Trailer Brakes - What do you think?

[mls6722]

I was surprised to find my tandem axle trailer for my 22Ve has brakes (disc) on only one axle. It feels fine when I tow and I am in favor of less parts to maintain. Just looking for opinion if there is a significant advantage to dual axle brakes or are singles ok?? Also, my intuition would have said the brakes would be on the forward axle, but in fact they are on the rear axle. Thoughts?

[ajholt7]

I know my trailer has brakes on only one axle. I think it is fairly common.

[Dave K]

only 1 axle on mine...24V

[laserfish]

Only one axle here, wish mine were disc.

[raythompson]

Trailer Brakes

Brakes on only one axle is common and is in fact required by most states for multiple axle trailers. I special ordered my trailer with brakes on both axles. It required new hubs and a new surge activator. Did I notice a difference? Nope. Just some additional redundancy. Stopping is always good.

[TeamAllen]

Only one axle here, wish mine were disc.

You can convert them to disc. I did on mine. It helps when backing it up. It electronically locks them out when you activate the reverse lights. No more getting out there and putting in that dongle thing.

[Carter13]

Only one axle here, wish mine were disc.

X2

[mls6722]

X2

My last boat had a single axle trailer with drum brakes - If I wanted working brakes, I needed to replace the wheel cylinders every year. I hope for a better experience with disc.
Thanks for all the input guys. And sorry, I just noticed this is in the wrong section

[chpthril]

Only one axle here, wish mine were disc.

Why? In stopping power, disc is not better then drum.

[chpthril]

You can convert them to disc. I did on mine. It helps when backing it up. It electronically locks them out when you activate the reverse lights. No more getting out there and putting in that dongle thing.

This has all to do with the actuator (master cylinder/coupler asm) and not the breaks themselves on the axles.

[Iwndr]

My Boatmate has 4 wheel disc brakes with the surge actuator, comes in handy up here

[TeamAllen]

This has all to do with the actuator (master cylinder/coupler asm) and not the breaks themselves on the axles.

Now you tell me? Makes sense though. I should have known.

[laserfish]

Hmmmmm. The 4 wheel drums on my 65 mustang or 69 Camaro of the past did not hold a candle to the disc brakes on my 06 F250. The truck stops waaaay better than the drum brake equipped cars. Plus there are less moving parts to corrode and seize up. Correct me if I am wrong here and I will feel better about not spending the money to install discs.

[Ewok]

Hmmmmm. The 4 wheel drums on my 65 mustang or 69 Camaro of the past did not hold a candle to the disc brakes on my 06 F250. The truck stops waaaay better than the drum brake equipped cars. Plus there are less moving parts to corrode and seize up. Correct me if I am wrong here and I will feel better about not spending the money to install discs.

IMO, the disk brakes on my new trailer are more gradual and have a more linear, normal feel than the disk brakes on my old trailer. On my old trailer I applied the brakes, the boats momentum would smoosh against the cylinder and pull the entire rig backward. The new trailer does not do this when slowing down, I can't feel the brakes "catching" like they used to, they just smoothly help slow the trailer down. They may or may not have the same stopping power but there is better control with the disk brakes.

[majestic]

My Extreme trailer has discs on all 4.