Trailer brakes - need advice
 

I will be traveling cross country pulling my 17 foot runabout (2500 pound
boat/trailer) with my Jeep Cherokee and I am seriously thinking about buying
some brakes for my trailer. I have been thinking about it for years anyway for
safety reasons. Looking at the Shorelandr web site, it seems that I will have
to purchase an entire axle assembly and the hydraulic brake actuator tongue.
Is this correct? Wow, this the better part of the whole trailer. Maybe I
should just buy a whole new trailer? I will call Shorelandr on Monday for a
price, but anyone have any idea how much these brake kits will run me?

I am also going to purchase a spare tire, wheel, and mounting bracket. This
trip is going to be expensive. These are things I have needed anyway, but it
still hurts the pocket book.

The last time I moved cross country, I paid an outfit to load the boat/trailer
onto their trailer and move it out. The move cost me $1800, and hoisting it on
and off their trailer cost me $100 on each end. Now I'm beginning to wonder if
I should just go that route again.

Thanks for any advice...

Kevin

With a 2500# trailer, I would want brakes anyway. Especially with a Jeep
Cherokee. http://www.championtrailers.com will have better prices. If
there are 4 bolt holes around the spindle, then no new axle required. That
is where the backing plate if drum brakes or the caliper bolts if disk
brakes. Since YOU are going to install brakes, go with the disks. Mush
less maintenance troubles and lots better stopping power. Kodiak brakes are
the preferred brand, and if a Century Wheel and Rim is in your area, you can
buy from them at a good price. Kodiak does sell direct.
Bill


"Klwasson" wrote in message
...
I will be traveling cross country pulling my 17 foot runabout (2500 pound
boat/trailer) with my Jeep Cherokee and I am seriously thinking about
buying
some brakes for my trailer. I have been thinking about it for years
anyway for
safety reasons. Looking at the Shorelandr web site, it seems that I will
have
to purchase an entire axle assembly and the hydraulic brake actuator
tongue.
Is this correct? Wow, this the better part of the whole trailer. Maybe I
should just buy a whole new trailer? I will call Shorelandr on Monday for
a
price, but anyone have any idea how much these brake kits will run me?

I am also going to purchase a spare tire, wheel, and mounting bracket.
This
trip is going to be expensive. These are things I have needed anyway, but
it
still hurts the pocket book.

The last time I moved cross country, I paid an outfit to load the
boat/trailer
onto their trailer and move it out. The move cost me $1800, and hoisting
it on
and off their trailer cost me $100 on each end. Now I'm beginning to
wonder if
I should just go that route again.

Thanks for any advice...

Kevin

Check www.championtrailers.com Total disk brake kit to include actuator,
lines, etc... cost about $400.00
You can also try http://www.ufpnet.com
I like their products but may be hard to retrofit on your trailer.
You will have to remove the existing coupler (hopefully it is bolted on
instead of welded on).
ChampionTrailers also has spare tires and everything. Prices are hard to
beat.

Tony

"Klwasson" wrote in message
...
I will be traveling cross country pulling my 17 foot runabout (2500 pound
boat/trailer) with my Jeep Cherokee and I am seriously thinking about
buying
some brakes for my trailer. I have been thinking about it for years
anyway for
safety reasons. Looking at the Shorelandr web site, it seems that I will
have
to purchase an entire axle assembly and the hydraulic brake actuator
tongue.
Is this correct? Wow, this the better part of the whole trailer. Maybe I
should just buy a whole new trailer? I will call Shorelandr on Monday for
a
price, but anyone have any idea how much these brake kits will run me?

I am also going to purchase a spare tire, wheel, and mounting bracket.
This
trip is going to be expensive. These are things I have needed anyway, but
it
still hurts the pocket book.

The last time I moved cross country, I paid an outfit to load the
boat/trailer
onto their trailer and move it out. The move cost me $1800, and hoisting
it on
and off their trailer cost me $100 on each end. Now I'm beginning to
wonder if
I should just go that route again.

Thanks for any advice...

Kevin

I've been struggling with the same problem. My sailboat & trailer weigh
about 1800 lbs. Chrysler says my mini-van can haul 2000 lbs but recommend
brakes for load over 1000 lbs.
When I went to the local trailer dealers, they almost laughed me off the
lot. One guy, who sells Venture trailers said all his customers try to
avoid brakes and will actually buy a smaller trailer than they need to avoid
brakes and the maintenance required. If you boat in salt water, get the
stainless steel discs.

Fy a coupla articles on trailer brakes ...
http://www.boatingworldonline.com/Trailering.htm . I'm in about the same
boat as you with a Cherokee/3000 lb boat/shorland'r trailer. I keep the
tires/brakes on the jeep in good shape, the trailer tires/bearings in good
shape, and pay a lot of extra attention while towing ... so far no problems
.... but I have no confidence in my ability to maintain trailer brakes so's I
know they're actually working. If I move up, I'll get a trailer with brakes
for sure, for now I'll go without. Fyi, Shorland'r puts brakes on trailers
over 3100 lbs capacity ...
http://www.shorelandr.com/pages/t_boat_3100_f.html ... you may get some cost
info at their site.

