Best 175/80-13 Trailer Tires for Highway Trips & Can Electric Brakes be Added to Boat Trailer

Question:

I have a single axle boat trailer with an 18’ bow rider on it. I mainly pull it multiple times back and forth two one of two lake. Generally both highway speed trips so 65-75 mph for anywhere from 2.5 hours and 138 miles to 5 hours and 274 miles depending on which lake I’m heading too. I narrowed my tire replacement down to two tires, however I’m not sure which would be better for my situation. One is a bias ply and one is a radial, both load range D and 81mph rated. The first is Loadstar ST175/80D13 Bias Trailer Tire - Load Range D Item # AM1ST77 And the second is Karrier ST175/80R13 Radial Trailer Tire - Load Range D Item # AM10210 Any suggestions or tips that one would be better for me than the other would be greatly appreciated before I order. Thank you! I’ve got a smaller 20’ single axle 3500# trailer that currently doesn’t have trailer brakes. Here are two questions, 1 can I put electric trailer brakes on my trailer? I spend most of the time in fresh water. 2 if I can, what parts will I need for the conversion?

asked by: Kyle S

Expert Reply:

Let's start with your tires and the best 175/80-13 tire is absolutely the radial tire, the Karrier ST175/80R13 Radial Trailer Tire - Load Range D # AM10210.

The reason you want to use this tire over the Bias # AM1ST77 you mentioned is because radial tires are designed for on-road use while bias are designed for things like off-road and agricultural use. Radial tires flex more and run cooler to help prevent blowouts so the best option is absolutely the radial Karrier Tires # AM10210.

As for electric brakes you can absolutely add them to your boat trailer, but you will want to disconnect them before going in the water. Assuming you have a 10" hub and drum assembly which is common on 3,500 lb axles, you can add the Electric Trailer Brake Kit # AKEBRK-35-SA and Mounting Hardware # BRKH10B.

What you need to have for this, along with the drum, is a 4-bolt brake mounting flange like # 4-35, a breakaway kit, the Hopkins Engager Push-To-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit # 20400, a trailer end 7-way like # H20043, and the appropriate wiring connections. You will also need a brake controller and 7-way on your tow vehicle if you do not have one.

I have added a link to a help article entitled "Parts Needed to Add Electric Drum Brakes" which I strongly recommend taking a look at, as well as links to video reviews for you.