Recommended Brake Upgrade For A 5th Wheel Trailer

Question

Question:

I am wanting to upgrade my brakes and axels on my 2015 forest River high country cougar 328PAT What would you recommend?

asked by: Michael N

0

Expert Reply:

Hi Michael,

What is the reasoning behind upgrading your brakes and axles? Are you experiencing a lack of braking power or is there more going on? Based on the GVWR for your trailer I'm assuming you 5,200lb axles. If that's the case you could switch up to 7k brake assemblies if yours are only rated for 5k but most are really designed to work with 5.2K to 7k axles so you likely wouldn't notice a difference.

I also wouldn't really recommend increasing the capacity of the axles. The axles need to bend a bit to straighten out to prevent uneven tire wear so if you're going higher without having the weight to straighten the axles out you'll run into that uneven tire wear and handling issues while towing.

If you're really just looking for more stopping power then converting to electric-over-hydraulic disc brakes is going to be the biggest difference maker. It's not a cheap swap over but the difference between disc and drum brakes is night and day. I've attached a help article below for you to check out that goes over the basics but I'd be happy to help you find all the right components for this swap if you'd like.

expert reply by: Kevin C

0

Measuring For Wheel Bolt Pattern
(click to enlarge)

Spindle Diagram
(click to enlarge)

Michael

10/29/2024

Yes my axels are 5200 more breaking powers desired. I also have a broken spring hanger that was just found. Looking for something a little more stout then what is currently there.

Kevin C.

10/29/2024

@Michael If braking power is your goal then electric-over-hydraulic (EOH) disc brakes are the answer. Starting out we'll need to determine what bearings and grease seals fit your axle's spindle. You can do this by removing the hub and checking these components to see if the part numbers are still stamped onto them. If not you can use a caliper to measure the spindle at points B, C, and D from the diagram above. From there we'll also need to know the wheel bolt pattern to pick out the correct rotor/hub kit. For example, the DeeMaxx Disc Brake Kit # DE28YR uses bearings # 25580 and # 15123 and seal # GS-2125DL. It has a 6,000lb capacity and 6 on 5.5 wheel bolt pattern. Next you'll need an actuator like the Hydrastar # HBA16-252-82 in order to activate the brake assemblies. This is a kit with the actuator, hydraulic brake lines/fittings, and a breakaway battery/switch. If you want to measure from the nose back to the first axle I can see if there's a better kit option for your trailer's specific length. I've attached a video I made for this kit that shows how to install it so you can get a better idea of what this will entail. Let me know what you find and check out the videos I attached below. They have a wealth of information that can really be helpful with this transition.

Helpful Links

tv-customer-review-dee-maxx-disc-brakes-de34vr.aspx

tv-install-hydrastar-electric-over-hydraulic-actuator-kit-for-disc-brakes-hba16-252-82.aspx

Michael

10/29/2024

@KevinC Thank you. Will do my homework and get back to you. Thanks again!

Answer 1

Hey Tim, thanks for reaching out! If your 5th wheel is a newer one (made in the 2000's) then it will use industry-standard brakes and hubs. If you can let me know what the weight rating is for your axles then I can let you know what you need. If…

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Answer 2

Usually when you replace parts that get lubricated, you clean all of the existing grease first before adding any new grease, just in case there is a compatibility issue. Since you are using Dexter axles and replacing components with Dexter parts, the…

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Answer 3

Hi Wayne; I would use mineral spirits (no particular brand) to completely clean the old grease off of the bearings and then let them air dry. I would still wipe the bearings down first to get as much off as possible and make the process…

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Answer 4

In order to determine the torque rating for the lug nuts on your trailer you will need to know check out the chart I attached that shows all of the torque specs for all the trailer lugs available based on stud size, wheel material and wheel size.

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Answer 5

The difference between the Class II and Class III hitches has to do with their Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), their Tongue Weight (TW), and their Hitch Receiver Size. Class II trailer hitch receivers have a 1-1/4 inch receiver and can be rated up to…

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Answer 6

Hey Bryan, that's a good question. The pricing can definitely be misleading, but I wouldn't use it to judge the quality of the tire. A lot of that comes down to promotions, inventory, and whether you're looking at a tire by itself or…

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Answer 7

It sounds like you are speaking of the wires for the brake magnets. If this is correct, you will need to connect one of the wires to the brake controller output wire on your trailer connector and the other wire will need to be grounded to a clean…

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Answer 8

A 4-Way trailer connector has the basic lighting functions only; running lights, left turn signal and brake lights, right turn signal and brake lights, and ground. A 7-Way has these functions and a 12 volt circuit, a circuit for electric trailer…

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Answer 9

The #84 spindle is just a common way to identify the spindle dimensions typically used for 3,500 lb axles. So instead of listing out the parts, people can just say they have #84 spindles and it's easier to know what fits it. The CE Smith Trailer…

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Answer 10

Hi Paul, you’re definitely on the right track here, and I can help you narrow this down with confidence. With your tandem 3,500 lb Dexter axles and 33 inch spacing, both the Dexter EZ Flex part #K71-652-00 and the Lippert Road Armor part #LC53CK are…

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Answer 11

Even though I cannot comment specifically on the grease you used because I am not familiar with it, I can tell you the best grease for trailer bearings is a a grease with a rating of GC-LB, which just means it is made to withstand very high…

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Answer 12

Hi Calvin! All of the pre-greased hubs/drums, like the Terran Industries Trailer Hub and Drum Assembly - 3.5K Axles - 10" Diameter - 5 on 4-1/2 #TX68VJ, come with bearings made overseas and are all basically the same quality. At least that I…

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