Should I Use 10 or 12 Inch Brakes on a Trailer with 3,500 Pound Axles and 16 Inch Rims

Updated 02/17/2018 | Published 02/16/2018

Question:

I have a heavy travel trailer with Dexter 3500 twin axles and 16inch rims, E-rated tires. I load the trailer heavy and do most of my long distance trips in the mountains. Will a 10inch Dexter electric never-adjust brake setup work properly for this application? I see a lot of 15inch rims/tires for the 10inch brakes, but it looks like for the 16inch I have to go with the 12inch brakes. Is this correct? Thank you

asked by: John R

Expert Reply:

Brakes are designed to fit the hubs that fit the axles not the rims. So you want to stick with 3,500 pound, 10 inch brakes like the Dexter Nev-R-Adjust, part # 23-468-469. Larger 12 inch brakes won't fit your hubs.

It is more common to see 15 inch rims on a 3,500 pound axle but a long as your bolt pattern matches and you have the clearance 16 inch rims can work. But even the larger rims use the same size brakes because they're using the same size hubs.

expert reply by: Charles S