Trailer Brakes

[OMO]

We're new owners of a 2009 Starcraft 2106. This is our first popup and I've got tons of questions. What I'm wondering now is if electric brakes can be installed on my camper. From what I've read here it's not that much of a problem. I just talked to the service department at my dealer and he said I'd be better off trading the camper in for a popup with electric brakes--he said they'd have to exchange the axle and it wouldn't be worth the money. So who's crazy here, me or the dealer?

I'm fairly handy but not sure if I want to tackle a brake installation on my own, so if it's possible to install brakes on this trailer and my dealer won't do it, where should I go?

Thanks,

OMO

[Recumbentman]

Hello OMO and welcome to PUT.
I am surprised that your new PU does not brakes already. In Ca its required, Do not know where you are from  :confused:  If you bought this PU new, did you get all the manuals for the different items in your PU. you should of gotten a manual for the axle they used on your PU. I would go to axle manufacturers web site and see if they offer a brake kit for it (probably do). You could also remove the tire and cover if there is one and look to see if there is a plate with 4 mounting holes not being used. If there is a plate, then there should be a kit for the brakes.
Good luck

[austinado16]

Welcome!  And a question:  If you just bought a brand new camper, why didn't you buy one that came with brakes if that's what you wanted?

What are you towing with? Maybe you don't even need brakes?

I'm towing with a '90 Suburban and my camper doesn't have it's brakes any longers, the PO removed them.

Are you sure your camper doesn't have brakes?  Look behind the wheels at the backing plates and see if there's a wire coming out of the backing plate, connecting to the other backing plate and then running forward to the tongue.

[OMO]

Recumbentman , I'm in MN. The law here says that brakes are required for trailers with a gross weight of 3000 lbs or more. I do have all the manuals but there is not a manual for the axle. I checked behind the wheels and there is a bracket.

austinado16, it all boiled down to money. Any of the popups that came standard with brakes were almost $3000 more. All of the dealers I talked to said they weren't necessary on this particular camper. After reading posts from a couple different forums I decided bakes weren't worth $3000 and I was under the impression I could install them if I wanted them. That's why my dealer's response surprised me.

I'm towing with a 2004 Toyota Sienna. There are no brake wires on my trailer.

[wavery]

Brakes are super easy to install. The kits come with instructions. IMHO, if you are towing with a Sienna, brakes are a must.....

If you aren't up to doing it, take it to any trailer shop or check with your local brake shop.

Here's a place to buy the kits. Just call them and tell them what you have.
http://www.al-kousa.com/prod_bhd.htm

You can even get them on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Trailer-Brake-Assm-10-x-2-25-Electric-Left-Right_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1171Q7c66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a1Q7c293Q3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem3ca1a7c732QQitemZ260410165042QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

If your trailer doesn't have brake drums (Some do), you'll need this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2-electric-backing-plate-drums-trailer-brakes-shoe-10_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1171Q7c66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a0Q7c293Q3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem4835d79323QQitemZ310140965667QQptZMotorsQ5fRVQ5fTrailerQ5fCamperQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

It's just a matter of bolting the backing plates to your axle (that's the 4 bolt holes that you see), attaching the wire to the blue wire on your trailer  emergency dis-connect switch, if your trailer has one. If it doesn't, you'll need one of those too.

If your trailer already has drums, your set, just slip the drums over the shoes, adjust the brakes, adjust the wheel bearings and you're off to the races.

If you don't have drums, you'll have to install them........that's easy too.

I can't imagine a shop charging more than $200 labor to do the job for you.

If your trailer has drums already (even if it doesn't have brakes), your wheels will be bolted to something like this:


If your trailer doesn't have drums, your wheels will be bolted to something like this:

[austinado16]

Excellent Wayne!  This makes me want to put brakes back on mine.  I've got the drums and backing plates, so I guess I just need shoes and hardware.  The 'burb is even fitted w/ a Tekonsha controller....although it's not the nice one.

[wavery]

Excellent Wayne!  This makes me want to put brakes back on mine.  I've got the drums and backing plates, so I guess I just need shoes and hardware.  The 'burb is even fitted w/ a Tekonsha controller....although it's not the nice one.

The complete assemblies are so cheap, it isn't worth the effort to find the separate parts & put it all together.

In fact, I plan to do a brake job on my trailer in a few weeks. I'm just going to order 2 new kits, take the old ones off, keep 'em for parts and install complete new sets. That way I'll have all new magnets, shoes, springs b/plates wiring and everything. I may just use the old drums and get 'em turned (if they need it), then again, it's less hassle to just put new ones on. They're not much more $ than buying bearings & seals.. IMO, it's the only way to go.


edit:
Thanks for starting this thread. I just ordered the new brake kits for my trailer (my trailer is 12 yrs old). However, I forgot that the Traimanors have special hubs & drums so I just ordered the brake kits. $73 for both sides (incl S&H).........heck, the magnets are $35 each.