Availability Of Replacement Calipers for UFP DB-42 Brakes on a Ranger Boat Trailer

Published 09/30/2026

Products Featured in This Question

Replacement Trailer Wheel Bearing - L68149 - Qty 1

(2225)

$20.46

Replacement Trailer Wheel Bearing - L44649 - Qty 1

(2225)

$24.84

Question:

I have a 2001 Ranger boat trailer with DB 42 brakes on my tandem axle trailer. Calipers are not functioning properly. I would like to replace just the calipers. Inner and outer bearings are L68149. Grease seal is AD2527E. I believe the oil bearing bath cap o ring is 2.33. So it has the larger bearing bath cap. It does have the cool hubs and I still run oil in them. What caliper would fit this? Thanks for your help! Chris

asked by: Chris S

Expert Reply:

Hey Chris, thanks for reaching out. Your 2001 Ranger Trail uses the older UFP Trailer Buddy DB-42 brake system, and the original replacement caliper is UFP # 36020. The bad news is Dexter discontinued the DB-42 brake system, so new replacement calipers are getting extremely hard to find. At this point, finding old stock or a good used # 36020 is basically your only option if you want to keep the existing DB-42 setup.

If you cannot track down a DB-42 caliper, you are looking at converting to a newer disc brake setup. The problem is your trailer uses the older straight 1-3/8" spindle with # L68149 bearings in both the inner and outer positions, and we do not currently carry a complete disc brake kit that matches that spindle. Most current kits use an # L68149 inner bearing with a smaller # L44649 outer bearing, so they will not fit your existing spindle. That means replacing the axle with a more common spindle configuration is the cleanest route before installing a new disc brake kit. Your existing Cool Hub/oil-bath setup does not change the caliper fitment; the unusual L68149 spindle is the limiting factor.

expert reply by: Jesse M

Chris S.

9/30/2026

Great information. I was afraid of that. I will have to see what I can do to locate a new axle. Thanks again for your help!

Jesse M.

9/30/2026

@ChrisS We may have an axle for you. We sell mostly leaf spring axles, so if that is what your trailer uses, I'd need to know the hub face length and spring center length of the current axle. For example, the Trailer Axle Beam with Easy Grease Spindles # e68GR has a 95" hub face and 80" spring center. If you can provide those dimensions for your axle, I'm happy to look into it and see if we have anything.