Thread: Electric Brakes on Camper

electric brakes are a doddle to fit providing you get the right kit to suit what you physically have atm. (brakes, hubs and bearings wise)

its about 5 hours worth of work from go to whoa but I would also recommend some mods to the system straight off the bat... Some kits already have them some dont..

most electric brake systems (all for trailers over 2t) have a backup battery that usually goes neglected. This battery is provided to operate the brakes in the event of low voltage from the tow vehicle or a brake-away.

The mod is simple and is 2 parted. (maybe 3)

1, beef up the cabling from the follwoing plugs on the trailer socket of the tow vehicle brake light, aux power and earth

2. fit a seperate power feed from the vehicle to the battery on the system so that it can be charged independantly. If it goes flat it has the potential to draw more amps than the aux power feed can supply. The fuse feeding it will blow and then you have no brakes on the trailer and no emergancy control of the brakes. (if you have the system that uses the electrical to hold the brakes off then disregard this step but have fun trying to move the trailer if the battery goes flat.)

(3) fit one of those cheapo 12v solar panels to the trailer brake battery.

Just to bring this back to the top. I'm interested in trailer brakes too. After a trip to Jimna over Easter and having the camper trying to push the Disco around on steep dirt corners (2wd forestry road). Didn't cause problems but you could feel it wanting to.

Just to reiterate what Camo said, what is needed to convert the non braked trailer to a braked trailer?

New braked hubs or can you get brakes for existing hubs?
Bearings?

Originally Posted by Utemad

Just to bring this back to the top. I'm interested in trailer brakes too. After a trip to Jimna over Easter and having the camper trying to push the Disco around on steep dirt corners (2wd forestry road). Didn't cause problems but you could feel it wanting to.

Just to reiterate what Camo said, what is needed to convert the non braked trailer to a braked trailer?

New braked hubs or can you get brakes for existing hubs?
Bearings?

Basically you start from your bare axle. But go there, you won't regret it.

All you need is to experience the need for a panic stop at highway speeds.
....

Basically you start from your bare axle.

As rosco said, you wont regret it

(assuming here, that you don't have any brakes fitted)

You need to know the size of your axle - (diameter) if round - or square section ........ so you can get the right bracket to weld onto the axle.
(get the part No.s for the bearings and seals too so you can get the correct drums)

The backing plates bolt onto the new brackets which have just been welded onto the axle and all the shoes, springs, actuators, and magnet attach to these. The drums with the bearings and seals will then fit over the top.

Electrically, there is a power wire and an earth to each side which is connected to the electromagnet at one end and trailer plug at the other.

Depending on the weight of your trailer you probably don't need to have the battery, solar panel and disconnect gear mentioned by Blacknight ... in the event of a break away it would actuate the brakes and hold them for a minimum of fifteen minutes. While my camper has onboard power for lights/pump etc I don't have the breakaway.

A controller needs to be fitted to the towing vehicle and is a DIY job too if you are confident with these things ... It may be required in a life and death scenario, so any doubts - get it done by a professional .... as with the fitting and welding above.

My controller came with good instructions and needed: power in, power out, earth and brake lights to be connected to it. I needed to run a new cable back to the Aux. on the trailer socket for the power out from the controller, I also used the opportunity to upgade the cables (separate) to the power outlets in and on the back of the disco.

My camper trailer already had electric brakes fitted, but I have another trailer that I intend to upgrade to elec brakes too (eventually )... should get out of it for under $500. My controller is a Tekonsha prodigy and from evilbay was $189.00.

When you do the job, take plenty of photos and post it up in the projects section ... there seems to be some interest

Stevo

Click to see here also : AL-KO

Well as far as my trailer is concerned I rang the manufacturer and the bearings it has are part no. 68149 to suit a 45mm parallel axle. No idea what that is but the guy who answered the phone is just filling in as the others are at the Sydney camping show.

I called AL-KO and they weren't exactly helpful. They quoted me $818 for an 'offroad kit' to suit a 5 stud Land Cruiser hub with 10in brakes. I said I doubt very much that they are the same hub and he said that he thinks they are but either way the price won't differ much.
He did tell me what was in the kit but I had pretty much switched off by then. He did say they were handbrake compatible.

Considering that it was $450 extra for brakes according to the manufacturer website I think that guy is a loony.

Well as far as my trailer is concerned I rang the manufacturer and the bearings it has are part no. 68149 to suit a 45mm parallel axle.

This is what I've got under the camper, utemad
10" drums, 6 stud Landcruiser/Patrol, offroad, provision for handbrake.

Originally Posted by sschmez

This is what I've got under the camper, utemad
10" drums, 6 stud Landcruiser/Patrol, offroad, provision for handbrake.

Since you have got it all in bits in the photo I assume you retrofitted it yourself?

What did it set you back?

Also AL-KO said the offroad kit had offroad magnets. Any idea what he meant by that?

Also, if you decide to go with brakes, I'd strongly suggest 5 stud Landy pattern to suit your veh. That way all wheels are interchangeable.
Ours was part of the camper trailer package when we bought and cost a wee tad more than L'Cruiser type, but had much bigger HD bearings, so I decided it was worth it. Don't know about so called "off road magnets" though.

Cheers