Can I Add Electric Brakes To A 1993 EZ Loader Boat Trailer

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Question:

I have a 1993 EZ Loader boat trailer with a 17 foot Larson boat. The trailer weighs 665 pounds and is a single axle. Can you please tell me which one of your electronic brake kits would be the best to install? Thank you.

asked by: Mike R

0

Expert Reply:

Hello Mike. It sounds like you are wanting to add electric brakes to your boat trailer that currently has no brakes. This is possible, but you will first need to make sure that your axle is equipped with a brake flange at the base of the spindle. The brake flange is necessary for adding brakes.

If you do have a brake flange, you will next need to determine your bearing sizes. Electric brakes will require new hubs and drum assemblies, and we need to be sure that there is a drum available that will work with your spindle. The best way to determine this is to pull a hub and remove the bearings. Each bearing should have a number stamped on the edge, and I can use this number to find compatible hubs.

For example, the typical 3,500 lb axle uses the # L68149 (1.378" inner diameter) inner bearing and the # L44649 (1.063" inner diameter) outer bearing. This will use the # AKHD-545-35-EZ-K hub and the # AKEBRK-35-SA brake kit. Please let me know your bearing sizes and I am happy to recommend parts for you.

You will also need a 7-way harness for the trailer such as part # H20044. You will need an emergency breakaway # 3802308. You will also need an electric trailer brake controller like the Tekonsha P3 # 90195 in your tow vehicle.

We have a guide for adding electric brakes to a trailer, and I have provided a link to this guide for you below. Feel free to reach out if I can be of further assistance.

expert reply by: Jesse M

0

Mike R.

8/8/2024

Thank you Jesse for your awesome help. I will gather the information and get back to you.

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Mike R.

8/9/2024

Hi Jesse. Yes, my boat trailer has a four hole brake flange. The inner bearing is L68149 and the outer bearing is L44649. I would appreciate it if you would recommend which parts I need to install brakes on my trailer that currently has no brakes. Thank you again.

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Jesse M.

8/12/2024

@MikeR Ok great thanks for confirming. Your axle does use the standard 3,500 lb bearing sizes. Here are the parts I recommend: - etrailer Electric Trailer Brakes - 10" - Left/Right Hand Assemblies - 3,500 lbs # AKEBRK-35 - Easy Grease Trailer Hub and Drum Assembly for 3.5K Axles - 10" - 5 on 4-1/2 - Pre-Greased # AKHD-545-35-EZ-K - 7-Way Molded Trailer Wire Connector, 6' Long # H20044 - Trailer Wiring Junction Box - 7 Color Coded Terminals - ABS # 3375601101 - Bright Way Push-to-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit with 1-Amp Charger and 5 Ah Battery - Top Load # 3802308 You will need additional wire to run to the brakes, and for that you can use butt connectors # DW05745-10 and some 12-gauge wire such as part # 12-2-1 which is sold by the foot. You will need some ring terminals # 44-5310A as well. You will also need to make sure your tow vehicle is equipped with a 7-way and an electric trailer brake controller. The Tekonsha Prodigy P3 # 90195 is what I recommend. Refer to the article I linked below for helpful install tips and instructions. Let me know if there is anything else I can do.

Helpful Links

faq-adding-electric-drum-brakes.aspx

Reply

Mike R.

8/9/2024

P.S. to the message I sent just a minute ago. Our hub has five bolts, and they are 4 1/2 inches.

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Mike R.

1/9/2025

Hi Jesse. I am finally moving forward on my project. Can you please tell me if the hub assembly you recommend comes with one hub or two? I have a single axle trailer. Thanks so much.

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Jesse M.

1/13/2025

@MikeR The # AKHD-545-35-EZ-K hub I mentioned above comes with one single hub. Bearings, seals, races, lug nuts and grease cap are included too.

Reply

Mike R.

2/23/2025

Hi Jesse. I love the new electric brakes and have a quick question for you. I installed the Tow-Pro Liberty Electric Trailer Brake Controller. Set-up went well using your online instructions. However, I am not sure how to set it, which number to start with on the 1-10 scale. Can you please advise me on this? I appreciate all of the help you have given me.

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Jesse M.

2/24/2025

@MikeR So 1 will be the lowest amount of braking power, with 10 being the highest most aggressive braking. If you are just starting out I would start at 4 or 5 then see how that feels.

