Tandem Trailer and Disc Brake Conversion

[OllieC]

Everyone,

Good afternoon.

I've posted a few questions and you all have been very helpful, so maybe you can help me out with this one.

In a few months I will be rebuilding my trailer (-10 outside today) and one of the things I would like to do is the electric over hydraulic conversion. My question is, can I use one set of disc brakes instead of two on my tandem trailer?

What I am dealing with for weight would roughly be 5500lbs not including the trailer. I believe the trailer has only one set of drums. The boat would be transported a half-dozen times a year, however it could be as far as 250 miles.

The reason I ask is that I want to be safe, but $1200 for a kit (not including the Ford converter) starts getting a little steep.

Thoughts?

Ollie

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Tandem Trailer and Disc Brake Conversion

You want brakes on both axles.

 

[Silver Eagle]

Re: Tandem Trailer and Disc Brake Conversion

I had a 28 ft Load Rite roller trailer >It had drum brakes. I got two sets of Disc brakes from Easternmarine.com. Each set cost me around $120.00 Complete. Thats every thing you need to change over one set of wheels. You will also need one trailer tow assembly that handles disc brake .That is also around $120.00 . The brakes came with rubber brake line hoses. I don't know what the ford converter is. I had an 89 Ford super cab at that time.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Tandem Trailer and Disc Brake Conversion

I don't know what the ford converter is. I had an 89 Ford super cab at that time.

He's adding an electric/hydraulic system and he needs that adapter for the Ford built in electric brake controller to realize the electric/hydraulic pump is there, otherwise it looks like an open circuit to it.

for $120 you get brakes for one wheel. Need to multiply by 4 for 2 axles worth.

Also to the OP, don't waste your money on Tie Down disk brakes if that is what you are considerring. Get the Kodiaks.

 

[gozierdt]

Re: Tandem Trailer and Disc Brake Conversion

It's a tough question, at least to me. I had a 7000 lb 26' Travel Trailer that
I converted from 4 drum brakes to 4 electric/hydraulic disk brakes. The difference
was night-and-day! Tow vehicle is a Chev 2500HD Diesel. Before, I always
knew the trailer was there- stopping distance were a lot longer, and I always
felt a little "push" when putting on the brakes on downhills. With the disk brakes,
I could stop the whole rig with the trailer brakes if needed- a longer distance,
true, but the disks are head and shoulders over the drums. I don't feel anything
on downhills any longer, unless I put the trailer brake sensitivity too high, then
I feel a stronger deceleration. So would 1500 lbs less on your trailer give you
the same performance if you only went with one axle? I don't know. I do know
that you can definitely put brakes on only one axle, and it needs to be the rear
axle if that's what you're going to do. The reasons are clearly defined on several
of the major on-line trailer dealers. I like Champion trailers, but I've also used
EasternMarine. I guess the answer is how much you value family safety over
money spent. But I don't know what your towing conditions are- how long, how
many hills, traffic, tow vehicle, etc. Only you can answer that. I do know that
in heavy traffic in hills, I'm sure glad I've got the 4 wheel disks, even with the big truck.

 

[OllieC]

Re: Tandem Trailer and Disc Brake Conversion

Thanks guys - yes, safety is priority. I seem to see on "tweener" sized (19'-23')boats like mine, come with one set of surge drums on a tandem trailer. However, I am a guy that likes to do things correctly the first time.
Both axles it is.

Bruce58 - What's a tie down disc brake? I was looking at a Titan set on etrailers.....T4843700

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Tandem Trailer and Disc Brake Conversion

Like was said above, check ChampionTrailers.com for a bunch of information on trailers, brakes, etc. They also sell all the parts for good prices.

They'll tell you that you need brakes on all 4 corners--for safety. Don't get cheap and only put brakes on one axle.

For a heavy, heavy load like a backhoe trailer or 5th wheel trailer, electric brakes and disc brakes are the way to go. On a boat of your size, surge brakes and brake shoes are the easiest way to go--and longest lasting.

