Trailer: repair or replace?

[PAX]

Just got a call from my marina and I don't know what to think of it. I asked them to give me a quote to replace my breaks (the all hub). The trailer is 3 years old and in overall great conditions but the drum brakes gave up at the end of this season. They are so full of rust that the only options seems to be replacing the all hubs. I did not think it would cost that much but the options they offered are as follow:

1) Upgrade to discs on the current galvanized trailer: $1850 parts and labor
2) Buy a brand new aluminium trailer for $3800, They would buy back my 3 year old galvanized trailer for $850.
3) Replace the brakes w/ identical drum brakes. They have not provided me w/ a quote yet.

I have a few questions:
- Does it make economical sense in the long term to replace drums w/ disks. They told me that the maintenance is much easier and you don't experience the 2 to 2 years expense to replace the all thing if you hve discs. What's your experience.
- Is an aluminium trailer better than a galvanized one? Probably lighter but is there more than that?
- What do you think of their offers? Buying a new trailer would be more expensive than just adding disks to my current trailer but on the other hand I would get an aluminium trailer. Not sure I see the value proposition here.

I might end-up changing the brakes myself and just put back drum brakes.

Thanks,

[tsheehy]

Patrick,

Not to say that your marina is trying to gouge you for the parts / installation, but I think you could do it yourself for much cheaper. I went through the same thing a couple of years ago, as my old drum brakes had all but turned into a pile of rust.

Have a look at the following two links, they show exactly what is involved in removing the old drums and installing the new disc brakes. After seeing these threads I felt confident that this was a job I could handle on my own.

http://classicparker.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=853

http://classicparker.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=855

When its time to source your parts, I used EasternMarine.com and purchased Kodiak brakes. I would also recommend that you call them and place the order over the phone, as they can help walk you through all the parts you will need and prevent you from having to wait a week to finish the project because you forgot to order a hydraulic hose, etc.

Aside from new hub/brake assemblies you should probably install new hydraulic lines. You will also need to install a new coupler or retrofit your existing one to support disc brakes. (Unlike drum brakes, disc brakes need to be dis-engaged when you reverse) You may have several options, depending on the type of coupler you have, all I did was install a simple manual valve that mounts right to the back of the master cylinder that lets me disengage the brakes while moving around the yard, and then re-engage them when I hit the road. It was a very simple and inexpensive solution, but then again I am only trailering a couple times a year.

It seems like an overwhelming project at first, but it really isn't once you break it down into the separate tasks. Definitely something you could tackle in an afternoon.

-- Tom

[PAX]

Thanks Tom. Great links. Seems doable.

Do you remember how much you had to pay in parts to do the all thing: hub/brakes, coupler, lines, etc ....?

The quote I got is:
Labor: 10 hours * $90/hour = $900
Parts: + $950
------
Total: = $1850

[tsheehy]

Just going from memory here:

2 x Kodiak 10" Disc Brake Assy, S-Cad = $250
New Actuator (was cheaper than getting just the replacement parts I needed = $110
Hydraulic Lines = $60

Total = $420

I'm sure there are pieces/parts I'm forgetting, but I also ordered a couple of pre-assembled stainless hubs for the non-braking wheels that were around $40 a piece and remember the total bill was somewhere around $550 with shipping.

Ask them for a break-down of the $950 in parts, then call Easternmarine and see what price they give you.

Another plus to doing it yourself is that you will completely understand how your trailer brakes work and it will help you troubleshoot future problems down the road.

-- Tom

[DaleH]

I'd ask ... how much do you tow? What is the weight of the towed rig (boat. motor, gear, and trailer)? What is yout tow vehicle?

I ask as that as 'some' have had better luck, with 'smaller' rigs, having the tow vehicle be the braking source ... provided they don't tow much and do so 'intelligently', i.e., keep your speed down. I don't advocate this if you tow routinely and on highways.

Other than that, I have had better luck using Champion Trailer for parts, at http://www.championtrailers.com/ . I was turned on to them when Eastern Marine couldn't help me. Turns out they didn't stock some of the items I needed and thus they weren't helpful at all.

The folks at Champion will walk you through what you need too, and their service and shipping is excellent! Champion also has a more complete stock list.

CHAMPION TRAILER
PARTS SUPPLY
1-800-229-6690
http://www.championtrailers.com/