Brakes

[KE5PPH]

that thing you're sitting on.

[angib]

OK, what's an azz?

He mis-spelt adze - he rolled on the floor so much that he rolled over his adze that was lying there and now he's trying to laugh off the terrible pain of the adze sticking in his leg.

I'm sure that's it.

[eamarquardt]

OK, what's an azz?

He mis-spelt adze - he rolled on the floor so much that he rolled over his adze that was lying there and now he's trying to laugh off the terrible pain of the adze sticking in his leg.

I'm sure that's it.

He better be careful or someone will tell him to stick it #@ (preposition of your choice) his adze.

Cheers,

Gus

[KE5PPH]

I had ASS-umed this might be a family freindly site. Therefore I didn't spell it out.

[eamarquardt]

I had ASS-umed this might be a family freindly site. Therefore I didn't spell it out.

You know what happens when you assume. You make an adz out of you and me. Then you have two adzes. When you have two adzes it's twice as easy slip and bust your adz.

Cheers,

Gus

[KE5PPH]

everyone knows 2 are not better than one.

[eamarquardt]

really????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????


lets just put the brakes to all this before we ruin a good tread!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

get real.

slow

A good tread only gets ruined when you run over a nail, spike, or other object on the road. Never by having fun exchanging "tongue in cheek" comments that do not reflect poorly on anyone.

Cheers,

Gus

[Mary C]

Ok having read a lot on brakes I need someone to walk me through, hold my hand and help me, confusion exist (at least for me) I want to purchase a trailer, 4x8 inexpensive to build a 5x8 "box" I am not rich. I want brakes in the future. I cannot afford to get the breaks now. Which 4x8 trailer do I get, which will allow me to put electric brakes on in the future and which brakes do I get? I am totally confused, and to be honest when the technical people at the stores tell me they have no idea which brakes to get or if brakes can go on the trailer, it is more confusion when they have a section on electric brakes to sell and have no idea what they go on. To build the trailer, (welding) purchasing everything it is way too expensive, The Dexter axle cost almost as much as the HF trailer. In considering the trailers I have called companies and some of them don't have any idea about the possibility of brakes and one told me he had no idea if his trailers had brakes. I am building the "teardrop box" very light weight, Less than 300 pounds, will be towing with a Mitsubishi eclipse, 4 cylinder straight (5) shift. I have looked at boat trailers with brakes NO way, too rusty, I have looked at older used trailers, cheap and rusty and I was too scared to even pull them with a truck. I am 63, widow and I am not in the best of condition and want to start with new. My brother lives in TX I live in GA, he will put the brakes on after I get it built. I am not mechanically minded but have pretty good woodworking skills. I am confident i can put together a trailer (I read directions) and know that it would be smart to get new bolts, re grease the hubs, and really check the tires.

So what trailer do I get with brake flanges and what brakes do I get? Can brake flanges be retrofitted(welded on)? It does not show for the red trailer the HF, trailer nor the TSC trailer. I cannot tell from the pictures or from the uninformed people they hire or from the info they put on the web, I do want brakes for safety.

Mary C

[eamarquardt]

You can put brakes on anything. Where there is a will there is a way. However, all of the Harbor Freight trailers (and I suspect Northern Tool, TSC, and others) have axles that do not have the square metal flange (bracket) welded to the axle to allow you to add brakes at a later date. Some folks claim that you can add the flange later but no one, to my knowledge, has done so. A skilled welder with some millwright skills could certainly do it but it would not be cost effective.

So if you buy a trailer and the axle doesn't have flanges you will have to replace the entire axle, u-bolts, and perhaps shackles and springs. You'll also have to ensure that your replacement axle is compatible with your existing wheels.

If you retrofit you'll be throwing away hubs and bearings and perhaps other parts that you've paid for. Money down the tubes. Several people on the forum have started out with inexpensive trailers, upgraded them, and found that they'd have been better off to buy a trailer with brakes in the first place. Buying an axle with brakes installed at the factory is less expensive than the combined cost of the original axle w/o brakes and the parts to retrofit an axle with brakes.

Not sure where you are but I'd find a shop that makes custom trailers, order exactly what you want, and start out with what you really want. Save time and expense in the long run. It might delay your getting on the road a bit but you'll be safer for it and in the long run you'll save money.

More "World According to Gus".

[Mary C]

I plan a trip to the trailer shop nearby tomorrow afternoon to find out about ordering. I know I talked with one trailer shop they wanted $750. for a 4x8 with brakes. I told them I wasn't interested in their gold plated model I wanted the pauper model The guy said they didn't have a pauper model but he would look into it if I was seriously interested, I will let the world know tomorrow!!

Mary C

[eamarquardt]

I plan a trip to the trailer shop nearby tomorrow afternoon to find out about ordering. I know I talked with one trailer shop they wanted $750. for a 4x8 with brakes. I told them I wasn't interested in their gold plated model I wanted the pauper model The guy said they didn't have a pauper model but he would look into it if I was seriously interested, I will let the world know tomorrow!!

Mary C

$750, IMHO, is a very good price for a 4'X8' trailer with brakes. An axle with brakes, springs, etc is about $350 (parts cost alone).

I'd jump on that deal if the trailer is well made. Cheers,

Gus

[aggie79]

I plan a trip to the trailer shop nearby tomorrow afternoon to find out about ordering. I know I talked with one trailer shop they wanted $750. for a 4x8 with brakes. I told them I wasn't interested in their gold plated model I wanted the pauper model The guy said they didn't have a pauper model but he would look into it if I was seriously interested, I will let the world know tomorrow!!

Mary C

$750, IMHO, is a very good price for a 4'X8' trailer with brakes. An axle with brakes, springs, etc is about $350 (parts cost alone).

I'd jump on that deal if the trailer is well made. Cheers,

Gus

I'm with Gus on this one. While $750 is a lot of money, it is very little for a trailer with brakes. I paid $750 for to have a custom trailer (approximately 5' x 10') and I supplied the torsion axle and coupler.

Tom

[bdosborn]

I'd get a 5'X8' instead of a 4'X8'. Most people end up building a second wider trailer after they go 4' wide....

Bruce

[eamarquardt]

I'd get a 5'X8' instead of a 4'X8'. Most people end up building a second wider trailer after they go 4' wide....

Bruce

Ditto.

Also, if you're going to build really light with no thoughts of ever upgrading and going heavier a 2000# axle and 7" brakes will save you a bit of weight but not much money as 7" brakes are about the same price as 9" and a 3500# axle is only about $10 more than a 2000# axle.

Decisions, decisions.

Cheers,

Gus

[Mary C]

Trailer shop is on vacation for the month of January , I still have time I probably will go with cheap right now and will not get brakes right now since I am building very light. it seems that money dictates right now if I put off getting the trailer two months it will be October. Oh well I will continue to look for trailers. but thank for answering my question.

Mary C.