Elec over Hyd Disc Brakes

[LEPage]

Went to Elkhart last week and picked up our new 40' Travel Supreme 5th wheel. At just over 20k, I was wondering what it would tow like, but the CTD pulled with little effort. Stopping was also a dream, thanks to the Dexter electric over hydraulic disc brakes. Hands down the best option you can put on a heavy trailer. The trailer brakes alone will stop the entire rig from 70mph without a problem. GVW was 28,220#, w/o the couch & 2 recliners in the coach. Never again will I mess with those magnets & rusted parts. Disc brakes, on a trailer finally. The display on my Prodigy didn't show the usual "C", put it performed flawlessly. I'm still awaiting my Brakesmart. If you are looking for a new trailer or to improve the one you have, seriously consider this option as the best money you can spend. Happy Trailering.

 

[jelag]

I have 2 Dexter 12K lb axles on a work trailer that came with hydraulic disc brakes... . like you, I fould that the disc's would stop the whole trailer and truck... .



BTW my 04 3500 pulls this with no problem when its loaded...



I've had 4 cracked rotors... I assume from overheating and have gone through 2 sets of pads where the towing truck is still on the OE pads at 130K plus miles... What seems to be happening is that when the brakes get hot... the rubber boots on the calipers go away from the heat... dirt gets in the caliper and it drags... . causing excessive heat and damage to the pads and rotors... We've finally hung a piece of insulation between the pad and pistion and that seems to help... .



I've now toned down the ability of the brakes... and move to a lower gear and let the exhaust brake do all the work... goes down the hill a lot slower... but I feel safer... .



Dexter stuff is very expensive and no-one... I mean no-one has the service parts on the shelf... . I now set the controller up so that if I'm in danger I can get full braking and stop it... . but 90% of the time I drive slower... . and hold a wider space up front... and try to lengthen the life of the brakes... .



Just my 2 cents worth... .

 

[Rd.Runnr]

28350??? Think you may be overloaded?

 

[JJW_ND]

Hydraulic Disk all the way....

We converted two 16K trailers over this spring. Put around 20K miles on one of then alone in the last three months. Lots of gravel, starting and stoppiong, panic stops you name it.



Thanks to Jim (Jelag) and others for the advice. Our setup is Kodiak brakes hardware (www.kodiaktrailer.com) with a Carlisle Hydrastar brake actuator (http://www.carlislebrake.com/spec_tbp.html) and in cab we have Brakesmarts. This is the smooths and closest you can come to one unified system (can not tell the trailer brakes from the truck brakes).



The disk brakes were as good today with ZERO maintance or adjustment as they did the day we installed them.



I had to pull my trialer with a truck running a Prodigy controller and while it did work OK, one really gets used to the brake petal modulation you can do with the Brakesmart. The Brakesmart controller is in a whole different leage as compared to controllers like the prodigy (which was our preferred controller prior to Brakesmart).



If you pull heavy or just want good reliable trailer brakes, hydraulic disk is the only way to go.



jjw

ND

 

[ChrisTucker]

28350??? Think you may be overloaded?

His truck chassis, yes, but not his drivetrain :-laf

 

[LEPage]

His truck chassis, yes, but not his drivetrain :-laf

Don't bet on it, I'm on my second NV5600!