Thread: Camper trailer electric over hydraulic upgrade

Originally Posted by Cracka

G'day Weeds.

I'm assuming from the link you posted earlier that you bought the Felk brand actuator. yes I rang them today and had a chat, the unit is $800. is this with brake away? from memory brake away does cost an extra couple of hudred, i didn't buy the break away unit as i hope my camper trailer stays below 2000kg. i brought mine from a dodgey ebay seller, it came with Flek paperwork and was nowhere near $800 I spoke to them about using a handbrake option and they told me you couldn't do it the only way was to add a mechanical park brake as in extra callipers, what a pain in the a__e. i found every company i rang put the handbrake in the too hard basket.........KK and my version work fine, nobody seems to want to acknowledge it. i am not sure where it all sits with ADR's, i always wonder how many over ride system function anywhere near 100%

I then rang Hydrastar and also had a chat, their unit for the 1200psi is $979. They also told me you couldn't fit a handbrake, only mechanical. my setup would work with hydrastar I told him that Kimberley Kampers do, using the Hydrastar actuator. Then he went on to say that you could possibly do it but they don't endorse it due to hydraulic leak and a possible runaway trailer. i would have thought all hydraulic circuits should hold pressure........my handbrake was on for the last four/five weeks, i released it on the weekend to show another member, no leakdown and it was still rock solid. when camping i still throw a couple of chocks on one well just in case the kids release the brakes

I wonder how KK would handle a customer with a damaged camper due to that.....I'm confused......
KK indicated they haven't had a failure to date......this doesn't mean it wont ever happen but what can go wrong with a quality ball valve

With your unit if say you are stopped for a stretch of time with the brakes activated, does the actuator still pump fluid. i dont believe so.....with a P3 controller I note in their blurb on their web page they say this,

"With a proportional controller, as soon as the trailer stops the brake controller goes into a neutral mode as does the actuator and stops pumping oil, avoiding any damage to the actuator."
i believe this happens with mine........although on a decent slop i notice my controller does notgo back to zero so i assume the might might be suppling a bit of pressure. i have been meaning to get the bride to drive around while i sit on the trailer to see what actually happens

The Hydrastar bloke said their unit did the same but I found a manual on line and it tells you not to use the brakes whilst stationary for an extended time as it overheats and can damage the unit.
what would be the point of fitting a unit....i'm just thinking peak hour when i am trying to get away for the weekend

Any ideas
there is also a marine actuator that boat trailer builder use.......
Mick

as i mentioned above, in general there wasn't to many people offering help or pointing me in the right direction......i nearly gave up on the project

there are also the knockers however i thought if KK can do than so can i

i'm extremely happy with my set up.........the handbrake is a crackahehehe pardon the pun

if i upgrade/sell the trailer the electric over hydraulic will be coming with me

Originally Posted by Cracka View Post
G'day Weeds.

I'm assuming from the link you posted earlier that you bought the Felk brand actuator. yes I rang them today and had a chat, the unit is $800. is this with brake away? from memory brake away does cost an extra couple of hudred, i didn't buy the break away unit as i hope my camper trailer stays below 2000kg. i brought mine from a dodgey ebay seller, it came with Flek paperwork and was nowhere near $800 No this wasn't with the breakaway, it was $900 with it, but my Tvan only weighs 1250kg so I won't be needing it. There is a seller on ebay at the moment uername everything trailers (Ezitow trailers) who are from Silverdale NSW selling a unit that appears the same for $699 did that happen to be who you bought from? spoke to them about using a handbrake option and they told me you couldn't do it the only way was to add a mechanical park brake as in extra callipers, what a pain in the a__e. i found every company i rang put the handbrake in the too hard basket.........KK and my version work fine, nobody seems to want to acknowledge it. i am not sure where it all sits with ADR's, i always wonder how many over ride system function anywhere near 100% Yeah I'm not sure about the ADR's but I can't really see the difference with the handbrake on my override hydraulics andy your system in principal, and that system has been used for how long.....

