Can I Add Electric Brakes To My Boat Trailer That Didn't Come With Brakes?
Question:
Howdy,so i have a boat trailer two axle,with no brakes,trail rite trailer,,can electric brakes be installed on axles that didnt come with brakes,or do you have to buy new axles complete with brakes,,let me know,,thank you,,William Huston
asked by: William H
Expert Reply:
Howdy there, William. I can help with this. It may be possible to install electric brakes on your two axle boat trailer. The first thing we will want to look at is whether or not the axle has a brake flange. If you want to see an example of what that looks like, take a look at part # TRU74FR and see how it has the square flange with 4 holes at the base of the spindle. If your axle has a brake flange, brakes can easily be added. If it does not, we recommend that you replace the axle.
If you do have a brake flange, you will need to get brake assemblies, hubs/drum assemblies, a 7-way trailer harness, and an emergency brakeaway switch. You will also need to have an electric brake controller in the cab of your vehicle.
The brake assemblies should be a standard size, but in order for me to accurately recommend hubs, I will need to know the spindle size, or bearing sizes that the trailer currently uses. The best way to determine this is for you to pull one of the hubs and remove the bearings. Each bearing will have a number stamped on the edge and if you can provide me with those numbers, I can recommend the correct hubs.
For example, what we commonly see are 3,500 lb axles that use a # L68149 (1.378" inner diameter) inner bearing and a # L44649 (1.063" inner diameter) outer bearing. For this the correct hub/drum is part # AKHD-545-35-EZ-K. If this is not exactly what you have, feel free to drop your bearing sizes in the comments below and I will make sure you get the right hubs. If this does happen to be what you have, here are the rest of the parts you will need for the conversion:
- etrailer Electric Trailer Brakes - Self-Adjusting - 10" - Left/Right Hand Assemblies - 3.5K # AKEBRK-35-SA
- Easy Grease Trailer Hub and Drum Assembly for 3.5K Axles - 10" - 5 on 4-1/2 - Pre-Greased # AKHD-545-35-EZ-K
- Hopkins 7-Way RV Style Connector with Molded Cable - Trailer End - 8' Long - RV Standard # H20046
- Bright Way Push-to-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit with 1-Amp Charger and 5 Ah Battery - Top Load # 3802308
- Tekonsha Prodigy P3 Trailer Brake Controller - 1 to 4 Axles - Proportional # 90195
You may need additional 12 gauge or 14 gauge wire to complete your trailer wiring. We have a guide that goes over adding electric brakes to a trailer and you will find it linked below. Feel free to reach out to me if you have further questions.
Products Referenced in This Question
Bright Way Push-to-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit with 1-Amp Charger and 5 Ah Battery - Top Load
- Trailer Breakaway Kit
- Kit with Charger
- Top Load
- Single-axle
- Tandem-axle
- LED Tester
- 1 Amp Charger
- Battery Included
- 5 Ah
- Bright Way
more information >
Tekonsha Prodigy P3 Trailer Brake Controller - 1 to 4 Axles - Proportional
- Trailer Brake Controller
- Proportional Controller
- Electric
- Electric over Hydraulic
- Automatic Leveling
- Under-Dash Box
- Dash Mount
- Up to 4 Axles
- LCD Display
- Up to 360 Degrees
- Tekonsha
more information >
etrailer Electric Trailer Brakes - Self-Adjusting - 10" - Left/Right Hand Assemblies - 3.5K
- Trailer Brakes
- Electric Drum Brakes
- Standard Grade
- Self Adjust
- 10 x 2-1/4 Inch Drum
- 3500 lbs Axle
- etrailer
more information >
Easy Grease Trailer Hub and Drum Assembly for 3.5K Axles - 10" - 5 on 4-1/2 - Pre-Greased
- Trailer Hubs and Drums
- Hub with Integrated Drum
- Easy Grease
- EZ Lube
- Pre-Greased
- L68149
- L44649
- For 3500 lbs Axles
- 1/2 Inch Stud
- 5 on 4-1/2 Inch
- 13 Inch Wheel
- 14 Inch Wheel
- 14-1/2 Inch Wheel
- 15 Inch Wheel
- etrailer
more information >
Hopkins 7-Way RV Style Connector with Molded Cable - Trailer End - 8' Long - RV Standard
- Trailer Wiring
- Trailer Connectors
- Trailer End Connector
- 6 - 10 Feet Long
- Plug and Lead
- 7 Round - Blade
- Hopkins
more information >
Replacement Trailer Hub Bearing - L44649
- Trailer Bearings Races Seals Caps
- Bearings
- Standard Bearings
- 1.063 Inch I.D.
- Bearing L44649
- Race L44610
- 3500 lbs Axle
- etrailer
more information >
Replacement Trailer Hub Bearing - L68149
- Trailer Bearings Races Seals Caps
- Bearings
- Standard Bearings
- 1.378 Inch I.D.
- Bearing L68149
- Race L68111
- 3500 lbs Axle
- etrailer
more information >
#84 E-Z Lube Spindle w/ Brake Flange for 3,500-lb Trailer Axle - 1-3/4" Diameter
- Trailer Spindles
- EZ Lube Spindle
- 1-3/4 Inch Diameter
- Round
- For 3500 lb Axle
- TruRyde
more information >
Product Page this Question was Asked From
#84 E-Z Lube Spindle w/ Brake Flange for 3,500-lb Trailer Axle - 1-3/4" Diameter
- Trailer Spindles
- EZ Lube Spindle
- 1-3/4 Inch Diameter
- Round
- For 3500 lb Axle
- TruRyde
more information >
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