Disk Breaks

[FELLOW-SHIP]

Well after just 1 ½ years or (in water) service I had to replace my disk breaks. My Loadmaster came with regular disk break system. I replaced with the Kodiak stainless steel disks and calipers plus I replaced the master cylinder and the electronically sender unit that disengages the surge brakes when you back up. Every time I took the boat out which must have been 60 to 80 times in that 1 ½ year period I washed the breaks off with fresh water but when I pulled the breaks they looked like I never did anything to help make them last. If anyone is looking to buy a new trailer make sure you buy one with the stainless steel breaks from the get go will save you a lot of time and effort a year and a half down the road. Oh buy the way approx $600. in parts plus one day lost for quality vacation fishing time.
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[Dave Hirshberg]

Fellow ship,
I've had such bad luck with brakes that now I just get a bigger truck instead of the brakes.

[FELLOW-SHIP]

YA I hear you about breaks but I would hate to get in a wreck because my breaks didn’t work.
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[ScottM]

Our boat is kept in a slip, so the trailer gets used minimally each season. Right now the brakes are shot and in need of replacement. Towing the boat from storage to the water and back each year (~7 miles each way on side roads), my F150 can handle the braking chores. But if I want to start towing any distance, what do you guys recommend - replace with standard setup or upgrade to stainless?

[FELLOW-SHIP]

HA SCOTT
I trailer about 30 miles round trip every weekend on Interstate 95 with some real crazy drivers zipping in front of me just to hit the breaks after they get in my lane because they have no where else for them to go. For that type of usage you need good breaks and stainless is the best way to go, on my standard breaks after every trip I hosed off my breaks thinking that would help and it didn’t help at all to make my breaks last. If you are going to trailer your boat and like to fish more that working of stuff that broke again go stainless Kodiak chart says after 1000 hrs no ware.
http://www.kodiaktrailer.com/redswish/disc_brakes.htm
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[ocuyler]

We trailer our boats 300 miles round trip each weekend in the summer, maybe 12 times each summer. We also haul it to Hilton Head Island each Easter (2000 miles RT), so I consider myself an advanced user.

For moderate to heavy use, stainless steel disk brakes are the only way to go. They should be checked regularly.

We install an upsized battery in a plastic battery box for the safety disconnect feature to be sure that if (God forbid) the trailer comes loose from the truck, my precious boat will come to a prompt tire screeching halt before it flies down through the median and up the other side at 60 MPH.

The picture you should have in your mind at highway speeds is that, if you have to lock up the brakes, they should lock and the tires should smoke. If they don't do that in a panic, they need to be adjusted, repaired or replaced. They are designed to completely stop the boat and also help stop the truck.

Bearing Buddies are a must, if maintained regularly and repacked each spring.