We have a travel trailer with the typical electric brakes. They seem to work very well. However, I am seeing disc brake conversions featured on TV lately. They claim that electric brakes are not reliable and too hard to keep 'tuned' so that all four wheels brake the same.
So far in our travels the TV has been able to hold the trailer back sufficiently by downshifting so that the brakes do not get over heated.
Has anyone done a conversion to disc brakes, and if so, does it make sense?? What is the cost including labor?
Fred Cory
Mineral Bluff, GA
2008 20' Cruiser RV Toy Hauler
Dodge Durango 5.9L
Harley 06 VRod
I looked into to disc brakes years ago. The cost seemed to high for replacing something that already worked. I can replace the entire elec brake assembly, backer plates with shoes, springs, magnets for about $40 each. 4 nuts and cut 2 wires, splice the new magnet wires and replace the 4 nuts, easy as pie.
Just adjust the brakes at the start of the season or before a long trip. Might take between 1 to 2 hours tops, from dragging out the tools and putting them up when done.
KA9ATV
K2500 7.4 3.73
Michelin 245/70R19.5 XDS2 on Vision Type 81's
31' Dutchmen
Yamaha EF3000iSE
retired gadgetman
You have a "Small" and "Light" trailer. So a disk brake conversion is not really going to change things in your situation. However if the trailer was a 16,000 pound fifth wheel, a disk brake conversion would be a better canidate. That is because a really heavy fifth wheel can overload it's drum braking system - especially on long downgrades found out west.
Here is a place that sells the parts for both repair of your drum brakes and disk brake conversions. ETrailerPart.com
If you have ever taken apart the brake drums, you will notice that they only work when going forward. While backing is done at low speeds, remember that the brake drums can only release while backing up. It just has to do with the way the magnets are installed.
Fred.
Money can't buy happiness but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Porsche or Country Coach!
Good comments and thoughts. Thanks all. No problems with electric brakes..yet. I'm just the kind of guy who always looks for 'something better' if it's out there.
Like Bearing Buddies, and surge brakes, the disk brake conversions and new installations were meant for the boating folks. There's a limited market so they try and convince RV'ers that disc are worth the expense of retrofitting.
Like Fred mentioned there may be some value for a heavy trailer, but the more than a thousand dollar investment won't add much otherwise unless you use your trailer for launching boats.
mike4947 wrote: Like Bearing Buddies, and surge brakes, the disk brake conversions and new installations were meant for the boating folks. There's a limited market so they try and convince RV'ers that disc are worth the expense of retrofitting.
Like Fred mentioned there may be some value for a heavy trailer, but the more than a thousand dollar investment won't add much otherwise unless you use your trailer for launching boats.
How do you come up with the idea that disk brakes are for boat trailers?
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