Hey guys, before you flame, I did a search, just didn't quite find what I was looking for. I have a 2005 Outlaw 23 on a 2005 Dorsey steel trailer with 2 3500 lb axles. I'm guessing that I'm at the limit of the axles, as I have actually bent them in the past. They are 2x3 steel beams with spindles welded on. I have debated getting regular axles in the past, but that's another topic. The question is upgrading the brakes. We trailer the boat everywhere, and it currently has surge brakes with drums on both axles. I know in a perfect world that the drums are fine, but this isn't a perfect world. I have fought these drums for the last time and want to upgrade to something better. I was wondering what kind of options there are and what I need to stay away from. I did see an electric reverse lock out and that sounds terrific as I back the boat up a small hill into the shop and have to get out and lock the tongue with the lever, and jam a screw driver in it or it won't stay down. So what do yall recommend?

Buy a Kodiak disc brake kit from etrailer.com.
I bought direct from Kodiak many years ago when kicking drums off my trailer, and going to tandem axle disc.
You can buy lines, solenoid, and other parts from Championtrailers.com

I documented this upgrade here in a thread, on my tandem trailer several years ago.

If you are investing that kind of money in the trailer, I would go ahead and upgrade to Electric over Hydraulic (EoH) as well.
What are you towing with?

Also, you should be close, but under the max capacity for those axles and that trailer.

Sincerely,
OffTrailerBrakesOnly.com

Put disc on my rinker trailer years ago and really like it, actually like full electric brakes (fresh water only) on my cruiser tri-axle trailer better. Make sure to have either the disc brake master cylinder or punch a hole on the check vale in your current master cylinder. Installed a electric solenoid shut off valve on the disc brakes which I can active from the cab, for backing up. Other then that as Sydways mentioned get EoH

Found my old thread from 12 years ago, back when I was still wet behind the ears.

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/g...sc-brakes.html

Electric over Hydraulic... I think I understand this theory. If it's what I think it is, itd be better than a noisy hitch at a stoplight. Looks like I have some homework. Do I need all Stainless? I'm in freshwater only and the boat/trailer stays inside except when we're in the water. Could I go full electric or is that asking for trouble? Sorry for asking questions that I haven't had time to search for myself.

As far as truck, I have a 2500HD Chevy with a big block . I do have a brake box if that's what you were asking about, however I have towed junk my whole life, most of the time without brakes. You used the term wet behind the ears, well, that's me in the boat world. This is my wife's boat. The only boat I owned prior to this one was a fishing boat, so this is all new to me.

Thanks for the replies, I gave the first page of your thread a read, but don't have time to go further at the moment.

All Dodge, where in KY are you?

IMHO, you don't need SS, but it's a solid investment. If you boated in 100% salt, yes; go stainless. Dacromet (used to be Nickel Cadmium) is fine.

And you are right about EoH being much better than surge brakes. Thousands of posts on that topic here on OSO.

Some folks do run and like full electric brakes on boat trailers. I don't have any direct comparison, but a few have posted about it.
EoH is and would be my choice. I feel as though they are more variable than straight electric.

EoH branded Tutorial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zlg5qN2UCg

For fresh water I don't see any issue with full electric brakes. As before I have a 3 axle trailer for my cruiser and have all axles with electric. There stop much better then the surge that use to be on it.

Never had EoH but from what I've heard they are even better

I'm in Cumberland County KY

All Dodge, I've been in your neck of the woods a few times over the years racing fourwheelers.

Back on topic, I have found the disc conversion that I'm going to buy on etrailer, but now I have to figure out what to do with my hitch. I have a goofy hitch, so welding it solid isn't really an option. I guess I will plan to cut it off, and add a normal hitch. Before I do though, do you think I could get by with my surge coupler/master cyl til winter? The EoH definitely looks like the way to go, but my concern is getting everything working by the 4th. I'm confident I can throw the brakes on in a couple of hours, but I'm not sure I could find the time this week to get everything else done. As it is, yesterday was the last trip the boat will be making on those brakes. I'm done with the frustrations and I'm not spending anymore money on them.

By the way, I already have a P3 in my truck (which I LOVE) so there's one step I wouldn't have to do.

Some folks have drilled a couple holes all the way through the whole surge brake coupler. Put a couple 5/8" bolts through it, and you should be fine.

I just welded my surge section of the hitch solid