Installing Brakes On Standard Trailer

[dario1au]

hi , I a new to this site, considering buying a second hand boat, as the title suggests would it be possible to i convert a standard non braked trailer to a braked trailer. the trailer is carrying a fibreglass 17 foot half cabin. I realize the previous owner or owners had no problems towing, to this date, for me it would be only for piece of mind trying to stop going downhill especially. Am I over reacting

Also the motor is a old 175 hp mercury 2 stroke, do I need to add any additives the fuel to replace the lead from the lead free fuel.

cheers daggy

[pelican]

Hi Mate

You can retrofit brakes to many trailers but if they weren't originally deesigned for it it often is easier to just slip a new axel package under it.

Can you give us some details of what you tow with and how far you tow as your current tow vehicle, its towbar may limit what you can legally tow?. What does it say on the trailer rego label in regards to weights. Some people on here will have a good idea on weights of boat packages if you tell us what brand it is or put up a photo.

Any rig over 750kg needs brakes according to RTA to be legal -

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/dow...ctowin_dl1.html

With police , insurance and liability these days I wouldn't tow an illegal rig as the risks are high if something goes wrong. Just not worth it.

Pel

Edited May 18, 2008 by pelican

[dario1au]

Hi Mate

You can retrofit brakes to many trailers but if they weren't originally deesigned for it it often is easier to just slip a new axel package under it.

Can you give us some details of what you tow with and how far you tow as your current tow vehicle, its towbar may limit what you can legally tow?. What does it say on the trailer rego label in regards to weights. Some people on here will have a good idea on weights of boat packages if you tell us what brand it is or put up a photo.

Any rig over XXXkg needs brakes according to RTA to be legal -

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/dow...ctowin_dl1.html

With police , insurance and liability these days I wouldn't tow an illegal rig as the risks are high if something goes wrong. Just not worth it.

Pel

hi

I tow with a toyota surf hilux 3l turbo diesel. I do have a tow bar loading is tow load is 1100kg and ball weight of 80kg. Probably the furthest I would want to tow is port stephens. the boat is a haines hunter V17c ( weight is 441kg listed on second hand boat trailer magazine) with a 175 mercury outboard. I have no infomation on the rego on the trailer

will this infomation help

Thanks

Daggy

[BFB]

I would not be towing any 17' foot boat without a trailor which has brakes.

I have a 5.2 metre Haines Hunter cabin with a 115HP and I would estimate its towing weight with fishing gear, etc would go close to 1 tonne. My trailor is fitted with disc brakes. I would not try to tow my boat without them but in saying that my brother has an inboard ski boat of approximately 20' long and its trailor has ever has brakes and he has had no problems.

A lot depends on the type of driving you do and the tow vehicle.

As I said previously I would also have brakes on my trailor and even have them on my bos trailor jsut to be safe.

[pelican]

Boat 441kg, motor 200kg? trailer 250kg? Fuel 100kg basically 1000kg min - I have probably understated

That trailer does need brakes to be legal as weight will be over 750kg limit for unbraked trailers

Site sponsors would be able to help with new trailer costs. Sometimes easier than renovation as you then know exactly what you have got.

The cheapest type and simplest are the overide mechanical disc brakes.

Here is a basic kit price ( just googled) and there is a fair bit of labor to install it if the rest of the trailer is suitable. You may get away with just the new axel and not have to worry about springs.

You should then have it blue slipped which may require an engineer ( cost unknown or if they will actually do it) to sign off on to say it is designed and built right to carry weight it and weighbridge ticket. This is why people don't upgrade older trailers and even if they do they often don't update the rego as it means that every year they have to pink slip the trailer before rego. As it is now no inspection is required and that is why people do it.

The seller will know all the above so price his boat accordingly with what you have to spend and the hassle to make it legal. Laws are gradually changing to national in regard to trailers so some that are legal in other stated can't be NSW rego.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Marinized" 1.4 Tonne Mechanical Disc Brake Single Axle Kit

(customer assembles / packs bearings/ weld flanges )

KIT CONTAINS

· 1 ea 1.4T 45mm Square Axle (customer to specify length)

· 2 ea Galvanized 9 Leaf 45mm wide Eye / Slipper springs

· 1 ea Single Axle E/S Spring Fitting Kit - suit 45mm Sq Axle with Galvanized U-Bolts, Fish Plates, Axle Pads, Stainless Steel Spring Mount Bolts & Nyloc Nuts

