Trailer brakes and frequent salt water use..

[bgreene]

Need I write more ?

Going stainless, installing over next week or so.

[Greyduk]

BG, What brand and type of brakes are you looking at? I am going to be facing that in a month or so.

[bgreene]

Kodiak full SS ....had Tie Down

[oteps]

I was thinking of making a flush kit for mine, hose to inside of backing plate with a t. just hook a garden hose to it to flush. Might help a little if there is fresh water around the ramp.

[phatdaddy]

https://i.imgur.com/2D6EZv9l.jpg

i don't have brakes, but this is a flush system i put on my trailer to rinse hubs. rims and axles. it holds about 5 gallons of water and is pressurized by the bladder tank. i charge the system with a water hose and after launching, i just open the valve down the frame. all of the water stored in the tank and the 2" pvc on the frame is the sprayed on the running gear.

nice thing is, when i get home, i just hook a hose to the outlet by the tongue and let it go for about 10 minutes. close the valve by the wheels, let the system go static, then close the valve by the tongue and i'm ready for the next launch.

the tee handle is for unscrewing and adding detergent , salt away, etc.

[bgreene]

Pistons on my disks were starting to stick so no matter that I had disassembled, spray painted parts etc, plus the rotors were not wearing smoothly. I flushed the brakes well after each use, but salt submersion does its work over time.
The Kodiaks are beefier, and stainless is stainless so that’s what I’m doing, disks on both axles again, ceramic instead of organic pads too. Hopefully better long term.

[oteps]

That tank is a good idea. I always wonder how fresh is the fresh water right beside the salt water?

[jvitiel]

Two salt water seasons on my Kodiak SS and couldn't be happier. The Titan actuator less so - the ball lock is a poor design IMO..

[steplift20]

BG if your towing a steplift 20 I would loose the brakes, I know there are going to be a lot of don't do it replys but that's what I would do if you are a good driver just give yourself stopping room .i don't care what the brakes are made out of,dunking them in salt water is not good

[Destroyer]

BG if your towing a steplift 20 I would loose the brakes, I know there are going to be a lot of don't do it replys but that's what I would do if you are a good driver just give yourself stopping room .i don't care what the brakes are made out of,dunking them in salt water is not
good

In NJ it is illegal to trailer more than 3000 lbs without a trailer with brakes. So it's not a question of should or should not. It's simply a question of adhering to the law. http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/pdf/boat_resource_guide.pdf

[bgreene]

Yup....New Jersey requires brakes on both axles....
Trailering overall has pro’s and cons...

[steplift20]

First the steplift weights about 2000 lbs and with the motor it's still under 3000 but do you know how many boaters get rid of there trailer brakes, I bet at least half an them,its Illigal to do anything inn just, It's the law all I know is when your fishing and time to get your boat on the trailer it really sucks when they Are frozen ,do what's best for you and don't tell the cops cause everything in nj is Illigal

[steplift20]

Question ? Is it a dual or single axle? Cause single axels don't have brakes at least mine doesn't

[bgreene]

Dual

[steplift20]

I would remove them but that's up to you

[bgreene]

1. Stops a LOT better with brakes.......
2. It's the LAW in NJ.......
3. It's also an Insurance train wreck if an accident occurs.

But ...keep trailering without brakes.....it's up to you.

[randlemanboater]

I have to put brakes on my "new" boat trailer. I am guessing it is close to 7000 pounds going down the road...I pulled my V-20 without brakes when I first got it but when I replaced its trailer I got brakes...I much prefer stopping with trailer brakes.

I don't care how careful I am, or how good a driver I am, when a car pulls out in front of me or traffic comes to an abrupt stop on the interstate and I have to stop fast, I want trailer brakes.

[bgreene]

Does your state require boat trailer brakes ?

I wouldn't want to be faced with the liability of accident without in my state with brakes required. Could be like a train wreck......besides truck/ trailer wreck.

Over 1/2 way done installing the big Kodiak disk brakes so should be able to compare the " before and after soon."

