Parts Needed to Add Brakes to Single Axle Boat Trailer

Question

Question:

Purchased a boat trailer thats needs some help. Boat is a 22foot I/O walk around Galaxy, weighs 2,850 lbs on a single axel Loadmaster Trailer. Previous owner drove the trailer about 300 yards at a time to put in and take out the boat. He had 14inch rims with 205/75R14 95S tires. My perspective accident waiting to happen. Per Title, Aluminum Trailer is 1998, 480 empty weight, 3,500 gross weight. Need advice on upgrading to at least 15inch rim. Trailer Manufacture current standard on this range trailer is a 15”C 5 lug. Outboard looks close to close to the ground on the 14inch tires. Looking for 5 bolt and Dinch rated trailer rims/tires rather have a rating a little over than a little under as well as, adding trailer brakes. Salt water use but mostly need to drive 2 hrs by road 55 MPH max, to launch boat into a seasonal slip and pick it up end of season. It has rusted square plate with four holes at the spindle. Most inexpensive options that meet my safety needs. Thanks!

asked by: Steve

0

Expert Reply:

You can increase the size of the wheels and tires on your boat trailer so long as you have enough room in the wheel/fender wells. Normal suspension travel usually dictates no less than 4-inches of clearance at the top of the tire. Provided you have enough room to prevent the larger tire from contacting any trailer surface you can go with ST205/75-15 rims/tires; the linked page displays all products that combine a 5-on-4-1/2 rim with a 205/75-15 trailer tire.

For instance, part # MX97FR is a radial type Load Range D tire/silver rim rated for 2150-lbs at 65-psi. This tire carries a speed rating M, meaning up to 81-mph. This tire is ideal for highway use.

You can add brakes to your trailer since it sounds like you have 4-bolt brake flanges in place. The least-costly option for adding brakes is to go with electric drums. Boat trailers more and more these days are being fitted with OEM electric drum brakes since they cost so much less and are easier to install and maintain than hydraulic drums or discs. You can refer to the linked article for details on the process of adding electric drums brakes to a trailer.

You will need to determine your axle rating to find the correct brake capacity. For a 3500-lb axle the 10 x 2-1/4-inch brake size is typical. Brakes # AKEBRK-35R-SA (right) and # AKEBRK-35L-SA (left) have a 4-bolt mounting pattern to match your flanges. Your new hub/drums must use the same bearings as your current idler hubs in order for them to fit on your spindles. If you have the common 68149/44649 bearings you can use hub/drum # 84546UC3.

Electric brakes require the vehicle have a 7-way trailer socket and brake controller. If you have a factory 7-way all you need is the controller, such as the Primus IQ # TK90160, but if you do not have a factory 7-way you will also need our installation kit # ETBC7 which includes a 7-way and all the items needed to install the Primus. You'll also need a junction box/7-way plug like # HS381-9000 on the trailer to connect the trailer brake and light wiring.

expert reply by: Adam R

0

Answer 1

For a single axle trailer, you want the shackle strap to be able to move so that you have the spring deflection needed for your suspension. Angled like the photo or even almost vertical is fine you just don't want the shackle strap to bind…

view full answer...

Answer 2

I called my contact at SuperSprings and they informed me that in order to obtain the specifications as to how many foot pounds of torque needs to be applied to the factory u-bolts, you would need to obtain your VIN and contact the manufacturer.…

view full answer...

Answer 3

Traditionally, trailer manufacturers did not use electric brakes on boat trailers because the brake magnet wiring and trailer wiring did not always have the best insulation or water protection. These days, more and more manufacturers are using…

view full answer...

Answer 4

If the shackles aren't angled slightly you run the risk of the equalizers angling and having the shackles on the wrong side of the springs. 28 inch leaf springs are hard to come by so your best solution will be to either go with replacement…

view full answer...

Answer 5

The shackle straps need to be placed on the outside of the rear leaf spring hangers which you can see in the attached photo. Furthermore, the distance between the two mounting plates (inside to inside) on your leaf spring hangers should be…

view full answer...

Answer 6

The center hangers in the Tandem-Axle Trailer Hanger Kit #APT8 that you recently purchased are indeed longer. This is actually pretty common for tandem axle trailers. The reason for the extra length on the middle hanger is related to the shackle…

view full answer...

Answer 7

Since you have a brake mounting flange on your boat trailer you could pretty easily install brakes on the trailer. Most likely the mounting flange is a 4 bolt flange (all 4 bolt flanges are the same), since your trailer is most likely not too heavy…

view full answer...

Answer 8

Hydraulic brakes are better suited for boat trailers for the simple fact that wires and water do not like to cooperate with each other, but the etrailer.com Self Adjusting Electric Trailer Brakes, #AKEBRK-35L-SA, can be used on a boat trailer…

view full answer...

Answer 9

If your Double-Eye Leaf Springs are 27 inches long, you will just want to mount the hangers in the Redline Single-Axle Trailer Hanger Kit #APS4 mentioned in your question about 26-1/2 inches apart. As a general rule, you want the distance between…

view full answer...

Answer 10

The trick for hanger spacing is to subtract around 3/8 of an inch from the spring length (eye to eye) and then use that dimension for the hanger spacing on a single axle trailer. So for a 23-1/8 inch long leaf spring a spacing of 22-3/4 inches would…

view full answer...

Answer 11

When it comes to placing an axle on a trailer there is no set place for it to go, however the help article I have attached can really help you out in determining where the best place is on your trailer. A good starting point is having 60% of the…

view full answer...

Answer 12

Your axles being under the leaf springs will not change the hanger location recommendations listed for the Single Axle Hanger Kit part #APS4. You would want to have the hangers 25-3/4 apart measured on bolt center. However, since your axles are below…

view full answer...

Parts Needed to Add Brakes to Single Axle Boat Trailer

Products Referenced in This Question

Product Page this Question was Asked From

Featured Help Information

Instructions

Miscellaneous Media

Continue Researching