Electric Brakes Retro Fit To Trailer and Brake Controller

Are you buying a new camper, if so it would be best to get them fitted now to save a lot of hassle later. If buying a used camper, it may be better to buy a complete electric braked axle later. You can upgrade the axle size, bigger bearings and have off road magnets fitted,depending on your later needs. You may also want to have the same wheels as your vehicles so you can choose the correct drums with the correct wheel studs.. A complete quality axle from say AL-KO, would be about $800 to 1200, depending on what you want. A cheaper controller, a Hayman Reese unit is about $140 (nothing wrong with them) and possible $150 to install. You could probably install yourself.. a complete backplate and brakedrum would cost about $220 a side and an off road setup you can add another $100 per side. I have just been through the whole exercise myself. Michael

JFRCN

After a couple of years and some heart in mouth moments, I had electric drum brakes fitted to my last CT at a local engineering shop in my home town. Any trailer manufacturer or mechanic could do it or you could if you had the time.

It required a Brake controller to be fitted to my vehicle which from memory including auto electrician cost more than the brakes on the actual CT.

Best thing I did to my last CT. Though it was legal just at under 750kg, by the time you load up the vehicle with the family and goods, throw in gravel roads, emergency braking was totally inadequate.
So yes only required if over 750kg, but again I was pleased I did.

I am sure there will be people better able to comment than I, but perhaps just over ride brakes may be acceptable alternative to electric brakes?

Mark

Trailer brakes best thing you can do IMHO
If I was going to go to the expense of doing and your starting from scratch then I'd look at disc brakes for the trailer as drum don't and won't hold in reverse rotation. (One leading & One trailing shoe) Not so critical if you have four wheel disc on the car, but if you only have disc on the front of vehicle then on a steep slope it can drag the vehicle backwards as the drum rear brakes on vehicle and trailer are in effect not holding or having nil effect.
I can assure you it's a heart in mouth moment when even on bitumen with your back pushing thru the seat your whole rig with front wheels locked up starts sliding backwards.
Just food for thought before dollars spent.
ps My Tambo weighed 1.1 tonne fully loaded with 60 litre water

I converted my CT from no brakes to electric brakes 2 years ago.
A new axle with backplates, both hubs, U bolts, brake and electrical cables and plug was about $220 from a trailer place in Beenleigh.
I pulled a handbrake out of an old car at the wreckers and connected it for $10.
The car already had a controller, but the trailer place had a trailer mounted controller that needed connection to the brake light as well as a dedicated 12 volt connection.
All up it took a day's work, and it has now covered 6 States without a problem.
Well worth the work with the ability to stop rather suddenly without being overtaken by the trailer.

+1 to having a handbrake as well. Esp. if you're solo when moving it around by hand. Also helps avoid the need for chocking the wheels in all but strong winds.