TRAILER BRAKES
GUYS, not fishing related but i think here might be best palce to get an honest answer.
I currentely have mechanical operated discs brakes on my boat trailer & as total weight is over 2200kg, i thought i should upgrade to the legal standards for trailers, which is Electrical operated disc bakes with the breakaway feature. Before you have a go at me, the trailer / boat was purchased in 2014, sold by a reputable boat sale s company.
just need to change the calipers from manual ones to hydraulic ones, run the brake fluid tubing & instal / connect to the "E" brake acuator.
so if i am reasonably mechanically capable, would i be able to do this change over myself, or should it be left to experts ?
second question, is anyone running the AL-CO IQ7 brake acuator, i think this looks like a pretty good item. ?
thanks in advance, Wez
Wez0062
Billcollector
Posts: 2006
Date Joined: 16/05/09
Follow the instructions and
Follow the instructions and do it yourself just use a double flairing tool on the copper pipe not single, wirings not hard.
dmck
Posts: 406
Date Joined: 07/03/19
It's not rocket science!!
If you ARE "reasonably mechanically minded"... do it !!
MOst difficult part will be flaring the bundi (bundy?) tube!
You may be able to run it in plastic hydraulic tubing _ ask at a hydraulic specialist and go online for state regs.
with ref to the AL-CO IQ7, I doubt they could be sold for brakes unless they met Aust Standards, again... check on line.
Billcollector
Posts: 2006
Date Joined: 16/05/09
AL-CO iq7 is readily
AL-CO iq7 is readily available in Aust.
holth
Posts: 812
Date Joined: 09/10/06
Sorry mate alot more to it
Sorry mate alot more to it than that if your trying to up the ATM over 2000kgs. Cant be arsed typing everything.
Best bet to call a trailer mob. Fremantle trailers would be able to help.
Nothing legally changes unless you re license the trailer to higher atm.
Mooseknuckle
Posts: 108
Date Joined: 14/05/13
Did exact same a while ago
Purchased a boat on 2T (mech braked) Dunbier trailer - went on weighbridge and was 2.2T dry.
Cannot risk killing someone so spent the money (however saved on the purchase due to the trailer being inadequate - was a condition of sale).
Please note all below is what i can remember of the ordeal - may not be exact.
First confirmed with local inspector that my trailer physically was good to go extra weight.
Looked at all components to see what would be the "bottleneck" with the re-certification would be. Ended up bearing the axle/hub/bearing assy (1.4T) each.
So what was left to exceed the above bottleneck was:
Upgraded rims and tyres. Wanted to keep the 13" due to guards and boat clearance - got some rated to 690kg? each (they were the highest rating tyres i could find in 13")
Removed axles and had brake mounts welded on - the existing mech mounts were no good
Got 4 alko galv calipers and hud/disc assy - NEED TO BRAKE ALL AXLES!!
The suspension is not full load sharing (slipper not rocker) but IIRC can utilise 80% of the slipper weight rating - so they were just ok
Fitted an IQ7 actuator.
Ran stainless brake lines - bought the kit, no flaring needed.
Had to weld on safety chain attachment points and install new chains.
New 3.5T coulping.
Lots af new brackets, etc to mount the new gear.
Full rewire and lighting to meet all specs.
Follwed VSB1 for the guidlines: https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/vehicles/vehicle_regulation/bulletin/vsb1/index.aspx
Passed on first inspection and now compliant to 2.6T.
Bought most my gear from Couplemate online and SW Trailers in Mandurah - Rob is mint.
Inspection done by Automotive Inspection Services Mandurah - had all the info and specs of everything I installed, so if he needed the specs it was there for him.
wez0062
Posts: 334
Date Joined: 02/09/14
trailer
thanks for the details, that was exhaustive reading. I will head the warnings & get a professional juob done.
I am definately going to run with the IQ7 actuator as well.
regards Wez
Wez0062
Mooseknuckle
Posts: 108
Date Joined: 14/05/13
did it myself
I did it myself and think i spent $4k and 3 weekends.
Is a big task but not outside of general skills.
No regalving done - but only welding was on axles, all else was bolt-on bracketry.
wez0062
Posts: 334
Date Joined: 02/09/14
trailer
thanks for the details, that was exhaustive reading. I will head the warnings & get a professional juob done.
I am definately going to run with the IQ7 actuator as well.
regards Wez
Wez0062
dmck
Posts: 406
Date Joined: 07/03/19
@Mooseknuckle
A comprehensive explanation MK, well done.
JW77
Posts: 58
Date Joined: 16/06/15
One of my mates and I were
One of my mates and I were in the exact same situation mid last year. I went with the new trailer option rated to 2.8T and sold my old trailer (you can get good money for decent second hand boat trailers). My mate went with the full rebuild and upgrade, including accid bath and regalvanising. He outlayed about $1,000 less than I did but wished he had gone with the new trailer option. If you add his own labour cost/time etc it would far accede what it cost me.
Live to fish
holth
Posts: 812
Date Joined: 09/10/06
Yep can be an expensive
Yep can be an expensive exercise. If your trailers got any signs of rust it may not be worth the $5k plus outlay.
You can get a 3500kg rated lbeam galv trailer from tezzas trailers for $12k.
ranmar850
Posts: 2702
Date Joined: 12/08/12
Your story is a common one
Dealers are very negligent, IMO, in selling under-rated trailers. We aid them by wanting the cheapest price, and that is one place where they can cut the price quite a bit. Who was it on here, some years ago, before this really became talked about? Bought a new Bar crusher from the Perth dealer, BMT package. Put it across the weighbridge, was well over. Only way he could make it legal, IIRC, was to have no fishing gear or ice on board, and only a small amount of fuel. Confronted them, they laughed it off by telling him not to fill it right up. It's pointless going off what the manufacturer tells you the "hull weight" is, so many ways of measuring that, then people underestimate the weight of everything else that goes in.
I bought a second-hand boat on a trailer, in excellent condition, that was obviously well under-rated. As the trailer was immaculate, I consulted the builder---they sold me the gear to do the upgrade, and issued a new VIN plate on that basis. Went from 1200kg to 1800kg GTM, but it cost me about $4k to do it. It worked out about the same as a new replacement.
streaker boy
Posts: 527
Date Joined: 23/05/09
About 4k to do it my brother
About 4k to do it my brother did it on his with a dunbier trailer with the commodore 6.7 allrounder