Adding Electric Trailer Brakes to a 3,500 Pound 2001 Car Mate Trailer

Question

Question:

I am looking to add elec. brake to a 2001 car mate 3500 lbs wutg 15x5.5 rims and 205/75R15 tires. The trailer currently does not have any brakes. What parts do I need to do this job and does the package come with the brake drums or is it just the backing plate with the shoes and assembly? Can you recommend a break away kit that would work with this set up and any other parts that I would need to make this trailer have a good brake system. My truck is already factory wired with brake controller. Thank you.

asked by: T S

1

Helpful Expert Reply:

The first thing to check for on the trailer is whether or not it has brake mounting flanges welded to the ends of the axles. A brake mounting flange on a 3,500 pound axle would look like # 4-35. If there are no brake mounting flanges they would have to be installed to add brakes to the trailer.

The brake assemblies do not come with hub and drum assemblies so those would have to be purchased separately based on the bearing numbers on the current trailer hubs. The bearing numbers are stamped into the sides of the bearings. Usually on a 3,500 pound axle the inner bearing is L68149 and the outer is L44649.

If the trailer has EZ Lube axles (with a grease fitting at the very ends of the spindles) you can use # AKHD-545-35-EZ-K. If they are not EZ Lube axles you can use # AKHD-545-35-K. The hub and drum assemblies are sold in quantities of 1.

These assemblies will accept 10x2-1/4 inch brakes # AKEBRK-35-SA.

The trailer will also need to have wiring run for the brakes. What I recommend is to use a 7-Way trailer connector such as # 54006-059. The tow vehicle will also need to have a 7-Way connector and a brake controller to activate the trailer brakes. Since you mentioned the tow vehicle already has those items you would not need to add them.

For a breakaway kit the Hopkins Engage # 20099 is a popular system. It coms with a battery charger built-in and a push-to-test system so you can see the status of the breakaway battery.

I have included some helpful links below that will help with this project.

expert reply by: Michael H

1

Answer 1

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 2

I attached a help article that covers the entire process, but basically you will need to determine what spindle you have on your trailer so that you can first pick out the correct hub rotor to fit the spindle and then build from there. Once you know…

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Answer 3

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 4

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 5

To determine the size of the hub assembly you need to purchase you have to determine which bearings are in the old assembly. If the old assembly has L44649 inner bearings, you would use the hub you chose #8-258-5UC1. If the inner bearings are marked…

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Answer 6

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 7

We do have what you need to replace the UFP HD-1377-10 hub and drum as well as add hydraulic brakes for your boat trailer. Here are the exact parts you will need: - Dexter Trailer Hub and Drum Assembly #84546UC3 - Hydraulic Trailer Brake Kit -…

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Answer 8

The Trailer Hub and Drum Assembly part #AKHD-545-35-EZ-K would be an excellent replacement for a Tru-Ryde Hub/Drum RVD-H-545. Then for new brakes, I recommend the Hydraulic Trailer Brake Kit part #AKFBBRK-35.

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Answer 9

There really isn't a particular maximum trailer weight that is used to determine when brakes need to be added to both axles of a tandem axle setup. While I do still recommend checking your local laws, I am also not aware of any general laws that…

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Answer 10

Even though I cannot comment specifically on the grease you used because I am not familiar with it, I can tell you the best grease for trailer bearings is a a grease with a rating of GC-LB, which just means it is made to withstand very high…

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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

I currently have three diffrent self-adjusting assemblies for your boat trailer with 10" x 2-1/4" electric drum brakes which are attached for you below. eTrailer Electric Trailer Brake Kit part #AKEBRK-35-SA (3,500 Axles) Dexter…

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