Kimberley Kampers brake system
Submitted: Thursday, Jul 23, 2009 at 17:59
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70914
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Cruiser .
Hi everyone,
I have a mate looking at buying a KK, somewhere around a 2000 - 2003 model.
He seems to think that these models don't have electric brakes but instead use a hydraulic braking system.
Can any other KK owners shed any light on what they infact have.
Thanks in advance.
Cheers,
Cruiser
Reply By: Lachie - Thursday, Jul 23, 2009 at 18:06
Thursday, Jul 23, 2009 at 18:06
Hi
Mine is a 2004 classic and it has hydraulic braking system.
Lachie
AnswerID:
375850
Follow Up By: Cruiser .- Thursday, Jul 23, 2009 at 18:14
Thursday, Jul 23, 2009 at 18:14
Lachie,
Thanks for that.
Can you please tell me if this is the type of coupling that requires you to put the lever in place when reversing and also is the hydraulic system cause any problems when descending down a steep
hill.
My mate seems to think that he would have more control when descending if it had electric brakes.
Cheers,
Cruiser
FollowupID:
643185
Follow Up By: Member - Graeme W (NSW) - Thursday, Jul 23, 2009 at 18:38
Thursday, Jul 23, 2009 at 18:38
My 2003 also has hydraulic over ride brakes.
You do need to flip a lever across before you reverse. I've had no problems at all when descending downhill.
I've found the system to be effective and have done over 20 000km with the trailer, but I've never towed anything with electric brakes, so I have nothing to compare it to.
Graeme
FollowupID:
643188
Follow Up By: Lachie - Thursday, Jul 23, 2009 at 19:25
Thursday, Jul 23, 2009 at 19:25
Same as Graeme with backing etc.
When driving on rougher roads in my previous Trak Shak I would often flip the lever over to stop the jerking of the trailer against the prado.
I haven't had the need to do this with the KK as yet. Even though it is far heavier the trailer and the prado seem to travel better.
Lachie
FollowupID:
643199
Reply By: leachy_9 - Thursday, Jul 23, 2009 at 18:34
Thursday, Jul 23, 2009 at 18:34
The additon of an
Hydrastar electric Over Hydraulic Brake Actuator to the exiting hydraulic system would give the best of both worlds.
The cost is abut $1500.
This is the system that Kimberly are now fitting to the Karavans.
Leachy
AnswerID:
375853
Reply By: Member - Garth J (NSW) - Thursday, Jul 23, 2009 at 19:35
Thursday, Jul 23, 2009 at 19:35
Cruiser,
The Kampers have hydraulic overide disc brakes.
The
Kimberley Karavan has electro/hydraulic disc brakes. An option on one model.
This allows an electrical signal from the brake controller to operate the EHC (electro hydraulic controller) and apply the brakes.
As said above a $1500 or thereabouts option. Albeit a much safer system when trying to stop 2000kgs plus of trailer.
Cheers
Garth
AnswerID:
375868
Reply By: Cruiser .- Thursday, Jul 23, 2009 at 22:24
Thursday, Jul 23, 2009 at 22:24
Thanks to everyone for the replies and info.
I have passed the link onto my mate
Cheers,
Cruiser
AnswerID:
375918
Reply By: Gronk - Friday, Jul 24, 2009 at 00:58
Friday, Jul 24, 2009 at 00:58
May depend on what model he's looking at......I had a 2005 Escape and it had electric brakes..
I now have a later model with hyd brakes..
Hyd brakes.....best for low maintenance, but no good in the wet or down a steep offroad slope..
Electric.....higher maintenance ( especially if going thru mud etc ), but good for wet roads and offroad..
Hydrostar..( electronic hyd disc brakes ) ....best of everything but at over $1000 a bit out of reach for a lot of people !!
AnswerID:
375932
Follow Up By: Member - JohnR (Vic) - Friday, Jul 24, 2009 at 08:55
Friday, Jul 24, 2009 at 08:55
Gronk, the only maintenance problem I have had with electric controllers over over-ride so far with the Karavan is losing a 7 pin plug which also controlled the lighting!
Just sooo much more control with electronic brake controllers.
FollowupID:
643313
Follow Up By: Gronk - Friday, Jul 24, 2009 at 13:19
Friday, Jul 24, 2009 at 13:19
When I said maintenance problems, I was referring to the electric drum brakes on the previous KK..
If I could afford the electronic controller for the current KK, then it would be already on !!!!
Going down a steep slope with the KK pushing and the ABS trying its darndest to not lockup makes for a hairy ( sometimes scary ) ride !!!!
FollowupID:
643365
Reply By: joff1 - Saturday, Jul 25, 2009 at 12:25
Saturday, Jul 25, 2009 at 12:25
I just spent time on the cape with a family in a Kimberly Kamper (Not the Karavan) and it had the electric over hydraulic system. The control box on the drawbar was made by Carlyle (sp).
I was very impressed with the set up so will be looking at retrofitting it to my All Terrain to ditch the crap cable overide discs that I have.
$1500 you say! mmmm
AnswerID:
376136
Reply By: Member - Mark (Tamworth NSW) - Saturday, Jul 25, 2009 at 19:28
Saturday, Jul 25, 2009 at 19:28
We have a 2003 KK
Kakadu with hydraulic overide brakes. They work OK, the hand brake is handy.
Not as good though as
well calibrated electric brakes . We retofited some electric drum brakes to our previous CT, they allow you to determine the sensitivity and provide superior braking especially on steep down
hill slopes, you can use the trailer to brake the whole rig.
Recalibrating them (we had a American Tekonsha (spelling?) controller was a pain in
the neck though if you haven't used them for a while.
Though electic brakes are superior in my opinion, no thought of upgrading the hydraulic overide on our KK, even if they could done for onbly $500!
AnswerID:
376200