Adding Brakes To A Shorelander Single Axle Boat Trailer  

Question:

Expert Reply:

Hello Dan. This trailer currently has no brakes correct? It may be possible to add electric brakes, as long as the axle is equipped with a 4-bolt brake flange. If no brake flange is present, you would either need to have them added to the axle, or replace the axle entirely.

If you do have a brake flange, you can add electric brakes without too much trouble. You will need to get brake assemblies, hub/drum assemblies, a 7-way trailer wiring harness, an emergency breakaway kit, and an electric trailer brake controller for your vehicle.

I can certainly point you in the right direction for all of these parts. I will just need to know the axle weight capacity, and the spindle and/or bearing sizes your trailer currently uses. Regrettably there is no way for me to use your VIN to find this information. Your best bet will be to pull one of the hubs and remove the bearings. Each bearing will have a number stamped on the edge. When you get them, drop those bearing numbers in the comment section below and I will make sure you get the right hubs and brakes. Aside from those parts, you will need the following:

- 7-Way Molded Connector w/ 15' Cable - Trailer End # 50-67-103

- Bright Way Push-to-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit with 1-Amp Charger and 5 Ah Battery # 3802308

The 7-way harness is 15' long, so you may need some additional wire, depending on how you set everything up. I also suggest that you use a junction box like part # 3375601100. Your vehicle will need to be equipped with a brake controller. If you don't have one already, I recommend the Tekonsha Prodigy P3 # 90195.

Let me know those bearing sizes, and your hub bolt pattern in the comments below and I can recommend the rest of the parts you need.

expert reply by: Jesse M

0

Dan S.

5/24/2024

I’m sorry, I should have said surge disc brakes, not electric brakes. The trailer has 15” 5 lug wheels and there are 4 holes in the flange that I think a caliper would mount to. Do you have a kit that will work for this? Thanks.

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Jesse M.

5/24/2024

@DanS Oh ok thanks for clarifying. I was going to say we don't usually recommend putting electric brakes on a boat trailer that will be submerged. We do have a kit that will work for you. To add surge brakes to your trailer you will need to add a surge brake actuator like the Demco Hydraulic Brake Actuator # DM62VR. You will also need a brake line kit such as part # 18SI-BLKIT which has an 18' long main line. You will also need a disc brake kit such as the Kodiak # KOD67FR. Please note that this hub/rotor is for a 3.5K axle and uses a # L68149 (1.378" inner diameter) inner bearing and a # L44649 (1.063" inner diameter) outer bearing. Please do confirm your bearing sizes for me and I can make sure you get the right stuff.

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Dan S.

5/29/2024

@JesseM My trailer has 1-3/8” inner bearing and 1-1/16 outer bearing. Please advise. The other thing I am concerned with is I would not like to have to splice any brake lines, as I have never done that and probably don’t have the correct tools. Thanks, Dan

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Jesse M.

5/30/2024

@DanS Those bearing sizes you mentioned are the standard 3,500 lb axle bearing sizes. So, the Kodiak # KOD67FR I mentioned above will be correct for you. If we can get the correct size brake line kit, you won't have to cut or splice any brake lines. All of the tees and fittings will just screw in. You can measure the distance from the brake actuator or trailer coupler to the axle. Let me know that distance and we can get you an appropriately sized main line so you won't have to cut anything. The brake line kits also come with clamps to secure the line to the trailer. Aside from that you will just need to install the rotors and calipers and bleed the brakes. This can be done manually or with a Bleeder like part # PTW87030. We have some good literature on adding disc braked to trailers. You will find links to a few helpful articles just below. Feel free to reach out if you have more questions for me.

Helpful Links

faq-adding-hydraulic-disc-brakes.aspx

faq-bleed-trailer-brakes.aspx

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Dan S.

6/15/2024

@JesseM Thank you for all your detailed answers. I was gone on a fishing trip so I am just getting back to this surge brake project. Couple more questions: My trailer has a 4 wire plug. Will this work to sense when my tow vehicle is put in reverse to release the Demco Surge Brake Actuator? My tow vehicle has both the 4 pin plug plus the larger round plug. I have a Demco coupler on my trailer that I reallly like, is there a way to reuse this coupler with a separate actuator mounted on the tongue? Maybe it is better just to replace it? My trailer has Shorelander Bearing Buddies, can these be reused with all my new parts?