[phatdaddy]

Florida requires brakes on anything over 3000 lbs gross. The way trailer manufactures used to get away with it was when they sold u the trailer, it was empty and weighed less than 3000 lbs. I think now they have to go with the load rating plus the trailer weight. Also brakes are required on all axels.


Like RMB, i pulled my V to the keys 3 or 4 times with no brakes and was on the edge of my seat the whole way. Never really had an issue till a car ahead of me on the turnpike locked up his brakes and i hit mine too hard. Nothing happened, but i said if I made it back, i would Never tow one down there again without them.

[Destroyer]

Boat "may" weigh in at 2000 lbs, but when you add in the 500 lbs for the engine, and then the fuel, and then all your gear and the cooler packed with ice, and then the weight of the trailer itself, you'll be well over 3000 lbs. NJ law is based on your VGTW (Vehicle Gross Trailered Weight)... In other words the whole package including the trailer.

I remember once I was pulling my V with my Jeep Cherokee on my old single axle trailer without brakes. going down a hill towards an intersection. Not going really fast... about 25-30. As I was coming to the intersection the light changed and I hit my brakes... the weight of the boat and the trailer pushed me through the corner and about a third of the way into the intersection. Fortunately it was very late at night and no cars were coming from the side or the back so I was able to back up. Moral of the story is you never know when you'll need the stopping power of the trailer brake system, but if you don't have it you'll definitely know that you should have. (If you survive the experience)

[cfelton]

I put the Kodiak SS disc on the front axle of my V trailer. They work great and have held up well, no issues! Don't get in the salt water much but I think they'd hold up good!

[bgreene]

Finished installation, next is proper bleed procedure.

[randlemanboater]

Get yourself a vacuum bleeder, you will save yourself days of frustration over the next 20 years.

[bgreene]

Will check it out thanks Randelman......

[inaforty]

A few years ago I changed over to SS Kodiak calipers and coated rotors (not SS rotor too much $$$). We only dunk the trailer a few times a year. So far I've been happy.

[oteps]

You can buy a vacuum bleeder from a motorcycle shop for $40, air operated and worth the money. check them out at tucker rockey .com. I have one from when I worked on bikes and use it on cars and trucks.

[Destroyer]

https://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?dir=asc&order=EAScore%2Cf%2CEAFeatured+Weight%2Cf%2CSale+R ank%2Cf&q=brake+bleader

Certainly not as good as a professional unit, But I've had one of the pump type for years and it''s still doing it's job. Since I only use it when I change fluid or shoes or pads it didn't make sense to buy an expensive unit.

[bgreene]

Done - new SS brackets, hubs, disks, ceramic pads, bled, and new trailer tires. Took me more hours than it should have but ok...this is the time of year to do it.

[jvitiel]

What kind of tires did you get? I'm due..

[bgreene]

What kind of tires did you get? I'm due..

I went with the ARISUN trailer hybrid tires after reading the reviews and also positives from Eastern Marine, Delaware.

Cost less to get the new complete tires on new wheels than buying just the tires and having mounted on the old rim. Looks good too.......

[jvitiel]

Many thanks BG, I'll check 'em out!

[steplift20]

I understand that you all want brakes and that's the right thing but I don't want them, maybe because I drove a tractor trailer my whole life I'm a little more careful like giving myself plenty of room and looking way past the car in front of me Sure having brakes is safer but I don't want the problems they cause like locking up at the ramp or they freeze locked up It's my choice but for you guys keep the brakes

[bgreene]

Trailer brakes law in my state

[bradford]

Trailer brakes law in my state t

Steplift20 is from Jersey too, lol

[Destroyer]

Steplift20 is from Jersey too, lol

X2 was about to point that out.

[steplift20]

First thing if your from nj like me EVRYTHING IS THE LAW You have to break some of them o r You wouldn't be able to leave your house can't talk on the phone, it's the law wear your seat belt it's the law Cross on the corner it's the law Don't spit into
the wind it's the law or was that superman who said that Nj It's the law