Trailer Brake Actuator Kits

[megafish71]

Hi guys, need some advise on which trailer brake actuator kit to put on my new trailer. So far I have looked at the Hydrastar (Mackay and Dunbier are both using) . The Acti-Brake unit and the Sensa Brake system. Going buy the pricing of these, the sensa brake is the most expensive of the lot, and the car controller is very expensive, as I need two controllers one for each vehicle that will be used for towing, this is something that needs to be considered. Just after some opinions on all of these systems.

Thanks Ron

[mirage]

From what I've read the Sensa Brake units are the go for salt water enviroment, far less trouble maintenance wise down the track I believe.
If I was getting a new trailer that's probably what I'd get, if you can afford em!!

[Spaniard_King]

I just got a sensa break system with my new trailer.. great system so far cant complain. havent tried anything else:)

[Smithy]

Interesting reading here.

http://www.fishnwaves.com.au/waves/showthread.php?t=939&highlight=sensa

A mate with a 685 CC on a reasonably new Dunbier is having major problems with the one Dunbier fit, Dunbier in Vic and the US manufacturer. Dunbier are the bottleneck. The US people are fine to deal with. Can't remember which brand. Anyway when it gets a freshwater wash or just from rain the unit fills up with water which is a bad thing as you can imagine. What it needs is a drain hole in the bottom but my mate is not keen to touch as it was all still under warranty. I can chase up which one it was.

The bit I have had to do with a couple of Sensabrakes I would be looking at another alternative. Maybe the Carlisle? Dunno. Let us know what you find from your research.

[megafish71]

Thanks Smithy, Funny I had heard some terrible stories on the sensa brake units, and is interesting to here that about a hydrastar system. I thought they would have been the goods been made by Carlisle. Also have been looking at the BrakeRite system developed by Titan brakes, a freind of mine has been running one of these for 3years now with no problems. Funny these are the cheapest system around and from what I have been able to find out so far look like being the most reliable.

Mirage, I don't quite get what you mean by the best for saltwater, the actuator it self should never see the water, let alone be submerged. If you were thinking about disc rotors and calipers, I have that alsorted with bronzed discs and SS calipers.

Any more info would be great.

Cheers Ron

[Chimo]

Hi Ron

I have well and truely been thru the trailer brake saga and will share my thoughts for what their worth. I bought a second hand setup inc the trailer.

I have a Tinka under a Vag and needed elec over hydraulic brakes.

Spoke to a large no of people re the upgrade as the trailer was supplied with a hydraulic unit suitable for under 2 tonne weight.

The other unit that you mentioned apparently was having an about 50% return rate and they do need a specific expensive controller too. They may have got better but I decided that I was not going looking for trouble hence went old tech.

The advice was to go with the Calisle Hydrastar HBA 12 because it is an older style unit and the bugs are said to have been sorted out. I have found this to be the case and the unit works well.

You can back without having to do anything and as long as you don't leave your foot on the brake at train tracks or lights all is good. Obviously it stops the trailer and you can dial up how much force you want on the controller and the dim vs bright light that changes colour makes it easy to set up and adjust as you want.

You need to use the correct contoller with 5 amps output and there are a no. of these and they are cheap and easy to fit I got a tekonsha Voyager and its fine
see link
http://www.carlislebrake.com/products/trailer/hba_controllers.php

Have the controller fitted by an auto elec who knows what he's doing. The guys who fit caravan brakes will probably get it wrong with a boat trailer. You also need to have a power line feed to the Hydrastar separate from the brake light. You also need the correct guage wire to ensure it works properly and an in line auto fusable link (auto resetting breaker or whatever they are called) up near the trucks battery.

Also as you will or have already seen in the brake threads salt water and brakes don't seem to mix. I have yet to work over my 4 wheel brakes with ss bits as per Kerry but in the mean time as the brakes repair warranty is pretty well stuffed the first time the trailer brakes take a swim I don't swim the trailer and use the 912 winch to retrieve the boat. I figure as I am often solo I'll spend a few more minutes getting the boat on the trailer and continue to have working brakes which is kind of good driving thru Surfers Paradise.

If you want any more info inc contact names PM me

Cheers
Chimo



have

[Chimo]

Hi again Ron

Just read that reckon you have the brake thing sorted with bronze disc and ss calipers. I'll be interested to hear how things are is a year or sooner. Have a look at the kerry mods in one of the brake threads. What he has done makes sense and seems to be working too.

Cheers (again)
Chimo

[Alchemy]

Ron,

I've read the stories on this site re the sens a brake unit, but couldn't be happier with mine. I've been using this since Dec 2004 without a problem. I didn't go to the expense of the bronze / SS set up you have, but I'm sure it is well worth the money. I give my disks and calipers a good spray of Inox, and this seems to help preserve them. FYI - the trailer gets dunked every time.

Dave.

[TOPAZ]

I will also add my recommendation for the Sens-a-Brake unit - mine's now four years old and very efficient. They need to be set up properly with respect to maximum and minimum brake pedal pressure - following the manufacturer's procedure very carefully (can be downloaded from their website)
As far as I know, Sens-a-brake is the ONLY unit which actually measures how much pressure you apply to the brake pedal in the tow vehicle (it has a pressure-sensitive pad affixed to the pedal), which is more effective in applying the desired amount of trailer brakes than the pendulum types used by other systems, which are really a glorified version of override brakes in the way they apply graduated trailer brake pressure.

As with all electric brake systems, maintenance is very important, especially as the wheel assemblies are often submerged in sea water!

Richard

[megafish71]

Thanks guys, great to see some constructive replies.
Titan brakes have another brake controller that uses decelerometer chip technology and not a pendulum to control the braking pressure. Im not sure how it works but my dad has upgraded to this controller for his caravan and reckons its chalk and cheese to the older pendulum controller he had previously. Now don't get me wrong, Im not against using a sensabrake system, just cant see the value for the extra $1k for the actuator and the extra $600 for 2 controllers, that an extra $1600 that can be spent elsewhere on my new boat. But if there is something that makes the sensa worth the extra coins then I would certainly consider it.

Cheers and thanks
Ron

[walruss]

Try having a look at the latest Tekonsha "prodigy" controller. Has self sensing etc

http://www.caravansplus.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=153

Cheapest price I have found and the latest technology or brake controllers


Russ

[Chimo]

Ron

The Prodigy is not compatable with the Carlisle Hydrastar HB brakes setup if you go that way.

Check out the the compatibility link in post #6

Cheers
Chimo

[megafish71]

Ron

The Prodigy is not compatable with the Carlisle Hydrastar HB brakes setup if you go that way.

Check out the the compatibility link in post #6

Cheers
Chimo

Spoke to the Australian agent for Carlisle yesterday. The latest model Hydostar Gen7 is compatable with the Prodigy controler, he also gave me a very good run down on the whole system and emailed me some tech data on the product.
I think this will be the way I will go for my trailer.

Thanks for the advise

Ron