell me one off a junker boat he bought for parts. Dad said the trailer is decent, but I haven't seen it yet. I'll make my decision when I purchase the trailer.

As for other suggestions, I do have 7 pin wiring on my Commander and could easily rewire the trailer if needed. I can also guarantee that this boat will never see salt-water so that's not really an issue. Thanks for all the suggestions, have some thinking to do!