You could save a newbie's life!!! Let's talk brakes.

[eamarquardt]

My experience is certainly different than yours.

I agree that most everything HF sells is crap.

I didn't do my homework before posting the link to their flaring tool.

Here is a better link:

http://www.tooltopia.com/otc-tools-4503 ... QgodHwjffw

The OTC flaring tool is even less expensive than the HF!

OTC (Ottawa Tool Company) is one of the premier tool suppliers to the automotive industry. My OTC flaring tool is easy to use and produces good quality flares.

Bending the tubing is not difficult at all even w/o a tubing bender. I have made "vibration" coils just carefully wrapping the tubing around a "mandrel". Below is a link to a site selling numerous tubing benders for around $20.

http://www.tooltopia.com/kd-tools-2189.aspx

Here is a video of it being done:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPJgWQhIgqA

I'm lucky as Suzy (it's all her money according to her but I spend what I want exactly as I choose - with occasional input from her) can afford to buy me any tool I desire. See album. Good quality tools rarely wear out and can be passed on to future generations. My two boys, I hear, have already decided between themselves who gets what when I expire. My only regret is that I may not be around when the "great divide" occurs but I could decide to give up my tools before my demise just to enjoy the bickering.

Creating brake flares and bending steel brake lines is easy if you have the right tool, but the right tool is going to cost you almost as much as your entire braking system.

Forty bucks isn't that much for tools (double flare kit and tubing bender) that do a good job, can be used over and over, and will last forever.

If you really don't want to deal with flaring tools there are premade flexible line kits. The extra line can simply be coiled up and tied down.

http://www.trailerpartsdepot.com/itemde ... eStopFeed&

Practicing is easy and cheap. It takes about an inch of material for each flare. Buy a line a couple feet longer than required (negligible cost and you're probably have it left over anyway) and make a couple dozen practice flares first.

We can agree to disagree but folks should know both sides of the story. See my "disclaimers".

Cheers,

Gus

[Wolffarmer]

Correcto mundo. Evan

While it has been more than a few years since I have installed hydraulic brake system. I have done it. I guess I should have stated that. And I have worked on other hydraulic systems. It is not easy to get right. Also the cost of the serge coupler is pretty high, getting real close to $200 if I remember correctly. And the cost of the lines is a lot more than wire. Plus you will need one flex hose for a spring axle. 2 if you have independent suspension and probably more steel line. Leave this job to the factories, they have the design, tools and flunkies that can do it correctly.

Randy

Edit, I have used those OTC tools and it takes practice to get a good double flare most times. If you do decide to go this route. Start with your longest run of line. Then if it gets to short you might be able to use it some place else. Double flares are more than twice as hard to get right than a single flare.

[Evan Gaffney]

We can agree to disagree but folks should know both sides of the story. See my "disclaimers".

Cheers,

Gus

agreed

[CARS]

I have owned 2 pop-up campers with surge brakes. The last one was retired to a utility trailer last year because the roof was so rotten the jacks went through them.

I have never had an issue backing up either one.

Not sure why some do, some don't??

After a google search, it seams that it happens alot with heavier trailers. Alot of them have a rod to put in the actuator to keep the brakes off. Hmmm... Maybe it's time to check the brakes

[Mightydog]

I tow my 1150 lbs trailer with a Suzuki Vitara or Sidekick, no brakes. I have pulled it down several rather steep and long mountain roads with no problem, just don't let it build up speed and keep my brakes cool.

I agree with Randy. Our trailer is 1150 lbs and we tow with an 03 Suzuki Vitara. The only chages we have made to the car are cryo-treated front rotors that are also drilled and slotted. We've been pulling the trailer since 08 without brakes and don't have any plans to add any soon. The new trailer that we're building won't have brakes.

Brake fights are always fun to read on the forum.

[CARS]

Brake fights are always fun to read on the forum.

Yes but I really don't trust my 9" drum brakes on all 4 corners pulling anything but our paddle boat. The Dart can barely stop itself.

Anything with front discs, I would trust with 1200 lbs. I think my Dart only weighs 2800 lbs!

[eamarquardt]

I'm certainly not "fighting".

It's just that I don't agree with presenting just one approach to an issue and I am not entirely convinced that we all do things the same way and have the same experience/result at the completion of said task.

Cheers,

Gus

[aggie79]

Food for thought...across the pond, surge brakes are standard fare for trailers, campers/caravans, etc. I don't recall seeing an electrical actuated brake system there.