What All Do I Need To Add Electric Brakes To My Trailer With A Dexter 2,500 Pound Axle?

Question:

Hey Etrailer, i am looking to add trailer breaks to my 2500 axel I do a lot of towing with this trailer and sometimes have water in the back witch likes to move around. i never push the limits of my axel but i want to make it a little easier on the truck brakes after all i pull it almost daily. what part would i need to Compleat this job. i have attached photos below. thanks for your help.

asked by: Robert

Expert Reply:

We definitely have what you need to add electric brakes to your trailer. I spoke with Dexter to make sure I recommended the correct parts for you, and the spindles that were used on your 2,500 pound axle is actually the same one used on the very common 3,500 pound #84 spindles. This makes life a lot easier and you will need the Easy Grease Trailer Hub and Drum Assembly # AKHD-545-35-EZ-K to start the process off. This is just one though, so you will need two of them to complete one axle. It does include all the bearings, seal, grease cap, and lug nuts as well.

For the brakes, we do have a couple options. Both of these will be rated the same and will bolt directly to the flange on your spindles, but the etrailer.com Electric Trailer Brake Kit # AKEBRK-35 will be a standard manual adjusting brake set and the Dexter Nev-R-Adjust Electric Trailer Brake Kit # 23-468-469 will be a set it and forget it self adjusting style. These are a lot nicer, but they are also quite a bit more expensive. Either way you decide to go, both include the right and left side brakes but you will need the Mounting Hardware # BRKH10B if you decide to go with the manual adjusting brakes as it is not included with them.

You will also need a break away kit and wiring to complete the set up on your trailer. For the break away system, I prefer the Hopkins Engager # 20099 as it has never let me down before and is the one I always recommend. Wiring this and the brakes can be a pain in the butt though, so I also like to recommend the Trailer Wiring 7-Way Upgrade Kit w/ Junction Box # HS381-9000. The junction box definitely makes everything easier and already having the 7-Way on it furthers this.

Your truck will also need a brake controller and 7-Way wiring to get this all working together. If you do not already have these, let me know the year, make, and model of your truck and I can get you all squared away. Be prepared for me to recommend the Redarc Tow-Pro Elite # RED44FR if you don't have a controller yet. I really like this one.