Trailer Brakes

Submitted: Saturday, Nov 11, 2006 at 16:47
ThreadID: 39337 Views:8702 Replies:7 FollowUps:14
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What would be the best type of brakes for my camper trailer? My Cameron has a 50mm square axle. It will be loaded up for a year long round Oz trip ending up weighing about 1000kg.

I'm thinking electric discs would be good but can't find any suppliers, they all seem to be drums. I'm more inclined to go for discs but are electric drums any good on trailers?

Also more inclined to go for hydraulic over mechanical override if electric isn't an option, but the override treg couplings are about $340 themselves!

Does anybody have any other options to look at? Anyone know a good supplier in SA?

Thanks in advance

Barnesy

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Reply By: navaraman - Saturday, Nov 11, 2006 at 16:59

Saturday, Nov 11, 2006 at 16:59
Barnesy can't specifically answer your question but a couple of guys in my fishing club are doing leaflet drops every weekend at O'Sullivans Beach boat ramp and fitting brakes to boat trailers whilst the boaties are out fishing. I believe someone is doing the same at North Haven. They are getting lots of work with the new trailer brake regulations
AnswerID: 204293

Reply By: Darian (SA) - Saturday, Nov 11, 2006 at 18:31

Saturday, Nov 11, 2006 at 18:31
Any of the various braking models are ok, if maintained properly ! Across the main players in camper trailer manufacturing, you will find them all probably - my Campomatic uses electric drums (ALKO). Been good to date - done a lot of work - very robust, considering the pounding they would have taken - yet to replace any parts. I service them myself. SA Trailer and Chassis on Port Wakefiled Rd Cavan seem to have everything you could want in the way of trailer hardware - they could modify the assembly you have to for whatever mode of braking you choose (not cheap but). There may be others just as comprehensive re parts and expertise, but haven't come across them yet.
AnswerID: 204298

Follow Up By: paul.as - Saturday, Nov 11, 2006 at 20:28

Saturday, Nov 11, 2006 at 20:28
Darian,
how hard is it to service the brakes yourself?
what is involved?

thanks
Paul
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FollowupID: 464074

Follow Up By: Darian (SA) - Sunday, Nov 12, 2006 at 10:55

Sunday, Nov 12, 2006 at 10:55
G'day Paul.
I got into the hubs before our first trip, just to make sure I knew what to do with any bush trip failures (hub issues/failures are common it seems - not surprising when you see some of those 'tracks' - everyone should have spares, even if someone else fits them) - made up a kit with spare bearings, seals, grease caps, castle nuts, pins, grease etc (my Campomatic uses the large sized hardware - HD stub axles on the ind. suspenion). Whilst doing the above I studied the brakes to see what might be on the go there - decided not to carry magnets and shoes - IF they went pear shaped, I'd just disconnect them until I got to the next regional centre. After a decent trip, I take the hubs right off and do the lot - if you have been into water crossings, there will be a bit of water at least in there and it will corrode the bearings, even if there is plenty of grease in there !
As for the ALKO electric brakes - my practice has been... 1. Brush the whole hub out. 2. Inspect the magnets for wear (when the tiny holes in the wear face are down to about 1mm deep, you need new ones). 3. Inspect the magnet wiring too for damage. 4. Inspect the shoes - replace if indicated. 5. Inspect the drum and have it machined if scored enough. 6. Re-assemble and adjust the shoe clearance, using the adjustment spinnner at the bottom of the hub (accessed from the back, via a grommet hole - there is a cheap tool for this - a screwdriver can suffice - I take it up to serious dragging, and back it off 18 clicks).
That's mine....... a pro servicer might/would do all of the above better than me, but he's not much use out on a bush trip.
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FollowupID: 464149

Follow Up By: Shaker - Sunday, Nov 12, 2006 at 11:13

Sunday, Nov 12, 2006 at 11:13
Darian, as a matter of interest, why do you back it off 18 clicks?
With a car, you adjust up until the wheel locks up, then back it off just until the wheel spins, usually only 2 or 3 clicks.
I am only asking because I am having a little trouble with my electric brakes.
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FollowupID: 464153

Follow Up By: Darian (SA) - Monday, Nov 13, 2006 at 08:36

Monday, Nov 13, 2006 at 08:36
In the handbook for the trailer there is guide of sorts for brake adjustment - they advise adjusting it up tight, then taking it back off 13 clicks - the tight end of the adjustment is imprecise - there are quite a lot of clicks from a light drag to tight - so.... I go up till a "moderate" drag and then back off 18 clicks - works for me - following their original advice, the hubs were heating up - they don't anymore ! I think it is an individual thing re trailers and systems - just experiment and settle on adjustments that suit you best. I did originally run the bearings with a whisker of play (checked by jacking up the trailer and wobbling the wheel) but now they are settled right in and I run with no play.
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Follow Up By: Shaker - Monday, Nov 13, 2006 at 11:24

Monday, Nov 13, 2006 at 11:24
I was always told to lock the wheel up to centre the shoes, then back it off until the wheel spins freely, usually only a few clicks.

I have just read the service guide for the Dexter electric drum brakes & they say 18 clicks, here ...... http://www.vehiclecomponents.biz/pdf/CIS/CIS1%20Dexter%20Brakes.PDF ...... now I'm really confused!
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FollowupID: 464421

Reply By: SA_Patrol - Saturday, Nov 11, 2006 at 18:51

Saturday, Nov 11, 2006 at 18:51
Override over hydraulic or disc over hydraulic are ok but I think electric drums are the best, they don't make electric disc's. Kimberly can supply electric over hydraulic disc's.

