Drum surge Brakes to electric brakes

[maproy99]

Please do not start this form into a hydraulic vs electric. My decision has been made.

I have a 26 foot dual axle trailer that is registered at under 3,000. (Next stage up would cost an extra $40 a year) I assume it might be over because the tires that are rated for 1,100 each are almost maxed out. Can't get a true weight due to the trailer being on stands right now. It has drum surge brakes on the front axle. Currently they do not work, the lines leak slightly and the brakes leak fluid and the lines are rusted out inside to the point I need to replace the brakes and the lines. I would like to just do away with drum brakes (not had a good history with me) and go with electric brakes. My truck is all hooked up and has a brake controller installed due to renting a travel trailer. My question is, do I go with the cheap rv electric brakes, around $30 per brake plus shipping or go with the Fulton marine electric brakes (designed for salt water) for about $130 per brake plus shipping? Being 100% ALWAYS in fresh water and my trailer under water just to get the boat off and on with about +-20 launches a year. My next question is, brakes on the front axle or both, however I do not have a mounting plate on the rear axle, how hard is it to install that? Being unplugged during launching so no power to short out. And do you have to adjust the electric brakes like drum brakes?

 

[Cheetah 210es]

Re: Drum surge Brakes to electric brakes

You Again!!!!!!
I wouldn't recommend anything cheap with brakes, as long as your under 5000lb you don't need both axles braked in Illinois and 1 axle with discs is way better to 1 with drums, nothing to drain with a disc break either and usually self adjusting but check the kit your looking at

 

[maproy99]

Re: Drum surge Brakes to electric brakes

You Again!!!!!!
I wouldn't recommend anything cheap with brakes, as long as your under 5000lb you don't need both axles braked in Illinois and 1 axle with discs is way better to 1 with drums, nothing to drain with a disc break either and usually self adjusting but check the kit your looking at

1. Not asking about the laws, legally I don't have to have brakes, but if some idiot decides to cut me off and see how fast I can stop I want to have them. 2. I am going to assume you don't know everything about drum/disk brakes because disks are not always the better option and for this trailer the drums would probably do better for the weight on the axle, but this is against the point as I already have decided to use electric brakes. And theoretically the brakes would drain almost the same and dry out when you started using them. I asked about the self adjusting because its not really stated on electric brakes I have seen. Just a minor convince. And for the cheep brakes I have heard stories about rv brakes working fine for 5+ years in fresh water, 5 years isn't bad for $30 over $130, that means I could replace every 5 years 4 times for 20+ years and still be money ahead. I just want to talk to someone who has done this switch so I know a bit more what to expect.

 

[maproy99]

Re: Drum surge Brakes to electric brakes

I guess i should specify that the reason why I am asking about the rear axle is, will it make a noticeable difference in braking capacity and help keep the front axle from skidding in a hard stop as the braking force is split? Lol, 4 tires skidding would be funny to watch, then kinda scary very quickly, maybe it is best to keep just the front axle braked. Once again, anyone with experience with this?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Drum surge Brakes to electric brakes

yes it would be huge difference.... you would have double the stopping power with two axles vs one... Are you wanting electric drums or discs?

GENERALLY if you have mounting tabs the backing plates will bolt right up BUT they sometimes don't .... sometimes the tabs are in the wrong place... no real good way I know of to determine other than try it.

As for what to pay, it's up to you.... go cheap and you likely have more maintenance to do like free up rusted parts in the spring.... That said ALL trailer brakes get wet..... rain on the road will soak em.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Drum surge Brakes to electric brakes

YES! WAIT, NO! OH, SORRY, I MISSED THE FIRST TWO LINES INSTRUCTING ME NOT TO COMMENT IF I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT, WHICH I DON'T, SO I'LL GO AWAY NOW. Carry on.

 

[Lowe170]

Re: Drum surge Brakes to electric brakes

PLEASE DO NOT COMMENT UNLESS YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT IN THIS SITUATION.

PLEASE GIVE ME/US A BREAK!!!

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Drum surge Brakes to electric brakes

1. Not asking about the laws, legally I don't have to have brakes, but if some idiot decides to cut me off and see how fast I can stop I want to have them. 2. I am going to assume you don't know everything about drum/disk brakes because disks are not always the better option and for this trailer the drums would probably do better for the weight on the axle, but this is against the point as I already have decided to use electric brakes. And theoretically the brakes would drain almost the same and dry out when you started using them. I asked about the self adjusting because its not really stated on electric brakes I have seen. Just a minor convince. And for the cheep brakes I have heard stories about rv brakes working fine for 5+ years in fresh water, 5 years isn't bad for $30 over $130, that means I could replace every 5 years 4 times for 20+ years and still be money ahead. I just want to talk to someone who has done this switch so I know a bit more what to expect.

