Parts Needed to Add Brakes to a 3,000 lb Single Axle Trailer

Question

Question:

Hi There, I have a Karavan B245074 Boat Trailer for my Seadoo Challenger 180. The trailer appears to have flanges for brakes but does not presently have brakes. I was previously towing with a Nissan Frontier which did not require trailer brakes for the ~3000lb towing weight. Now I have a 2013 Audi Q5 with tow package 7-pin harness for the electricals that indicates that it can tow up to 4000lbs with trailer brakes. What are the appropriate options to add disc brakes to this trailer? This boat is often put into salt water so the braking system needs to be robust to this environment. I see that that there are stainless steel kits available. The Karavan B245074 is a single axle trailer with a GAWR of 2960lbs as indicated on the info plate on the trailer. I do not know the diameters of the bearings offhand. Any information that you could provide would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

asked by: Keenan B

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Expert Reply:

I recommend using an electric-over-hydraulic braking system for your 2013 Audi Q5 and boat trailer. It uses less electrical wires on the trailer which is great since it will come in contact will water fairly frequently. The parts that you will need are:

Kodiak Disc Brake Kit - # K2HR35D
Bearing Kit - # BK2-100
Kodiak Hydraulic Brake Line Kit - # 18SI-BLKIT
HydraStar Marine EoH Actuator with Breakaway and 7-Way Harness - # HS381-9067

This is everything that you will need on your trailer side. The Kodiak disc brakes have a Dacromet coating which will provide superior corrosion resistance for freshwater and saltwater use.

The brake controller that I recommend using is the Tekonsha Prodigy P3 # 90195. There is no plug-and-play harness option for your 2013 Audi Q5 but you can still install the P3 by splicing into the wiring on your Q5. The Prodigy P3 is a proportional brake controller that will apply your trailer brakes at the same rate as the brakes on your Q5.

If you have a fully functioning 7-Way then there should be some wiring that you can splice into to provide power to the brake controller and send the signal to your 7-Way. If you do not have wiring for your brake controller that runs to your battery or back to the 7-Way on your Q5 then you will want to use the Wiring Kit # 5506 which will give you all of tools that you need to complete the installation. I have attached a helpful article that has a wiring diagram and an installation video of the hardwiring process done on a 2009 Cadillac Escalade for demonstration purposes. Keep in mind that you will want to consult your owner's manual for wiring details on your Audi Q5.

expert reply by: Jon G

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Answer 1

Both the Redarc Tow Pro Liberty #RED24FR and the Prodigy P3 part #90195 are really excellent brake controller solutions. Functionally they both will work really well but the advantage the Liberty has is that it would only put a knob on your dash…

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Answer 2

I attached a picture of a 4-bolt mounting flange like what the brake assembly part #AKEBRK-2 you referenced is designed to attach to. This is a standard dimension so I would be shocked if the flange on yours was different.

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Answer 3

There are a few ways to find the right system for your trailer. The easiest is to look on the trailer axle for a sticker or plate that says what the capacity is. Then you can measure your brake drum to find the right size. I have attached a photo of…

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Answer 4

In order to determine the torque rating for the lug nuts on your trailer you will need to know check out the chart I attached that shows all of the torque specs for all the trailer lugs available based on stud size, wheel material and wheel size.

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Answer 5

The difference between the Class II and Class III hitches has to do with their Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), their Tongue Weight (TW), and their Hitch Receiver Size. Class II trailer hitch receivers have a 1-1/4 inch receiver and can be rated up to…

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Answer 6

A 4-Way trailer connector has the basic lighting functions only; running lights, left turn signal and brake lights, right turn signal and brake lights, and ground. A 7-Way has these functions and a 12 volt circuit, a circuit for electric trailer…

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Answer 7

Hey Richard, thanks for reaching out! The Dexter DX7.5 Drop-N-Go Brake Actuator #099-175-00 is a great option for a replacement actuator because it's a direct replacement for the common Model 60 actuators that were popular in the '90s.…

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Answer 8

To determine the size of the brake assemblies you need you have to measure the depth and width of the hub drum on the axle like what you see in the picture I attached. The most common size is 2-1/4 inch wide like the #T4071600-500 that you…

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Answer 9

Traditionally, trailer manufacturers did not use electric brakes on boat trailers because the brake magnet wiring and trailer wiring did not always have the best insulation or water protection. These days, more and more manufacturers are using…

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Answer 10

On Dexter 12" Nev-R-Adjust Electric Brake Assembly #23-458 the shoe pad thickness is 3/16 of an inch. Dexter says that you should replace the shoes if the material gets down to 1/16 of an inch thick or less.

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Answer 11

To find the load capacity for your axle you should look on the trailer VIN plate or sticker that lists the VIN number. The weight rating of the axle should be listed on that same plate or sticker. Also, the axle could have a tag or plate on it that…

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Answer 12

The manual lockout on your Atwood 85778 surge brake coupler is there so that you can back up the trailer without the brakes locking up on you. Yes you can safely tow your trailer with the broken manual lockout, you just have to make sure you…

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