hey guys I know this is off of topic. My diesel been runnign great (well actually both of them have been running great.) But yeah I have a 1978 ditch witch trailer. It has the hydraulic surge brakes on it. well in the state of PA tho's brakes are illeagle. I heard you can buy a kit to change them over to electric brakes. if so anyone know where i can get the kit at? If not can i buy a complete setup to put electric brakes on it? If not then i gues ill have to buy a whole new electric brake axle. where can you buy them at? The trailer is 4,000-5,000lbs gvw. I live in Pennsylvania.
thanks,
jimmy

 

You would need to pull the wheel and hubs off, mainly to see if there is a square flange with 4 holes in it. If that is there all you would need to do is go to a trailer repair shop and get backing plates with shoes, hubs and drums that fit the brakes, a break away control and wire it in.

Toyman

 

there is another way to go Jimmy.
you can replace the surge brake master with an electric master cylinder, and put an electric brake controller in the truck. the brake controller senses you stopping, and sends a signal to the electric master cylinder just like it would do with electric brakes. the more power supplied, the more stopping power supplied to the juice brakes.

i have one on my car trailer, and love it.

the down side is they are expensive new.

i got mine used 2 months for $100, cause the guy wrecked the trailer, and the scrap yard owner knew that the master was good and worth something.

 

well the orignal brakes ont he trailer is shot so yeah id liek to change everthign out anyhow

jimmy

 

Here's one source: CHAMPION TRAILER PARTS SUPPLY

Steve

 

ok gues i checked the trailer and it has the square flange with 4 holes in it. now what all would i need to do this change over to electric brakes?
thanks,
jimmy

 

i gues ill have to measure what diameter the drum is and go from there. I thank you guys very much for your help!

 

if you have the 4 hole square flange axle, all you need to do is buy the complete spindle/drake/ drum assembly,bolt it on, and add one wire to the loom.

 

Actually, you need to add 2 wires; the ground for electric brakes should be run back to the trailer connector and not to the frame.

Steve

 

sure, go ahead and get technical with us.

 

Tom -

Sorry..........I get picky in my old age!!!

Where is Laurence Harbor located? My family used to vacation at Stone Harbor, Cape May and Wildwood in the '50s. Also did one summer at Atlantic City (Steel Pier). I'm sure all the places have changed a LITTLE since then.

Steve

 

Map of Laurence Harbor, NJ by MapQuest

we are a little nothing on the shores of the Raritan bay about 1 square mile in area, 2 miles south of South Amboy, 15 miles north of Atlantic Highlands.
technically, we are a section of Old Bridge township, but we are our own little area that time has pretty much forgotten about.
with the exception of the highway overloaded with commuters going to New York City every morning and the dunkin donuts they put up on our corner to screw up traffic, things have not changed that much in the past 20 years.

we have a very minor drug problem, but it is nothing like the rest of the town has.