Trailer brakes PIA

[bradford]

I tow a tandem axle trailer with no brakes with a 94 GMC Sierra 1/2 ton. Never had a problem (knock on wood). Be sure not to have too much tongue weight, which will take weight off your front wheels which are used primarily for braking.

[Skools Out]

i say junk em and never look back. if you have to depend on your trailer brakes when towing then you need a larger truck. what if the ones you depend on quit then you are fuked

[cfelton]

My trailer had drum brakes when I got it ,but were junk. I took em off. Id like ta try disc on one axle. I dont use it in salt water very much.

[Monkey Butler]

When I bought my boat the drum brakes were nothing but a ball of rust.



I agree with most everyone here that brakes can be a maintenance nightmare, but there were a few reasons that I felt I needed them.

• Towing weight - I'm guessing from 6000 to 8000 lbs.
• I often tow 50 - 100 miles
• I often have my wife and my three kids (and somebody else's kids) with me

One I decided that I wanted them there was no way I was going to go with drums. Too hard too inspect and maintain. After much research I went with Kodiak discs, SS Caliper, Cad Discs .



This is the first season with them and no problems so far. Long term still needs to be seen but the discs are so much easier to inspect. I also installed the oil bath seals and caps that came with the brakes. So far I really like the idea. They run very cool and I can see at a glance if water is getting in or if they need oil. Much cleaner than grease too. I did get water in one hub the first time out but I think I fudged up the seal when I drove it in. I replaced it and not a drop of water since.

Rear axle if you only install on one.

[phester]

nice set-up MB. If I wanted ,or needed brakes, that's how I'd do it ;)

[Airslot]

Front axle if you install only one, and I have the same Kodiaks ;D

[jasoncooperpcola]

MB is that the trailer to your 250? When i towed our 250 home i used the companies cargo truck which weighs 15,000 pounds empty and it was like the boat wasn't even back there. And i didnt even have brakes on the trailer. as a matter of fact the trailer has flanges for brakes but no brakes. My question is do you think i'll need to put brakes on it if i tow it wth my 94 F-150 or my 03 Sierra? Mostly we'll be towing about ten miles but we will tow it about 30 miles during some tournaments.

[THEFERMANATOR]

A friend of mine has a 248 WELLCRAFT(same hull as a 250) with twin 225 EVINRUDES on a bracket. He has a tri-axle trailer with 2 axles of brakes. Even with his 99 F-350 dually it would still push a bit if you had to brake hard and fast. I towed it with my 95 2500 diesel SUBURBAN. It wasn't bad with my tow rig, but you could tell it was back there.

I also towed it with a 97 JEEP CHEROKEE several times :o, YES A JEEP CHEROKEE!!!(and not the pink one) It took almost a half mile to stop from 45 even with 2 axles of brakes. BUT I HAD NO PROBLEMS GETTING IT UP TO SPEED :o ;D ;)!!!


Yeah, I aint quite right in the head :P8).

[Skools Out]

my 250 has brakes on the trailer but they have been disconnected as they are electric. i tow it with either my 99 Tahoe Gas, 96 GMC 1500 Z71 Gas, or 94 Tahoe Diesel. none of them have any issues and it has twin 225's

[macojoe]

Yeah, I aint quite right in the head

LMFAO!!!!!!!

Ii had a buddy with a 250 and he towed no brakes with a 88 full size Blazer, no issues at that time