I believe that the trailer that I bought for my 28 Pantera had only ever been used as a yard trailer. It is a 1994 South Florida Trailers, triple axle aluminum job. Believe it or not, it has never had brakes on it. The trailer is rated for 10,500lbs, with each axle rated for 3500lbs each. The axles that it currently has do not have brake flanges. I was planning on going with electric over hydraulic (I think I read somewhere that surge brakes were going to be illegal before too long) disc brakes. I was wondering if I could replace the spindles with ones that had the brak flange on them already. I guess I need to pull a wheel off and see how mine are attached. Anybody have a So. Fl. trailer about that age that knows if they can be replaced?

If it's not possible, I will probably replace the 3-3500lb axles with 2-5200lb capacity axles that already have the brakes on them. Any downside to this? If I just decide to replace two of the 3500 axles with new 3500lb axles with disc brakes, shouldn't that be enough braking power for that size boat? If it matters, I tow with a Ram 2500 with the Cummins...

The flange is welded to the axle tube, not on the spindles. Or is this a torsion axle trailer?
2 axles with brakes should be plenty for your 28' boat. 3 axles seem overkill. My trailer is a tandem axle, disc brakes both axles, hauling a 32' boat no problem.

No, it's a regular axle. Some axles have replaceable spindles (not quite sure if mine does) that use something like this:
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...6376_200326376

Learn something new everyday.

any other opinions?

I think you can add brakes to your axles if they have the mounting plates like the one in the picture you posted. I would definitely use what you have if possible. Check out www.championtrailers.com they have alot of information about brakes on trailers (more than you'll want to know) and are a good source for all of it! Good luck! Steve

I get my add on brake parts from quality trailer prod. just add on brakes also I like the prodigy brake controler