Disc brakes

[chapman]

Just putting this out there. I just completed up grading my 2011 3150 with disc brakes and what a difference in stopping power ! If you are towing a big Monty you owe it to yourself to go with disc’s. It’s not that hard to do it yourself if you are the least bit handy. Much less maintenance. And when it comes time for new brake pads you don’t have to disassemble the whole brake assemble as you do with electric drums. You won’t be sorry !! Ralph Chapman

[432bartman]

Ralph that is great to hear.....Just one more upgrade I'd like to do. And like you, I'd do the install myself.

[DadsHemi]

What system did you use, this on our list to do.

[Lee-CI]

We are getting our early next Spring, having already had multiple discussions with PTB which in turn have coordinated with Dexter directly. Wondering just how much of a PITA running the coil tubing brake line were for you. Trying to figure out if my back would give out being crouched down along the frame before the grunt work was completed. Seems the rest wouldn't be bad at all.

[Theunz]

Originally Posted by Lee-CI

We are getting our early next Spring, having already had multiple discussions with PTB which in turn have coordinated with Dexter directly. Wondering just how much of a PITA running the coil tubing brake line were for you. Trying to figure out if my back would give out being crouched down along the frame before the grunt work was completed. Seems the rest wouldn't be bad at all.

Depends upon how particular you are. I’ve seen pictures of some pretty sloppy installs that couldn’t have taken much time at all. On the other hand some like myself like a clean and tight installation. Both will achieve the same result, which is to vastly improve the safety of stopping your trailer. There is nothing hard at all about the installation if you are reasonably mechanically inclined. You can easily make “gentle” bends in the tubing by hand if you don’t care so much about how it looks. You can buy a cheap tubing bender for under 10 bucks if you want a neater install. https://www.harborfreight.com/tubing-bender-3755.html. If you have a shorter trailer like I do you can avoid having to deal with the excess tubing by just cutting to length and flaring the end. Otherwise you will need to coil some of the excess. Most auto parts stores will lend you a flaring tool. Note: needs to be a double flare. I think I spent as much time planning my install as the installation itself🤔

[Lee-CI]

Thanks Theunz. Ya I'm pretty OCD with everything that I do - sometimes to my detriment. While on instructor duty in the Navy years ago, I would up with a with a second job repairing marine electronics and doing installations on new boats. When doing installations, I took a lot of pride asking the owner to tell me where my installation wiring runs were vice the meticulously ran wiring runs on very high dollar vessels. The expressions on their faces were priceless when they couldn't tell the difference. The wiring on campers nearly makes me want to pull my hair out. Good thing I still keep it cut short.
Thanks again for the info.

[Golfmedik]

Just finished my fourth install of Performance Trailer Braking kits last week. My first one was on my own 3790 and the rest have been on friend's campers. The kits are easy to work with and discs make a huge difference in stopping distance. Discs are well worth the money and as I've said before, I won't tow this heavy again without them.

[chapman]

Hydrastar disc brake kit for tandem axles 7,000 lb. Flex hyd. Line kit

[chapman]

I used Hydrastar flex hyd. Lines. Just takes a little planning as to how you want to fun the lines. Got the brake kit and flex lines from e-trailer

[rohrmann]

When the installer for PTB installed our system, he installed the Brakerite actuator in the right propane compartment which has worked out very well. These are a few photos of where he ran the brake line. He came off the actuator, down to the outside of the drop frame, then over to the rear frame. After he got to the axles, I made a quick trip to a local hardware store for a length of 1 1/2" angle iron which he ran across outside of the coroplast belly, instead of just floating it above the coroplast. The only flex lines are the one right off the actuator and the four at the calipers.

[DadsHemi]

Thanks for the pictures