2006 Q6 tahoe Trailer brakes replacement parts?

dingbat

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What size and type of brakes and wheel cylinders do I need on my trailer
Tahoe doe not make boat trailers.

If the owner doesn't know then how are strangers supposed to know?

The best they could do is suggest your options based on current equipment.
Need a bit more information like what type of brakes are currently installed:
Surge?
Electric?
Disc?
Drum?
 

tahoRobert

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Dec 21, 2022
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Tahoe doe not make boat trailers.

If the owner doesn't know then how are strangers supposed to know?

The best they could do is suggest your options based on current equipment.
Need a bit more information like what type of brakes are currently installed:
Surge?
Electric?
Disc?
Drum?
Surge best I can tell thor industries made dwell axel trailer
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
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Jul 23, 2011
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49,534
If you have drums, a fully loaded backing plate is only a few $ more than a wheel cylinder

Last one I did, wheel cylinders were $40. A pair of coated backing plates with wheel cylinders, brake shoes and hardware was under $100
 

tahoRobert

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Dec 21, 2022
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If you have drums, a fully loaded backing plate is only a few $ more than a wheel cylinder

Last one I did, wheel cylinders were $40. A pair of coated backing plates with wheel cylinders, brake shoes and hardware was under $100
How do I know whitch kit to get?
 

Lou C

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Drum brake wheel cylinders are pretty much all the same, the price went up but the are still pretty cheap. Now if you want to replace the whole brake backing plate, you need to know if you have a 5 lug hub (10" brakes) or a 6 lug hub (12" brakes) the wheel cyls for both are the same. It is actually easier and sometimes better to just replace the whole backing plate, you get new shoes, springs, etc with the wheel cylinder. These are made by Titan, Dexter (used to be Tie Down) and a few other companies. Get galvanized marine backing plates they come with stainless steel springs and everything lasts longer. There is a different wheel cyl design on Dexter (Tie Down) galvanized backing plates that uses a bootless cylinder, which may last longer. I used them on my trailer when I swapped the axle last year.
12 inch drum brake.jpg
 

bruceb58

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TieDown and dexter were two separate companies until Dexter bought TieDown. That being said, you can still buy either type and I would never buy the TieDown version. Buy the Dexter...way higher quality than the TieDown version.
 

tahoRobert

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TieDown and dexter were two separate companies until Dexter bought TieDown. That being said, you can still buy either type and I would never buy the TieDown version. Buy the Dexter...way higher quality than the TieDown version.
Thank you for all the great information
 

tahoRobert

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Drum brake wheel cylinders are pretty much all the same, the price went up but the are still pretty cheap. Now if you want to replace the whole brake backing plate, you need to know if you have a 5 lug hub (10" brakes) or a 6 lug hub (12" brakes) the wheel cyls for both are the same. It is actually easier and sometimes better to just replace the whole backing plate, you get new shoes, springs, etc with the wheel cylinder. These are made by Titan, Dexter (used to be Tie Down) and a few other companies. Get galvanized marine backing plates they come with stainless steel springs and everything lasts longer. There is a different wheel cyl design on Dexter (Tie Down) galvanized backing plates that uses a bootless cylinder, which may last longer. I used them on my trailer when I swapped the axle last year.
View attachment 373792
Thank you
 

Lou C

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I think parts that used to be labeled Tie Down are being labeled Dexter, you can see this with brake actuators, for example the previously labeled Tie Down 6600 lb actuator is now labled Dexter but is obviously the same unit.
a relative has this exact unit on his 2021 Venture trailer but for disc brakes
Drum brake backing plates for 5 lug hubs:

I've had both Tie Down and Titan drum brake assemblies and there really isn't any obvious difference between them even the wheel cylinders are the same, except the latest Tie Down/Dexter units are coming with that new design bootless wheel cylinder like in my pic.
 

bruceb58

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Hopefully Dexter helps Tiedown with their quality issues. I have a pontoon trailer with Tiedown. Surge brake actuator failed after a few years followed by the wheel cylinders. This is on a trailer putting a boat in once a year in fresh water.

I put Tiedown disc brakes on a trailer and the calipers seized within a year and the rotors warped. Put Kodiak brakes on them and they were till working great 15 years later when I sold it.
 

Lou C

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I have a Tie Down Model 66 drum actuator I installed in 2004. Still working. My Tie Down galvanized drum brakes lasted an average of 5-6 seasons with 2-4 salt water dunks per year. Most times it was water getting under the boot on the cylinder. I started modifying the cylinders to make them more water resistant which helped. The new design bootless wheel cyls seem like a better design.
 

Lou C

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If you're changing everything you can certainly change to disc brakes, they are easier to service, that's for sure, I have been able to make the galvanized drum brakes last for me, and because there is less drag than disc brakes and you can adjust the shoes, they work better in my towing environment (steep hills unusual on Long Island because of being on the extreme north shore, the rest is flat as a pancake like Fla.)
The other thing I have seen here (all salt water) is that disc brake rotors do not hold up well if they are not stainless. I have seen many trailers with the disc rotors with chunks of cast iron falling off. With my original axle and 10" drum brakes the zinc coated drums were still fine when I replaced that axle with a heavier duty unit last fall. It had been used for 17 years at that point.
PS I had this axle made by Champion Trailers in 2004 for $130, I was able to sell it to a local guy who wanted it for his enclosed trailer for $100! not bad eh?
The 6000 lb axle I replaced it with was also built by Champion, that was a good deal more money but better than what most new trailers come with, 1/4" thick all galvanized V-saddle drop axle.
3500 lb 2x2 axle.jpg
lowered cross members done.jpg
 

bruceb58

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I used disc brakes for years in salt water and had zero issues with rusting...of course I rinsed the discs off after I dunked the trailer.

Disc brakes do not drag.
 
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