· 2 ea Galvanized 1/2" Hubdiscs Complete SL Bearings and Marine Seals (customer to specify pattern)

· 1 pr Chrome Bearing Buddies & Dust Covers

· 1 pr Galvanized Mechanical Disc Brake Assemblies (1 LH / 1 RH)

· 2 ea Disc Brake Flanges suit 45mm sq Axles

· 1 ea 2.0T Mechanical Override Coupling - Zinc (with actuator to suit drawbar specific)

· 1 ea Cable Adjuster

· 1 ea 10 Mtr Roll 4mm Winching Cable

· 4 ea 4mm Cable Clip

PRICE

Kit as described to suit Holden or Ford pattern wheels (13" / 14" / 15" wheels)

$625.00 (inc. GST)

Kit as described to suit L/C 6 Stud Pattern

$750.00 (inc GST)

OPTIONS

ADD

Overlay Axles

$45.00

Drop Axles 2-1/2" or 4"

$85.00

Cranked Main Axle Beams (only available with overlay or drop axle option)

$60.00

Galvanized Angle Iron Spring Mount Brackets in lieu Std Hangers

$120.00

Axle Assembly (if required)

$80.00

4" Drop NOT available with Mechanical Disc

Kit weight approx 100kg

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Surf should be a very good tow vehicle. Check manufacturers website for actual towing capacity of your year model as they keep changing things and also a heavy duty tow bar could be put on if required as the 1100kg doesn't seem very heavy for that vehicle. Original surfs were the hilux chassis but not sure now with the later pretty models.

Very common boat so someone on here will have owned or currently owns one and be able to tell you what there set up is.

Pel

PS The trailer isn't illegal as long as it's total loaded weight (including trailer weight) is not more than 750kg. It is only illegal when you tow it with the boat on it. If pulled over the police, RTA can ask you to go over a weighbridge. They know approx what things weigh. Especially for longer journeys with a relatively lightweight tow vehicle brakes be will loads safer and save heaps of wear and tear on the towing vehicle on a 750kg trailer.

Edited May 18, 2008 by pelican

[a boat]

Hi Daggy and welcome, you have stumbled on a grey area at present. The guys are right and any rig over 750KG needs brakes, but that only applies to a trailer manufacturered after 1990 for what we have been able to get from the different bodies (ie: police and RTA). I personally would not want to be the one that tests this law if you have an accident and with your rig being over the 750KG mark your insurance might be invalid due to not having brakes. A call to your insurance company might get you a different story and it would be worht the call to check if you are covered or not.

Pel, as usual has given you are very good report on retro fitting brakes and to be honest with the cost of labour and parts it usually is not worth it. To give you an idea a new braked trailer to suit your boat would be about $3,500 for a good OZ made trailer with the right running gear.

With your Merc, just run good quality unleaded fuel from a big servo and you will be fine. More important to run good quality oil with your V6, due to the stresses it is under at cruising and higher RPM.

Cheers,

Huey.

[pelican]

Hi Huey

I have not been able to confirm the law in relation to Pre 1990 trailers either. There was a grandfathering of the rules for pre 1990 but it was limited in time but no one will clarify what that time is. Originally I was told 2010 ( 20 years as I guess they thought that most trailers don't last that long - wrong when talking car or plant trailers - I have also been told 15 years ??) but I understood it also relied upon the alignment of all States laws in regards to trailers. They have only just agreed in regard to heavy vehicles so not sure if other new trailer laws were also included.

Not sure how the change will happen and how owners will / won't be notified as the RTA is a poor communicator at the best of times but you can bet your bottom dollar that teh police, RTA inspectors and the insurance companies will know when it happens to the minute.

RTA inspectors are the big wigs on this and I can't get in writing a clear answer- I may not like the answer either with $14K trailer at risk.

Pretty sad when a dealer like Huey who wants to do the right thing can't have it cleared up to clarified by someone in authority. God knows how us ignorant public are supposed to work it out.

Daggy

Check if the trailer date of manufacture on the rego papers to see if it is pre 1990. Clearly tell your insurer ( both car, boat and trailer if not the same) the situation and see if you are covered and get their response in writing. I say car as your trailer may be covered under car policy while connected to it yadda yadda yadda - insurance fine print on which policy pays out in an accident - I don't know Yadda yadda yadda .

Based on what info you find out price into your boat purchase the correct trailer update / upgrade and that way you will be covered long term.

A new trailer with brakes is good peace of mind for safety if not for the wallet.

Pel