Elec over Hydraulic Brakes

[6speed]

I have really been considering doing this to my trailer in my signature. It seems that I have to put drums, or replacing the shoes every season or more often. I have read some operators have done this conversion and been very happy with the performance, but I have
not heard anybody talk about the longevity. The expense is around 3K for the conversion and seems worth it if it will remedy the
above mention issues. I currently have the Dexter or the equivalent self adjusting units. Some other benefits of this is I won't have
remove the hub every time I need to do brakes. Also current ones are oil bath and I plan to go back with same. Thoughts????

 

[AH64ID]

How many miles a season are you putting on?

 

[Hoefler]

I just installed disc brakes on our fifth wheel earlier this year, the kit cost $1600 delivered to my door. Took me about 6 hours to install.

 

[6speed]

AH64ID maybe 6-7K a year

 

[EDankievitch]

I switched over to Disk Breaks on my boat trailers years ago an would have nothing else. My next trailer will have electric over Hydro. One of my last trailers had a Hydrovac Vacuum over Hydro it worked but was a pain to maintain.

 

[6speed]

Some other info is the my gross wt is about 26K. I keep the brakes adjusted as needed even thou they are self adjusting. I replaced a wheel seal this past May and when I pulled the drum the shoes were almost down to metal. And the drum should have been turned. This was new this time last year, They all work so I know its not that I am relying a portion of them working. I have been in some panic stops and they seem to fade fast. I try to maintain plenty of distance for just incase, but we all know how people drive.

 

[AH64ID]

That doesn't seem like enough miles for that often of maintenance required. I'm assuming 8K axles? I have noticed 2 sets of brakes on 8K axles, there are the bigger brakes only for 8K and the smaller ones found all the way down to 5K or smaller.

Either way, with that kind of wear I think you would really like the EOH setup.

 

[GCroyle]

My Airstream is just under 10K has dual axles and has Dexter four piston per wheel EOH and I have them working IMHO "as designed" to their full potential. They are strong, smooth, and up to the task.

 

[6speed]

3-7K Alco axles

 

[SnoKing]

3-7K Alco axles

What are you running for an exhaust brake? With a 6sp and exhaust brake you should be relieving the service brakes from a lot of work. Or is it a NHRA driving style issue? Snoking

 

[6speed]

I have the PacBrake and use religiously. That's just it the brakes are original on the truck at 260K

 

[Dieselnerd]

About a year ago I had my 7K axles with electric brakes replaced with Dexter 8K, independent suspension, never lube bearings and hydraulic disc brakes.

The trailer is in my signature. I've towed about 5000 miles since then and it's day and night difference. My factory E Brake still does most of the work but when I step on the brake it stops as good as an empty truck. I can't see any wear on the pads yet.

 

[GCroyle]

Ron,

Once those are completely bled, you have massive brakes. That was my issue and it caused a slight delay, I got rid of the air bubble and delay is almost imperceptible.

The one watch out for item is the dust boots, if they get tore up then water can get in and rust follows followed by possible piston to housing sticking and a hot rotor. Happened to me. I came up with my "repair procedure" and so far, so great.

Gary

 

[jacknife]

Best thing you can do to your trailer. You will never go back, never! Not hard to do yourself if you have the place to do it

 

[6speed]

I have been waiting on some financial settlements since retirement to purchase this. I have the place to do it and now the time to do it. The wife keeps thinking we are getting a bigger or different RV, but I keep telling her I don't want any more payments. I am just doing upgrades that make my life easier. The main brake line I will be getting isn't quite long enough so I need to figure out the exact length to add to it. Its not a biggie, just do my math.

 

[GCroyle]

Don't they offer coils and you make your own flare as req'd?

 

[GAmes]

About a year ago I had my 7K axles with electric brakes replaced with Dexter 8K, independent suspension, never lube bearings and hydraulic disc brakes.

Did that come as a kit or did you have to piece it together?

 

[Dieselnerd]

Did that come as a kit or did you have to piece it together?

I had it done at a custom trailer builder here in MN. They did a complete job including brake pump, wiring, new G rated tires. They do quite a few of these, only took a couple of days after the parts came in. I had them do lifts on previous fifth wheels and knew that they did excellent work. They will build you a trailer from scratch or almost any kind of modification you can think of.

It's not inexpensive but my trailer is almost like new, inside and out. My wife and I were trying to decide between a new trailer or rebuild the worn out suspension on the current one. The quality of a HitchHiker trailer is pretty good and something of similar quality today is quite expensive.

We decided on a rebuild. It cost a little over $9000 including tax. That was a 3 inch lift, independent suspension 8K axles with never lube bearings and disc brakes, new Goodyear made in USA G rated tires, Dexter hydraulic brake pump and wiring, all the brake lines, brake pump mounted inside custom welded aluminum box to contain the fluid in case of leaks and all lines bled and road tested before they gave it to me.

 

[GAmes]

Thanks. I don't need a lift or G rated tires. The independent suspension sounds good, but mostly I'm interested in the EOH and disc brakes. The boat trailer I tow behind my 5er doesn't have brakes, so the drum brakes get over worked at times.

 

[NIsaacs]

The boat trailer I tow behind my 5er doesn't have brakes, so the drum brakes get over worked at times.

You might consider installing brakes on the boat trailer, it wouldn't cost much.

Nick