Trailer Brake Cost Justification

[skunkbayweather]

First? I want to thank all the contributors in this forum. There is a wealth of information here. I feel selfish that I only come here to ?get ? information rather than ?share? information?.. That said? I need to ?get? some information now before I toss a lot of money into trailer brakes.

Empty boat with full tank of fuel plus trailer are 4900lbs. on a truck scale. This is a King tandem axle trailer with 3500lb. axles and drum brakes. It is about 14 years old. It has drum brakes that are completely decimated?.again..... I only use the boat in salt water. Lately my round trips are only about 4 miles about 25-30 times a year. But, there is always a spur of the moment 500 mile trip lurking out there that I want to be prepared for. So here is my quandary?. I am a believer that the most expensive tool you can have in your shop is the cheapest when you buy it?. Because you have to replace it all the time. Right now I am looking at Kodiak All SS brakes and a new actuator. I don't want to make a habit of replacing brakes....

Here is my question. Will the Kodiak total SS package give me the long term value I am looking for? I will install brakes on both axles. I don?t mind spending the money if it dramatically increases our odds of having brakes that will last. We will be keeping the boat for many years. I do all the work myself and will obviously be installing a flush kit. I am a ?young? 62 years old, but I don?t want to have to replace these brakes. At the same time I will replace the actuator and all of the brake lines.

So? I am asking for thoughts on the Kodiak total SS system and what would be the best actuator to install with these brakes? Is this a long term, cost justified system?

Thank you!

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Trailer Brake Cost Justification

I bought the cheaper non SS Kodiaks and they have been fine but I flush them very well after I use them. Since you put your boat in salt 25-30 times a year, your salt use is definitely more than mine though.

I would get the Titan actuator over the Tie Down ones. Make sure they are for disk brakes.

 

[tazrig]

Re: Trailer Brake Cost Justification

SS brakes will last longer in the salt but they are not worth the price difference in terms of how much longer they will last. In other words if you pay twice as much for them they will not last twice as long. If you don't mind spending the money you will have to change the SS less often but from a strictly economic sense it doesn't make sense. Flushing definitely helps to prolong their life but even SS will give out eventually.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Trailer Brake Cost Justification

It has drum brakes that are completely decimated….!

???

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Trailer Brake Cost Justification

I had a trailer with disc brakes and used them in salt water for 7 years without any problems. They might have been tie-Down Engineering brand, but I am not sure. The calipers and rotors seemed to stand up well to the salt.

As far as justifying the system, you would have to weigh that against the cost of a road mishap. I think the brakes would cost less than most mishaps.