Auuuugh. You better check again, but i might not know what i am talking about.

A separate braking system is required for trailers over 3,000 pounds GVW in Illinois according to Road King. GVW is the weight of the trailer, plus the weight of any passengers and cargo. Edmunds recommends separate systems for any trailer over 2,000 lbs. gross trailer weight--the weight of the trailer alone.

VEHICLES
(625 ILCS 5/) Illinois Vehicle Code.

4.1. Every boat trailer of a gross weight of over
3,000 pounds, when operated upon a highway, must be equipped with brakes adequate to control the movement of, to stop, and to hold that boat trailer. The brakes must be designed to ensure that, in case of an accidental breakaway of a towed boat trailer over 5,000 pounds, the brakes are automatically applied.

I think a dual axel trailer and a 26ft boat puts you in this catagory.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Drum surge Brakes to electric brakes

How much is your towed weight? I am sure its in here somewhere but I don't see it.

If your second axle doesn't have brake flanges, best just to buy another axle. They have to be welded on with the axle in a jig and its critical that they are perpindicular to the axle. I had the same issue and just bought another axle and sold the old one on Craigslist. I had MANY people willing to buy it.

Personally, drum brakes of any kind wouldn't be on my trailer after having disk brakes.

BTW. The first line of your first post is incredibly rude!

 

[maproy99]

Re: Drum surge Brakes to electric brakes

x 3times as happy

 

[86 century]

Re: Drum surge Brakes to electric brakes

I would be happy to share the system I have.
Check out electric over hydrolic brakes.
I would give you full details but I dont know every thing about them I just instaled last year so good luck.
Dont be such a and people will be more helpfull.
Good luck

 

[maproy99]

Re: Drum surge Brakes to electric brakes

Haven't run across any disk electric brakes? I though they were technically not really possible. I would happy go with them if someone found them. ( I do not mean electric/hydraulic systems ) Is it possible to have a shop weld the flanges on the axle, I really do not feel like buying a new axle. I doubt I would even take it off to get it welded on.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Drum surge Brakes to electric brakes

I have heard not so good things about haveing a welding shop weld one on. It has to be perfect and is best when held in a jig.

I bought a brand new axle for a little over $200 and sold my old one for $60

No such thing as electric disk brakes. I have electric/hydraulic. Best of both worlds.

If you are towing 4400 lbs, you want brakes on both axles. Curious...what kind of 26' boat weighs so little. Pontoon?

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Drum surge Brakes to electric brakes

If you are towing 4400 lbs, you want brakes on both axles. Curious...what kind of 26' boat weighs so little. Pontoon?

that would be my guess, as I have a similar length dual axle trailer and pontoon...

 

[maproy99]

Re: Drum surge Brakes to electric brakes

If the boat was 26 feet long it would need like a 28-30 foot trailer, tong length? The trailer is 25 or 26 feet long (idk where the title is right now) but the boat is only 21 feet long. And if the trailer has 2 2,000 pound axles, it cannot be over 4,000 without a bent axle sometime, I just suggested that the tires do not look like they could take 500-700 more pounds more on the trailer and be safe. This is why I guesstimated a little under 4,000. Btw, this trailer is a '64 and did not come with the boat.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Drum surge Brakes to electric brakes

Opps sorry...missed the part about the trailer length. People usually don't mention trailer length....just boat length.

If your tires are only rated for 1,100Lbs, what sized tires are these? If these are 13" or smaller, you may have a tough time finding brakes for it.

My previous boat which was a 21' Bayliner was on a tandem axle trailer with brakes on both axles.

 

[JDA1975]

Re: Drum surge Brakes to electric brakes

This is why I guesstimated a little under 4,000. Btw, this trailer is a '64 and did not come with the boat.

stop by a truck stop, and swing it through the scales....$7 for an accurate weight is worth it. as far as the breaks go, I cant help...but never guess your weight, it is always best to know for sure.

 

[maproy99]

Re: Drum surge Brakes to electric brakes

I believe I posted that the trailer is on stands and I want to replace the brakes before I get the hubs and wheels on, but I may have posted over that. I am going to get a weight in the spring, but probably at a grain elevator, tons of them around me. Of course if a police officer weights me, then I have to lie to say I didn't know it was over weight for my trailer registration.

 

[JDA1975]

Re: Drum surge Brakes to electric brakes

I did not see that, I apologize, just trying to help out...1.5 million miles on the road and you would...or probably wouldn't... be surprised the things I have seen happen to trailers being pulled by motoring public...I debated posting for a while because of the first post of thread but decided your safety was more important than your opinion of me for posting lol...glad to hear you plan to weigh it, take care!

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Drum surge Brakes to electric brakes

I did not see that, I apologize, just trying to help out!

Since he is editing his first post at the drop of a hat no wonder you are confused...as am I!