Our 12 yr old KZ Spree has never had new brakes, when we bought used 2 yrs ago, it still had the original tires as it had very rarely been towed anywhere!We have since towed it well over 20,000 km mostly on the east coast which i would describe as hilly but not mountainous.Braking performance is fair even with the brake controller on full.So we decided to replace the braking system with 4 new brake assemblies at our dealers suggest.Etrailer has 2 brands, there own private lable and dexter originals. etrailer brakes are $100/ pair and dexters are $25 more per pair. canadian dealer prices are double that!my tendency is toward the dexter originals, but anybody know the difference?we also want to install a powered aframe jack. suggestions as to weight capacity? right now we have the original handcrank 2000# capacity and its time for a new something, effort required is getting higher and higher(or im just getting old!). tongue weight is around 1000 lbs plus we lift the truck to install our weight bars. so im considering a 3000 lb jack

I would contact E-trailer, ask them the difference. I'm sure they don't manufacture their brand assemblies, and should tell you who does. It could be Dexter/Lippert. The pads themselves may be different, and if that is the case, I'd get the better ones. A 3K jack sounds like a good fit, may as well have the extra lift capability, with added durability.Jerry

When I replaced my brakes, I went with the Dexter brakes with automatic adjustment. Well worth he money.As far as the tongue jack, I went with the Atwood 4K lb power jack.

Did you try adjusting your brakes first? Most trailer brakes are not self adjusting. Buy the cheaper set, they are most likely the same components and manufacturers.

I would get the Dexter brakes. It is only an extra $100 and you can get parts for them. As far as the tongue jack, the price difference will probably less than $50 for a heavy lift jack. A heavy lift does not have to work hard to lift your TT and will last longer. I had to adjust my brakes during our trip this summer. We only had about 1000 miles on the TT when we left. I adjusted just before leaving but decided to check them about 3000 miles into the trip. I had to do a substantial adjustment. I know that the brakes would be considered new when we left but the adjustment made a huge difference. The guy in the next campsite could not believe that I adjusted the brakes in under 15 minutes parked on my site.

i have adjusted them, in the spring and half way through the 8000km tripsi will also check the current flow to give an indication of the wiring condition. unfortunately my meter only reads up to 15 amps, four 10 inch brakes should draw around 20

New Brakes Requires | Good Sam Community

25 Replies

stevemorris
Explorer
Oct 20, 2019
i have adjusted them, in the spring and half way through the 8000km trips
i will also check the current flow to give an indication of the wiring condition. unfortunately my meter only reads up to 15 amps, four 10 inch brakes should draw around 20
BarabooBob
Explorer III
Oct 20, 2019
I would get the Dexter brakes. It is only an extra $100 and you can get parts for them. As far as the tongue jack, the price difference will probably less than $50 for a heavy lift jack. A heavy lift does not have to work hard to lift your TT and will last longer.
I had to adjust my brakes during our trip this summer. We only had about 1000 miles on the TT when we left. I adjusted just before leaving but decided to check them about 3000 miles into the trip. I had to do a substantial adjustment. I know that the brakes would be considered new when we left but the adjustment made a huge difference. The guy in the next campsite could not believe that I adjusted the brakes in under 15 minutes parked on my site.
eHoefler
Explorer II
Oct 20, 2019
Did you try adjusting your brakes first? Most trailer brakes are not self adjusting.

Buy the cheaper set, they are most likely the same components and manufacturers.
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Oct 20, 2019
When I replaced my brakes, I went with the Dexter brakes with automatic adjustment. Well worth he money.
As far as the tongue jack, I went with the Atwood 4K lb power jack.
MFL
Nomad II
Oct 20, 2019
I would contact E-trailer, ask them the difference. I'm sure they don't manufacture their brand assemblies, and should tell you who does. It could be Dexter/Lippert. The pads themselves may be different, and if that is the case, I'd get the better ones. A 3K jack sounds like a good fit, may as well have the extra lift capability, with added durability.

Jerry

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New Brakes Requires

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