Brake Lines for Hydraulic Brakes on a Slide Axle Trailer

Published 08/28/2012

Products Featured in This Question

Dexter Hydraulic Brake Lines and Fittings for Single-Axle, Torsion-Axle Trailers

(20)

$159.73

Dexter Hydraulic Brake Line with Fittings - 25" Long

(62)

$60.71

Question:

I built a trailer using a dual tire 8000 lb axle from a 1978 Jamboree with drum brakes. Im mounting a service truck crane at the front of the trailer which will make the trailer tongue heavy. The axle will therefore have to move forward to offset the extra tongue weight, but if I remove the crane, the axle will have to be moved back. So I made the axle to slide with about 12f of adjustment. The trailer is about 24foot to 25. After all that, here is the problembrakes or brake lines. Ive never seen a slide axle trailer, so Im not sure how the brakes lines are plumbed. Is there a standard for this application or have you experts ever dealt with this before? I was thinking of plumbing it to the mid point of the axle travel and have about 8foot of coiled flex line to go both directions. If you have any suggestions, or comments, or see any other problems Im not aware of, I would appreciate your input. Is there a brake line kit available for what I need or could you put one together? I might also add a second axle.

asked by: Dan J

Expert Reply:

What I would do is run regular steel brake line back to the mid point of where the axle can travel like you have said. Then from there use the flexible hose long enough to reach when the axle is in the most forward or most rearward position and long enough for the travel of the suspension.

We do not have a kit with all flexible hose but a local auto parts store should have all of the parts needed to fabricate something up. The longest flexible hose we have is # T0980100 at 25 inches.

expert reply by: Michael H