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Dan S.

6/15/2024

@DanS Can you send me a drawing or sketch of the Demco Brake Actuator - DM62VR? that shows overall length and dimensions to mounting hole I’d like to verify I have enough room on the swing tongue to fit the new brake actuator.

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Jesse M.

6/17/2024

@DanS Hello Dan, I hope your fishing trip was productive! You will need to wire your trailer with a new plug. The 4 flat does not have any reverse function. Reverse function is a requirement for the Demco Hydraulic Brake Actuator with an electric lockout. What I would do is wire the trailer with a 5-flat plug such as part # HM47910. Then use an adapter, part # 78118 to connect the 5-flat to your vehicles 7-way. There really is not a way for your to re-use the current coupler when adding disc brakes. It is better to just replace it. The Kodiak hubs # KOD67FR I mentioned can indeed be used with bearing buddies. They will work with the 1.98" drive in bearing buddies. So as long as your Shorelander bearing buddies are the drive-in (not thread-in) and are 1.98" diameter they will work great. If you need new ones, we offer them as part # BB1980A-SS

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Jesse M.

6/17/2024

@DanS I do not have an official drawing, but I can tell you that the # DM62VR actuator is 18-1/8" long overall. The rearmost mounting hole is 1" from the very back of the actuator. The two holes are 3" apart on center. The 3rd mounting hole is centered on the other two. It will fit a 3" wide tongue. Do let me know if you need any other dimensions or anything.

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Dan S.

6/20/2024

@JesseM Is there a way I can send you a couple pictures of the tongue with a tape measure laid on it? I think it will fit, but just barely. I measure 7” from the very end of the ball end of the current Demco coupler I have on there to the centerline of the first mounting hole, then the second mounting hole is 3” back from the first mounting hole. I would need to drill the tongue for the rearmost mounting hole. Currently my trailer wiring exits the tongue on top, so I would need to drill a hole in the side of the Demco and thru the tongue to have the wiring exit out the side instead of the top. I have 18-1/4” from the very end of the current coupler to the weld on the swing tongue.

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Dan S.

6/20/2024

@DanS The other thing I should mention, is my boat trailer does not have a center channel that runs from the front of the trailer all the way to the axles, I would call it a “Y” construction, where the a single channel runs about 4-1/2’ from the back end of where the new Demco actuator sits and then two channels Y off and run back to the axles. The trailer light wiring is run internal to these channels. I’m thinking that in order to make it the cleanest install and protect the brake lines I would run the brake lines the same as the wiring is run, except that I would need to drill a hole in each Y channel at the axle location for the brake lines to exit and connect to the new disc brakes. How large a hole will need to be drilled in the channels so the premade lines with fittings on them will be able to fit through them, and are the brake lines flexible enough to be able to route the lines like that?

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Jesse M.

6/20/2024

@DanS I recommend going with rubber brake lines then since they will be more flexible and easier to install in the way you described. Part # 18SI-BLKIT comes with an 18" main line so just be sure this is long enough. A 1/2" hole will be big enough to run the lines thru.

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Dan S.

6/20/2024

@JesseM That line kit would work, but what I think after looking at that kit, would probably be best to just keep the brake lines outside the channel, run the 18’ long line down to one axle, install the tee fitting, connect the 1-1/2’ line to the disc brakes on that side, and then run the 7’ line along the axle over to the the disc brake on the other wheel. Could you go up and respond to the first email I sent this morning? I’d like to email you pictures of my current coupler to have you check that the Demco will fit. Thanks

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Dan S.

6/20/2024

@JesseM Using that kit maybe it would be simpler to route the brake lines outside the channel, so I would route the 18’ line down the frame to the right side disc brake, install the tee fitting there, then connect the 1-1/2’ line to that disc brake, then run the 7’ line over the axle to the left side disc brake. Can you respond to the first email I sent this morning regarding sending you pictures of my current couple to verify the Demco fits?

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Jesse M.

6/20/2024

@DanS Yes you can email me pictures to jesse.morton@etrailer.com and I am happy to take a look.

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