"Klwasson" wrote in message
...
I will be traveling cross country pulling my 17 foot runabout (2500 pound
boat/trailer) with my Jeep Cherokee and I am seriously thinking about
buying
some brakes for my trailer. I have been thinking about it for years
anyway for
safety reasons. Looking at the Shorelandr web site, it seems that I will
have
to purchase an entire axle assembly and the hydraulic brake actuator
tongue.
Is this correct? Wow, this the better part of the whole trailer. Maybe I
should just buy a whole new trailer? I will call Shorelandr on Monday for
a
price, but anyone have any idea how much these brake kits will run me?

I am also going to purchase a spare tire, wheel, and mounting bracket.
This
trip is going to be expensive. These are things I have needed anyway, but
it
still hurts the pocket book.

The last time I moved cross country, I paid an outfit to load the
boat/trailer
onto their trailer and move it out. The move cost me $1800, and hoisting
it on
and off their trailer cost me $100 on each end. Now I'm beginning to
wonder if
I should just go that route again.

Thanks for any advice...

Kevin

Oops ... apologies for the Shorland'r link ... you've been there already

"bowgus" wrote in message
...
Fy a coupla articles on trailer brakes ...
http://www.boatingworldonline.com/Trailering.htm . I'm in about the same
boat as you with a Cherokee/3000 lb boat/shorland'r trailer. I keep the
tires/brakes on the jeep in good shape, the trailer tires/bearings in good
shape, and pay a lot of extra attention while towing ... so far no
problems
... but I have no confidence in my ability to maintain trailer brakes so's
I
know they're actually working. If I move up, I'll get a trailer with
brakes
for sure, for now I'll go without. Fyi, Shorland'r puts brakes on trailers
over 3100 lbs capacity ...
http://www.shorelandr.com/pages/t_boat_3100_f.html ... you may get some
cost
info at their site.

"Klwasson" wrote in message
...
I will be traveling cross country pulling my 17 foot runabout (2500
pound
boat/trailer) with my Jeep Cherokee and I am seriously thinking about
buying
some brakes for my trailer. I have been thinking about it for years
anyway for
safety reasons. Looking at the Shorelandr web site, it seems that I
will
have
to purchase an entire axle assembly and the hydraulic brake actuator
tongue.
Is this correct? Wow, this the better part of the whole trailer. Maybe
I
should just buy a whole new trailer? I will call Shorelandr on Monday
for
a
price, but anyone have any idea how much these brake kits will run me?

I am also going to purchase a spare tire, wheel, and mounting bracket.
This
trip is going to be expensive. These are things I have needed anyway,
but
it
still hurts the pocket book.

The last time I moved cross country, I paid an outfit to load the
boat/trailer
onto their trailer and move it out. The move cost me $1800, and
hoisting
it on
and off their trailer cost me $100 on each end. Now I'm beginning to
wonder if
I should just go that route again.

Thanks for any advice...

Kevin

I pull a 21 ft Sea Ray 210 cuddy on a tandem wheeled EZ Loader trailer with
a Jeep Cherokee. I usually tow to a lake that is about 30 miles from my home
over 2 lane country roads. I added brakes to 2 trailer wheels because I no
longer wanted the most exciting part of my day to be getting the boat to the
lake and back (I had a few very close calls). EZ Loader supplied me a with
complete kit including the backing plates, drums with new bearings, lines,
and a surge brake style replacement hitch for about $600. I had to supply
them with my trailer serial number for them to select the correct parts for
the kit. Installation took about 3 hours which included bleeding the lines.
I could probably have saved some money by buying the parts elsewhere, but I
wanted to be sure of getting what was designed to fit the trailer so that it
would be a truely "bolt on" installation that would work correctly. I've
been very satisfied with the results and towing the boat is no longer the
most exciting part of the day.

If you contact your trailer manufacturer and give them your trailer serial
number they most likely can provide you with a similar kit that will be
correctly designed to fit your trailer.

--
Charley


"Klwasson" wrote in message
...
I will be traveling cross country pulling my 17 foot runabout (2500 pound
boat/trailer) with my Jeep Cherokee and I am seriously thinking about
buying
some brakes for my trailer. I have been thinking about it for years
anyway for
safety reasons. Looking at the Shorelandr web site, it seems that I will
have
to purchase an entire axle assembly and the hydraulic brake actuator
tongue.
Is this correct? Wow, this the better part of the whole trailer. Maybe I
should just buy a whole new trailer? I will call Shorelandr on Monday for
a
price, but anyone have any idea how much these brake kits will run me?

I am also going to purchase a spare tire, wheel, and mounting bracket.
This
trip is going to be expensive. These are things I have needed anyway, but
it
still hurts the pocket book.

The last time I moved cross country, I paid an outfit to load the
boat/trailer
onto their trailer and move it out. The move cost me $1800, and hoisting
it on
and off their trailer cost me $100 on each end. Now I'm beginning to
wonder if
I should just go that route again.

Thanks for any advice...

Kevin