I just prefer to keep things simple as they can be. Champion Trailers is a wealth of info on all kinds of trailers, etc.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Tandem Trailer and Disc Brake Conversion

What's a tie down disc brake?

Tie Down Engineering is a manufacturer. Many here have reported quality problems with their brakes.

 

[Silver Eagle]

Re: Tandem Trailer and Disc Brake Conversion

. For $120.00 I got a set of two disc That's way they call it a set. My brakes were Disc/ surge brakes . I didn't need all that other stuff,I wasn't pulling a travel trailer.

 

[OllieC]

Re: Tandem Trailer and Disc Brake Conversion

Do yo think electric over hydraulic would be overkill? Sorry I'm fishing here, but a tandem surge disc kit is half the cost of an electric over hydraulic kit.

 

[N3UP]

Re: Tandem Trailer and Disc Brake Conversion

IMHO there is no such thing as overkill where safety is concerned.

With the weight you say you're going to be hauling, both axles is a must.
The upside to E/H is control. Braking effort is adjustable, independantly controllable, and available in reverse.
Miles above surge in my opinion.

As for the Ford adaptor, I have read that you can simply use an electric drum brake magnet between the brake signal wire and ground.
The problem with the factory integrated controllers is that they are constantly looking for circuit continuity, and E/H control units do not have a low enough circuit resistance. They look like an open circuit to some controllers.
For the price of a magnet, it's worth a try.

For boat trailers E/H is the way to go.

 

[BRICH1260]

Re: Tandem Trailer and Disc Brake Conversion

I would just consider putting surge disc`s on both axles. Much simpler to install, fewer maintance issues and they work.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Tandem Trailer and Disc Brake Conversion

I would just consider putting surge disc`s on both axles. Much simpler to install, fewer maintance issues and they work.

But only when the tow vehicle is trying to stop.
E/H brakes can actually stop the tow vehicle.
Surge brakes can not do that.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Tandem Trailer and Disc Brake Conversion

. For $120.00 I got a set of two disc That's way they call it a set. My brakes were Disc/ surge brakes . I didn't need all that other stuff,I wasn't pulling a travel trailer.

You have a link for disk brakes that you can buy for $120/set(2 wheels)?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Tandem Trailer and Disc Brake Conversion

The main reason I opted for electric over hydraulic was that I have to use an equilizing hitch with my 24' boat and a 1/2 ton pickup. Not having surge brakes gets rid of the problems that equilizing bars and surge have working with each other.

I like the magnet trick for fooling the built in factory brake controllers.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Tandem Trailer and Disc Brake Conversion

The main reason I opted for electric over hydraulic was that I have to use an equilizing hitch with my 24' boat and a 1/2 ton pickup. Not having surge brakes gets rid of the problems that equilizing bars and surge have working with each other.

I like the magnet trick for fooling the built in factory brake controllers.

As to the question of do i have to have brakes on both axles, is a state by state requirment. It goes by the gross weight being towed. Go to your DMV and find out the requirments. What you have is not alot of weight for a truck

I know that Reese makes an equalizing hitch made just for surge brakes.

I myself would be going disc brakes before anything. I have had both ( disc & shoe ).

For what towing you are doing, why spend all that extra money putting on E/H brakes. I would just equip the other axle with shoe brakes, keep them adjusted and save the money. Nothing wrong with shoe brakes. This idea of letting the trailer or it can stop the tow vehicle can get you in serious trouble on slick roads. That trailer will or can be coming around on you. Ask anyone who has towed big rigs what happens when they pull down on the trolly handle.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Tandem Trailer and Disc Brake Conversion

I know that Reese makes an equalizing hitch made just for surge brakes.

And I felt that the way they were designed still had enough friction to prevent them from working the way I wanted them to work. In addition, Using an E/H allows you to use a friction type sway control which you absolutely can't use with surge brakes.