You have to be mad to fit electric brakes on a sea going fishing boat

Discount Electric Brake Specialist at Braeside ave Holden hill can supply and install anything you want
AnswerID: 204299

Reply By: Derek from Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Saturday, Nov 11, 2006 at 20:25

Saturday, Nov 11, 2006 at 20:25
Hi B,

Electric drum is the easy option and easy to get parts anywhere.

We sell Prodigy controllers as they can also work in reverse. The Prodigy can't work on hydro-electric so you would loose the reverse function.

Good to have when retreating down a slope you know you should have avoided.

Regards Derek.
AnswerID: 204308

Follow Up By: SA_Patrol - Sunday, Nov 12, 2006 at 11:23

Sunday, Nov 12, 2006 at 11:23
Yes they do say that the Prodigy can't work on hydro-electric units but I have a friend thats had one on his Kimberly Kamper since it first came out with that system and hasn't had a problem yet.
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FollowupID: 464155

Follow Up By: Derek from Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Sunday, Nov 12, 2006 at 13:37

Sunday, Nov 12, 2006 at 13:37
Hi SA_Patrol

Yes do you know if he gets a intermittent fault code ?

Tekonsha told me the Prodigy could diagnose the Electric motor as a short circuit. It may work fine but the fault code would pop up every now and then.

Please let me know.

Regards Derek.
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Follow Up By: SA_Patrol - Sunday, Nov 12, 2006 at 15:26

Sunday, Nov 12, 2006 at 15:26
I'll find out, he didn't mention anything about it before . He has it in a 2004 Prado GXL
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Follow Up By: Member - Garth J (NSW) - Monday, Nov 13, 2006 at 17:47

Monday, Nov 13, 2006 at 17:47
SA_Patrol and Derek from Affordable Batteries & Radiators,

I'd be interested as well to see how the prodigy performs. I also have a 2003 Prado.

Derek, Is the fault code only a flag and does it cause a malfunction or just a warning.

I have a prodigy and a voyager and will be getting my Kimberley Karavan very soon so will have a chance to use both with the Electro-Hydraulic brake unit, but dont want to do any damage to anything.

Regards
Garth

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FollowupID: 464514

Follow Up By: Derek from Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Monday, Nov 13, 2006 at 19:47

Monday, Nov 13, 2006 at 19:47
Hi Garth,

The way I understand it is the prodigy shows a short circuit code but still works fine.

Regards Derek.
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FollowupID: 464551

Follow Up By: SA_Patrol - Thursday, Nov 16, 2006 at 23:51

Thursday, Nov 16, 2006 at 23:51
Hi Derek, I just found out today about my friends prodigy in his car and he does get an error code, it's not an issue, it purges when he uses the brakes but it still works great. He has an extra switch to turn off the controller when he's not using it. He now has updated he car to the 2006 and brought another prodigy unit.
He is very happy on the way it works.
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FollowupID: 465380

Follow Up By: Derek from Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Friday, Nov 17, 2006 at 08:18

Friday, Nov 17, 2006 at 08:18
Great,

It is as I thought.

There will be a relay / add on box available soon to address this problem.

Regards

Derek.
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FollowupID: 465407

Reply By: titl4 - Saturday, Nov 11, 2006 at 23:01

Saturday, Nov 11, 2006 at 23:01
Gday Barnsey

Lots of options but if I were fitting new for your CT I'd go for Dexter 10" electric drum brakes with a Prodigy controller. I drove with over-ride brakes for years until I discovered just how much better electric brakes are.
Cheers .......... Alan
AnswerID: 204338

Reply By: Member - JohnR (Vic)&Moses - Saturday, Nov 11, 2006 at 23:19

Saturday, Nov 11, 2006 at 23:19
Barnsey there was a post last week on trailer disks, have you looked? Site Link
AnswerID: 204340

Reply By: Luke SA - Monday, Nov 13, 2006 at 12:38

Monday, Nov 13, 2006 at 12:38
Barnsey
Ive been looking at putting electric brakes on my Cameron camper as well. With a bit of shopping around I gave SA Trailer and Chassis on Port Wakefiled Rd Cavan as well and found out what i would need as i would fit them myself.

I also stopped at the Cameron camper stall at the last 4wd and camping show here in Adelaide and they put disks on their new ones and will sell you what you need. I would prolly try to find their supplier myself tho......... could get em cheaper.

Cheers Luke
AnswerID: 204638

Follow Up By: Barnesy - Monday, Nov 13, 2006 at 12:45

Monday, Nov 13, 2006 at 12:45
Thanks Luke. How much did they quote you for the electric drums from SA trailer and chassis? How much for fitting?

Do Cameron put electric discs on new CTs? Did you ask them the cost?

I will search these questions myself but you may know something i don't.

Thanks

Barnesy
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FollowupID: 464444

Follow Up By: Luke SA - Wednesday, Nov 15, 2006 at 00:35

Wednesday, Nov 15, 2006 at 00:35
Sorry Barnsey I cant find the quotes i had from both places as they were
together (always the way lol)
I think from memory the quote from SA Trailer and Chassis was about $450-$500 not fitted as i would do the fitting myself

The Cameron Campers had disks on them but dont think they were electric, sorry I couldnt be anymore specific

As you said you will search these Q's and I think it is a good idea lol

Hope this helps Cheers Luke
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FollowupID: 464936

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