Reply

Mike R.

3/5/2025

Hi Jesse. I've finished installation of the electric brakes on my boat trailer, and they seem to be working well. I haven't adjusted the brakes, and they seem a little loose. I wasn't confident adjusting them on my own. Will they self-adjust as I drive it?

Reply

Jesse M.

3/5/2025

@MikeR Hey Mike. It is normal for brand new brakes and hubs to be weak at first. You need to go thru the bedding process. The break-in process applies to both manual adjusting and self-adjusting electric brakes. It's necessary to do this step when you install new brakes because it allows the brake shoes and magnet to seat into the drum. Drive the trailer out into an open area, like an empty parking lot. Get up to around 40 MPH and apply the manual override on your brake controller. Make sure the brake controller is set high enough where it will fully engage the trailer brakes (usually the middle setting will be just fine). Do not hit the brake pedal during this time, as you want to slow down your vehicle and trailer with only the trailer brakes. You’ll most likely have to do this about 20 to 30 times to properly seat the brakes. When you feel like your brakes are properly seated, pull over and check for signs that you're done: a bit of smoke is normal and your brakes should be very hot (brakes should read 350-400 degrees with a temperature gun). If you don't see these signs, then keep repeating the process until your brakes are properly seated.

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Answer 1

Hey Steven, thanks for reaching out. It may be possible to add brakes to your trailer. The first thing you will want to verify is that your axle has a brake flange. It should look something like part #4-35. If no brake flange is present, they can be…

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Answer 2

Hi Kim; sorry for the trouble, I know it can be difficult to sort through all of the listings for the Redarc Tow-Pro Liberty on our site. Since you have the factory tow package on your 2025 4Runner the #RED82CR is what you need. This comes with the…

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Answer 3

Adding a brake controller to your 2013 Nissan Frontier that already has a working 4-pole flat trailer connector is a simple process that requires only two parts. First you will need a brake controller installation kit, part #ETBC7. This kit includes…

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Answer 4

Yes, the tire size 205/75-14 that you referenced can fit on 6 inch wide wheels. That size can fit the following widths: 5", 5-1/2", 6", and 6-1/2".

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Answer 5

Hey Dan, The info you provided does tell us a bit about the axle but isn't enough to look up what components go with with it. With it being a 3,500lb axle it's probably a generic 3,500lb kit for the bearings and seals but I'd hate to not…

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Answer 6

Based on what information I could find about AL-KO 8490 hub and drums, it is rated for 3,500 pound axles, has a 5 on 4-1/2 bolt pattern, and is a 10 by 2-1/4 inch drum. If this is the case, we have several options for you. I have attached a link to…

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Answer 7

Really the only way to tell if you have manual or self-adjusting brakes is to remove the hub and take a look inside. If you can see a cable running at an angle (see included photo), then you have self adjusting brakes like the Electric Trailer Brake…

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Answer 8

Yes, the Electric Trailer Brake Kit - Self-Adjusting #AKEBRK-35-SA that you referenced are an exact replacement for the AxleTek assemblies you have now that have Axletek-10-GG stamped on them. If you check out the attached picture you can see the…

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Answer 9

Hi Rusty; the Dexter #84546UC3-EZ and etrailer #AKHD-5475-35-K will both fit a 3,500 lb axle but they have different bolt patterns. You already ordered the Dexter in the past so I'm assuming your wheels are 5 on 4-1/2. For the same bolt pattern…

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Answer 10

Thanks for the photos and information. You will want the Electric Trailer Brake Kit - Self-Adjusting - 10" - Left and Right Hand Assemblies - 3,500 lbs #AKEBRK-35-SA for self adjusting brakes that you won't need to check periodically to…

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Answer 11

For a 3,500 lb hub/drum replacement that will work well to replace your AL-KO 8500 you'd want the hub part #84546UC3-EZ which fits the spindle and has the 5 on 4-1/2 inch bolt pattern you need. For brake assemblies then the Electric Brake…

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Answer 12

Traditionally, trailer manufacturers did not use electric brakes on boat trailers because the brake magnet wiring and trailer wiring did not always have the best insulation or water protection. These days, more and more manufacturers are using…

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Can I Add Electric Brakes To A 1993 EZ Loader Boat Trailer

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