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Electric vs Hydraulic brakes

mikestrobe201

mikestrobe201

Active member
I'm gonna have to put brakes on my original Eagle trailer for my Strobe in order to register it. CT law requires them with a trailer 3,000 lbs or greater (my boat is 2760). Anyone have experience installing either electric or hydraulic braking systems and the pros/cons of each one?
I'm pulling it with a 94 full size Ford Bronco. Thanks for any advice with this one.
 
I am pretty sure you want to go with hydro on this. we charge around $800 installed for this one axle conversion. you can purchase all the proper equip. at any trailer supply store. The install is pretty painless if you know how to turn a wrench.

if you went with electric you would need to outfit the truck with a brake controller at an added cost.
 
In my opinion if I had a choice I would go elec no doubt....I have a trailer with each and the stopping power and ease of use is FAR superior with elec. yes the hyd is simpler and cheaper....but not better...Rob
 
I have never seen a boat trailer with electric brakes. I don't think water and electric go together well. I put Kodiak discs on my trailer to replace the junk drums and I will tell you, 2 deer related panic braking incidents and I am a believer in surge disc brakes. Backing up is sometimes a pain in the a** so when I get to the ramp I put a C-Clamp on the actuator, my backing solenoid is hit and miss for holding especially when you are backing up a hill. (it is actually a line lock for a drag car-same thing). Kodiaks are expensive. If you can find a rotor/bearing set up off a car that will fit your axles and can weld caliper brackets or make them, you could make your own disc setup for a fraction of what aftermarket cost. There is a slight modification to the M/C when you set one up for discs, rather than drums.
 
you might be better off findin' a different trailer, im sure yours is nice but by the time you screw around putting ALL the brake stuff on it, you might be better off selling the one you got

my $0.02
buss
 
surge for boat trailers is a must - water and electricty don't mix. we did have a hydrualic trailer with electric brakes - but we all new the disconnect had to be made before the trailer hit the water. the surge isn't that hard to install either.
 
Old Navy said:
I am a believer in surge disc brakes. Backing up is sometimes a pain in the a** so when I get to the ramp I put a C-Clamp on the actuator, my backing solenoid is hit and miss for holding especially when you are backing up a hill.
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I have heard this several times before about backing up at the ramp. I have never been to the lake that people talk about backing up hill at the ramp. Out here where I live "B.F.E." I back down hill to the water. Just my worthless 02

captain.gif
 
I want to hang on to the same trailer seeing as how the bunks are arranged perfectly for the boat. I'll start looking for a kit to covert over to surge hydraulic brakes. Will I need to swap the axle out? Also, is there any way to convert over to a swing-away trailer tongue and still have the surge brakes???
 
Mike you will want to go with the hydro without question as I recall you put the boat in on the river here in Ct? As you know the water is Brackish and electric won't hold up in that at all.
What part of the river do you put in? Is it the Portland ramp, Higinum or further south?



mikestrobe201 said:
I'm gonna have to put brakes on my original Eagle trailer for my Strobe in order to register it. CT law requires them with a trailer 3,000 lbs or greater (my boat is 2760). Anyone have experience installing either electric or hydraulic braking systems and the pros/cons of each one?
I'm pulling it with a 94 full size Ford Bronco. Thanks for any advice with this one.
Click to expand...
 
This looks like what I need....this kit from Titan...haven't been in the river yet, just ran in a couple local lakes...Gardner lake and Pauchaug Pond.
 

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$469.....Includes: (2) Titan 10" Silver Cadmium Plated Vented Trailer Disc Brake assemblies, Aero 7500 Swing-Away Disc Actuator, Electric Reverse Solenoid & Single Axle Disc Brake Line Kit....one thing the lugs on the disks don't match up to my stock wheels....I was planning on replacing them anyway along with my dry rotted bias ply tires. :D
 
Mike, where did you find this for that price? looks like a very good deal. FWIW, the only thing i dont like is the composition of the rotors. While it isn't standard steel, i'll bet they rust away long before they really need to be replaced. West Marine sells a complete kit with stainless rotors.
FWIW, i've heard nothing bad about going with hydraulic discs on a boat trailer. They are not as adjustable and usuful as electric, but as mentioned, the water side of things can be a problem with electric. However, i do know there is a company out there that does make electric brakes for boat trailers. Haven't found them just yet, but they do exist.
 
hotdaddy27 said:
How much maintainance with the electrics constantly getting submerged? :(
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You would need to look at Demco's stainless electric disk setup, and you have to put in a reverse disable switch in any electric set-up
with standard Iron rotors, they will warp first time you back it in the water
 
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