another trailer brake question
Submitted: Tuesday, Apr 26, 2011 at 22:00
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Trev6
Hi All,
I have just been reading past posts re trailer brakes and there is a lot of reference to "on road/ off road" types, the thing I would like to know is:
will 'on road' brakes handle dirt roads at all or are they only for the black top?
also If I install on road brakes to my trailer can I at a later date up grade them to of road brakes by changing to different magnets?
The reason for asking is that I have what I would call a "light off road trailer" so I am thinking that on road brakes with the occasional dirt road use might be ok......or am I wrong?
Thanks, regards
Tre6
Reply By: The Rambler( W.A.) - Tuesday, Apr 26, 2011 at 22:37
Tuesday, Apr 26, 2011 at 22:37
When I bought my camper trailer(Pioneer Argyle SE) Ihad a choice of electric brakes or hydraulic brakes and after asking a few different people I went for electric brakes as there was no extra cost.After two trips(34000km) the magnets were completely "stuffed" which also resulted in damage to the rotors.These trips were done over a lot of rough and corrugated roads and subsequently I learn't that under those conditions I would have been far better off using Hydraulic brakes as the magnets do not like the constant jarring of rough roads.You can buy "off road" magnets at a much greater price with no guarantee that they will stand up to harsh treatment.My advice is hydraulic brakes for the rough stuff and electric brakes for the bitumen.When Ican afford it I will be changing over.
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Reply By: geocacher (djcache) - Tuesday, Apr 26, 2011 at 23:26
Tuesday, Apr 26, 2011 at 23:26
If you get "on road" electrics they can be changed to off road later. New lever arms & off road magnets will do that. On road electrics don't stand up
well to offside/dirt road use. 4000km of dirt will stuff the centers completely. Eventually they fail, causing a lockup of a wheel & if on bitumen a stuffed tyre too. (in my experience)
The offroad ones have different magnets (L&R aren't interchangeable) and the should do 20000-30000 km with reliability. Strain relieved wiring will prevent wiring failure.
They aren't hard to work on or set up. I'm pretty happy with my setup on the Kanga which was 10" Alko on road but which I later upgraded to off road.
On a new trailer I'd consider hydraulic but I wouldn't bother on a lightweight trailer & I wouldn't change my current ones over.
Dave
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Reply By: Member - Bucky - Wednesday, Apr 27, 2011 at 04:09
Wednesday, Apr 27, 2011 at 04:09
Trev6
I have just renewed my electric brakes, completely everything new, on my camper trailer.
The difference between the 2 is the centre of the magnet on the off road magnet is hardened plastic/nylon
IFAIK there is nothing else different, in the brakes.
With on road magnets, there is metal to metal, in the centre of the magnet.
This means that they can and do wear out, in the centre, without basically never being applied....The fact that corrugations and the continuous poounding will flog out the centres
Click here for foto
Cheers
Bucky
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