bad news @ DMV

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My $50 trailer needs its own brake system, because it's 1200+lb..... the old original drum brakes are there, minus the drums (probably removed to prevent unnecessary drag)
Question: do electric brakes use a cable-pulling device (such as would tighten the brake shoes like when it had "parking" brakes)?
----Or do they use a master cylinder and some way of pressrizing it?
---or none of the above?

If electrics would be a major P. I. T. A. , how about torching off the ball-end, replacing it with a surge-brake assembly? anything that's going to go $100 in parts is unappetizing as "all-git-out"

If all else fails, I'm not above using my boat trailer's tag on the util trlr, or running tagless... I suspect the ticket would be cheaper than the compliance... . #ad

 

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rich,electric trailer brakes use an electro-magnet that sucks onto the the outside of the drum when energized to activate the shoes. Cheap source of heavy duty axles with leaf springs, electric brakes and sometimes even tires are used mobil home axles. Mobil home moving companies usually have a pile of them on their lot that they will part with for a deal. If the axle is too long just cut a section out of the center and weld it back together,much easier than installing surge brakes.
Sometimes you can find stickers that are the same color as the plate tabs and use them. A friend of mine uses the ingredents label off a submarine sandwich for his tabs. An other way around it is to use a farmer's licence plate,an orange triangle slow moving vehical sign,from what I understand legal in all 50.

[This message has been edited by illflem (edited 11-11-2000). ]

 

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I have seen some *home-made* trailers down here that use mobile home axles... nightmare! Yes, they're cheap... and theres a reason for that! I have too much invested in the race car to go cheap on the trailer! I know brake/axle asseblies are available new, and arent really that expensive. Check a trailer place near you.

 

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Ya, I'm afraid I have to give the big "thumbs down" to the trailer house axles. They wind up being alot more trouble down the road than they're worth. Go to a real trailer supply place and price a set of complete axles with brakes. You should be able to get them in a kit with springs, hangers, the works for a pretty reasonable price. They'll want to know how heavy an axle you need, how wide, etc. Probably wouldn't hurt to take the trailer with you so you could do measurements right there and save yourself from makeing a bunch of trips.

 

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You guys are giving our buddy Rich here the wrong advice,he's talking about a $50 trailer. He could probibly pay the fine many times before it equals the price of new axles and such.

 

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Good source for trailer components.

Comparative pricing made easy -
http://www.northern-online.com/

 

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Rich,can you register it under 1200lbs? Go to a scale, and have it weighed. Most DMV workers dont know or care.
If you cant do this, ask about a constuction vehicle plate.

 

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I think a lot of this advice is missing the point. Rich has to play by NV rules and the trailer is not exactly a top of the line gadget. I would think that a trip to a junk yard to find an axle that would work is probably the best idea. Might find a junker that can be canibalized to get enuff brake parts to satisfy the DMV.

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Joe George
Eureka, CA

'95 2500 CC auto 4X4,3. 54,Combo EGT/boost guage,custom switch panel,PacBrake,TST #5,BD valve body,Automatic motorhome steps on both sides,Foldacover hard bed cover,Cummins chrome kit,Black steel grill guard,Front hitch receiver

 

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I have a small single axel trailer with electric brakes. It is sitting on some property just outside Nevada City CA.

If you want the entire trailer you can have it.


[This message has been edited by CJ (edited 11-13-2000). ]

 

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Originally posted by illflem:
You guys are giving our buddy Rich here the wrong advice,he's talking about a $50 trailer. He could probibly pay the fine many times before it equals the price of new axles and such.

#ad
Oops, missed the $50 value part. In that case, might better go for the trailer house axles after all. Doubt you'd be towing a trailer like that very far anyway.

 

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Originally posted by illflem:
. An other way around it is to use a farmer's licence plate,an orange triangle slow moving vehical sign,from what I understand legal in all 50.

[This message has been edited by illflem (edited 11-11-2000). ]

I wonder how much "water" an SMV flag holds at 70+ mph?? #ad
(and an address that isn't a farm #ad
)

 

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As long as the speed limit is 70 you're OK. Many farms main offices are PO boxes or in major cities. With a Ag trailer you are only required to have the the equipment on the trailer that it came with,if it came with lights and brakes you have to keep them operating. I have a trailer drawn fertilizer spreader that I just sold to a fellow in CO,he wants it delivered so I checked the laws for OR,ID,UT & CO last week and they all told me basically the same thing.