I'm hoping there are people here who know a lot more than me who can let me know if there exist trailer brake actuators that would work with a the factory drums on a Ford 9"?

So, my situation is, I have a truck bed trailer built from a dent side that I use for camping. Depending on how I load it up, I can push 3k lbs. I usually tow it with a 3/4 ton so it isn't a real issue, but I'd like to put trailer brakes on it, just for general better performance and safety, and to make it more reasonable to occasionally tow with my matching Bronco. I'm considering two options. I could obviously buy a trailer axle with built in brakes and get spring pads and shock attachments welded on and swap it in. This would be lighter weight, get rid of the differential moving parts, and allow me to move my spare tire mount further back, closer to the axle distributing weight slightly better. The other option would be to keep the truck axle and find out if there is a way to build a setup that can actuate the brakes that are already there. This approach is convenient because I already have time, money, and knowledge invested into truck parts and repairs for this specific equipment because it duplicates what is on my Bronco. It would also allow me to rig up a way to activate the parking brake which would be cool and convenient.

So, in summary, my question is, does anyone know of a way to setup a regular truck axle/brake setup to work as trailer brakes. I'd love to at least be directed to some products or solutions I can start my research with. I'd also entertain opinions on why one axle setup or the other is better than the other, keeping in mind that total trailer weight won't be high and I'm staying with a 5x5.5 bolt pattern to keep my matching wheels.

 

You can add a surge brake setup, but that will mean bolting or welding a new coupler/actuator to the trailer tongue. I didn't see anything about adjustability,

https://www.etrailer.com/Brake-Actua...ils=.questions

Or go electric over hydraulic where you can control the brakes as needed.

https://www.etrailer.com/Brake-Actua...S381-9066.html

As to going to a trailer axle with brakes etc, I'm not sure. By the time you do that, you might be able to trade away your pickup bed job and find a used trailer with brakes etc. Maybe even a dump trailer!

Good luck.

 

No, that's missing the point. I have a truck bed trailer because I want to. It matches my Bronco and it makes me happy. I wouldn't trade it away for another trailer.

That electric over hydraulic actuator is the type of thing I'm looking for, but I wonder if there are cheaper options. That is pretty steep for a bit of wiring and a pump, most of the brain power should be in the brake controller in the truck. I wonder how much PSI the drums I already have need?

 

This says 400 to 500 psi. It also discusses the residual pressure (10psi) for drum brakes.

https://www.motor.com/magazine-summa...der-selection/

If you could find a wrecked trailer with all that stuff that might be the ticket. Home Depot and other rental places might have wadded up trailers. I tried u-haul, they sell equipment but nothing available in this area. YMMV.

Because the brakes you have are probably larger than regular trailer brakes, you will have to experiment and figure out the right pressures. Not too hard to do, and there are residual pressure valves and pressure regulating valves available.. Then again, an electric brake controller might do it all for you.