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Installing brakes on a homemade trailer

davbell22602

Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2009
Messages
22
Location
winchester, va
I need some help on installing brakes on a 3 axle homemade trailer that looks to used to a mobile home frame. Its 26ft x 8ft trailer.

Which axle do the brakes go on? Front, Middle, or Rear? Any write ups on doing this?

3axletrailer1.jpg


3axletrailer2.jpg


3axletrailer3.jpg
 
Last edited:

bill5362

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 29, 2007
Messages
353
Location
Indiana
Occupation
I own a excavation company and a rolloff container
Brakes belong on all three axles. They should just bolt on and wire in.

I agree three, you have to be able to stop the capacity of the trailer...
 

sawmilleng

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 9, 2009
Messages
219
Location
Central Kootenays, Canada
I think your state will have specific rules on how many brakes you need on a trailer of various weight capacities. I'm in BC, Canada and they want brakes on all the axles. They also have specific rules about "homemade" trailers (need inspection before licensing) and have hissey fits about trailers using old mobile home axles. (like putting them off the road) I think some of the older mobile home axles (and brakes) were built very Mickey Mouse because the manufacturer reasoned that the axles would only see a few thousand miles at most.

Your state probably has similiar rules.

Whats the cute little cat in the photo?

Jon.
 

stumpjumper83

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2007
Messages
1,974
Location
Port Allegany, pa
Occupation
Movin dirt
Well if you don't have the flanges on the axles to bolt the backing plates to, it will probably be easier and maybe cheaper to just buy new axles with brakes attached. And if they are old mobile home axles, then you will prolly need tires too as mobile home tires are stamped "for mobile home use only" and are limited to three moves or 600 miles I believe. And a proper inspection mechanic or dot super trooper will not like them very much.
 

willie59

Administrator
Joined
Dec 21, 2008
Messages
13,363
Location
Knoxville TN
Occupation
Service Manager
I agree stumpjumper. If that trailer is built solid, I'd prefer having some Dexter axles under it. :yup
 

ke6gwf

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2010
Messages
81
Location
Napa Valley CA
Looking at the pics, I would dump those axles. If for no other reason than to get rid of those stupid wheels! They do look like light duty MH axles.

The axles look way too far to the rear in any case, might make weight distribution difficult. It looks like a nice trailer (except for the visual hernia I have from those ramps), so I think it would be worth some decent axles with E-brakes already installed, decent dual wheels and lo-pro tires.
 

fast_st

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2010
Messages
1,468
Location
Mass
Occupation
IT systems admin
Mobile home axles are indeed designed for limited use (according to Dexter Axle) I have rehabbed a few and added electric brakes, flame cut a piece of 1/4 inch steel to slip over the axle (you can buy plates pre-made now) find the right backing plates to fit the drum, pre-loaded with everything were $75 each sized by shoe width and diameter. taped a penny to 4 spots inside the drum after adjusting the bearings (for spacing), put backing plate in drum and use the axle plate, bolted to the backing plate to spot where the plate gets welded to the axle. Tack weld, remove drum, sand off rust from drum faces, finish weld and wire it up. Worked really well.
 
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