I then rang Hydrastar and also had a chat, their unit for the 1200psi is $979. They also told me you couldn't fit a handbrake, only mechanical. my setup would work with hydrastar I told him that Kimberley Kampers do, using the Hydrastar actuator. Then he went on to say that you could possibly do it but they don't endorse it due to hydraulic leak and a possible runaway trailer. i would have thought all hydraulic circuits should hold pressure........my handbrake was on for the last four/five weeks, i released it on the weekend to show another member, no leakdown and it was still rock solid. when camping i still throw a couple of chocks on one well just in case the kids release the brakes ]I'm of the same opinion, as I said above if the handbrake on a hyd override system works, why wouldn't this.

I wonder how KK would handle a customer with a damaged camper due to that.....I'm confused......
KK indicated they haven't had a failure to date......this doesn't mean it wont ever happen but what can go wrong with a quality ball valve
Exactly, did you do some research with them did you?
With your unit if say you are stopped for a stretch of time with the brakes activated, does the actuator still pump fluid. i dont believe so.....with a P3 controller I note in their blurb on their web page they say this,

"With a proportional controller, as soon as the trailer stops the brake controller goes into a neutral mode as does the actuator and stops pumping oil, avoiding any damage to the actuator."
i believe this happens with mine........although on a decent slop i notice my controller does notgo back to zero so i assume the might might be suppling a bit of pressure. i have been meaning to get the bride to drive around while i sit on the trailer to see what actually happens Let me know how it goes if you do. I probably won't do this till after Christmas unless a cracka deal comes up of course.

The Hydrastar bloke said their unit did the same but I found a manual on line and it tells you not to use the brakes whilst stationary for an extended time as it overheats and can damage the unit.
what would be the point of fitting a unit....i'm just thinking peak hour when i am trying to get away for the weekend I'm hearing ya, pointless!!!!! It seems a real contradiction to me.

Any ideas

Mick

Originally Posted by weeds

as i mentioned above, in general there wasn't to many people offering help or pointing me in the right direction......i nearly gave up on the project

there are also the knockers however i thought if KK can do than so can i

Thats what I'm thinking.

i'm extremely happy with my set up.........the handbrake is a crackahehehe pardon the pun



if i upgrade/sell the trailer the electric over hydraulic will be coming with me

righto tracked down my communication with would you believe ezitow trailers........

i paid $620 so $699 is there abouts......mine was shipped straight from Felk. the actuator turned up pretty quick but it took a couple of emails to get all the components i ordered

just reading through all the emails any i should give credit he did reply to all my requests........i was a little worried but in the end it all turned up

Well I rang Felk this afternoon and they confirmed that he was a dealer for them So I got the last 1 on his listing at the $699 for the kit with breakaway, not that I need that but that is the kit he was selling.

No doubt I'll have some questions for you about wiring up the button you used for the park brake when I get around to it, if you don't mind.

Just have to get a new hitch and a controller, I'll go for a P3 they seem to be the go at the moment.

Thanks for your help so far Kelvin.

Mick

Pull the breakaway wire, brakes come on, turn valve to hold pressure, place breakaway trigger back in. Battery now left with no load and your hydraulic handbrake is on.

Originally Posted by slug_burner

Pull the breakaway wire, brakes come on, turn valve to hold pressure, place breakaway trigger back in. Battery now left with no load and your hydraulic handbrake is on.

I have never seen a brake away up close but that sounds like an option.......the advantage of the button is for bleeding the brakes

Not a bad idea Slug. I was watching a youtube video somewhere of setting up an actuator and that was one of the test procedures. Didn't actually think of it in conduction with the valve as the park brake. I wasn't actually going to use it but I guess I might as well, seeing as though its coming with the kit, I'll use the camper battery though instead of the battery supplied.

You could still use the same method for bleeding, by removing and replacing the pin. I'll see what its like when it gets here.

Well, it arrived today, bloody quick I must say. Direct from Felk trailers......

I just have to work out where to mount it as I can't use the bracket that came with the kit like you used Weeds.

How did you wire in the button for the brake?

You used your camper battery for power instead of the car, did you put a fuse in?

Did you make up your own brake lines, I saw discussion about it but nothing further.

Thanks

Mick