can hand brake be used with electric brakes?

[lx450landcruiser]

would this mean power would have to be applied at all times? I installed electric brakes on my m101 but miss the hand brake from the drums is there anything i can do about this?

[John E Davies]

Dexter used to make a 10 inch e-brake with a shaft and cam for a manual parking brake arm. I don't know if it's still available, or if it's in your size. If you have Dexter brakes now, you would have to replace your backing plate assembly, but could probably reuse most your other parts if they are in good shape.

Cost effective? Not very - I would have bought that version from the start if I wanted a P brake.

A really short term solution is to install a breakaway kit and just pull the pin when you park. Depending on battery size, you might get 15-30 minutes on the system before the battery went flat and the trailer rolled off the cliff.

I just carry my two sets of plastic chocks on the truck floor where I can ram them under the tires ASAP if I need to.

EDIT: I went here:

Dexter Axle - Trailer Axles and Running Gear Components - PRODUCTS & LITERATURE

and it appears that they still offer a P brake kit in 7.5 inch and 10 inch. I didn't look further for different sizes. All you need to do is download the Complete Catalog and browse away. How much do you want to spend? It might be cheaper to buy the complete kit and just keep your existing Dexter brakes for spare parts. It would never hurt to have a spare magnet on the trail at the very least. If your existing brakes are a different brand, they could be sold on eBay if in decent shape.

John Davies
Spokane WA

[lx450landcruiser]

shoot talk about a day late and a dollar short I just replaces by brakes with dexter 10 electric brakes, havent even hooked them up yet, sheesh had i known id have just bought those instead.

[John E Davies]

Originally Posted by lx450landcruiser

shoot talk about a day late and a dollar short I just replaces by brakes with dexter 10 electric brakes, havent even hooked them up yet, sheesh had i known id have just bought those instead.

Great! Just order the P brake version, remove the others and take 'em back. The retailer should accept them since they haven't been used, especially if you buy the more expensive P brake version from him as an "exchange".

The P brakes will most likely NOT be in stock since they are uncommon... unless the seller is a huge trailer supply place, then they might be. Maybe.

My trailer has 10 inch Dexter brakes. They are starting to get tired, and when they are shot, they will get replaced with the P brake kind.

John Davies
Spokane WA

[Living in the Past]

Originally Posted by lx450landcruiser

would this mean power would have to be applied at all times? I installed electric brakes on my m101 but miss the hand brake from the drums is there anything i can do about this?

I have a question for you, is your trailer a US M101 3/4 ton or a Canada M101 1/4 ton. I own bougth a US M101 and a M416. While I don't see the need for brakes in my M416 I won't mind them in my M101. So if the brakes are for a US M101 could you post the part number for the E brakes with the hand brake if you go that way.

Thanks, John

[John E Davies]

Originally Posted by Living in the Past

So if the brakes are for a US M101 could you post the part number for the E brakes with the hand brake if you go that way.

I don't own a military trailer, so I can't say exactly what fits... It "appears" that you can't buy a complete pre-assembled Dexter conversion kit with the P brakes. You have to buy separate parts (brakes, drums, bearings, seals)

The 10 x 2.25 inch electric P Brakes are:

LH assembly: K23-086-00
RH assembly: K23-087-00

See page 5 of the "Trailer Brakes and Service Parts/ Complete Catalog" for pics:
Dexter Axle - Trailer Axles and Running Gear Components - PRODUCTS & LITERATURE

Any GOOD trailer supplier should be able to fix you up, as long as you know your spindle bearing dimensions and wheel bolt pattern. The RV supply will be clueless. Around the Pacific Northwest (including parts of CA and AK), I would visit a local Six Robblees store FIRST. There's also another hell of a great trailer supply in Seattle but i can't recall the name....

SixRobblees

Again, I have never converted a military trailer! I'm just passing along what I know of available Dexter stuff. I'm not sure how it bolts up..... I'm sure lx450landcruiser can add some useful info.

John Davies
Spokane WA

[boctor12]

lx450landcruiser,

Can you provide some info and pics of the conversion to electric brakes for your trailer.

[lx450landcruiser]

Originally Posted by boctor12

lx450landcruiser,

Can you provide some info and pics of the conversion to electric brakes for your trailer.

no problem ill add it to my build thread soon. My trailer is a Can m101. its not bad to not have the parking break but i do miss it. camping on top of it in some awkward places it would be nice to have it. i bought mt brakes from an online place so i doubt ill be able to return them. I may just buy the conversion parts and do it that way. but its going to get the back burner for a bit sice i have a million other projects in line first

[OlympiaFJ60]

Glad I found this. Just ordered my trailer axle from ABC Trailer Parts. I will have to see if uses Dexter brake assemblies. Looks like if you already had the electric brakes installed, you would be able to upgrade with the new backing plate assembly.

21 036-019-07 1 LH Backing Plate Assembly (includes items #12, 22-28)
21 036-019-08 1 RH Backing Plate Assembly (includes items #12, 22-28)

I will give SixRobblees a call for prices

[OlympiaFJ60]

SixRobblees prices

New complete brake kit (less drum/hub):
LH assembly: K23-086-00 $135.99 in stock at Tukwilla, WA
RH assembly: K23-087-00 $135.99 in stock at Tukwilla, WA


Parts to convert an existing e-brake to include parking brake:
21 036-019-07 1 LH Backing Plate Assembly (includes items #12, 22-28) $69.69 plus shipping from factory
21 036-019-08 1 RH Backing Plate Assembly (includes items #12, 22-28) $69.69 plus shipping from factory

May be able to get online for less.

[lx450landcruiser]

Originally Posted by OlympiaFJ60

SixRobblees prices

New complete brake kit (less drum/hub):
LH assembly: K23-086-00 $135.99 in stock at Tukwilla, WA
RH assembly: K23-087-00 $135.99 in stock at Tukwilla, WA


Parts to convert an existing e-brake to include parking brake:
21 036-019-07 1 LH Backing Plate Assembly (includes items #12, 22-28) $69.69 plus shipping from factory
21 036-019-08 1 RH Backing Plate Assembly (includes items #12, 22-28) $69.69 plus shipping from factory

May be able to get online for less.

yikes i guess it would be worth it if you were buying them new to just get the parking break but i dont think ifs worth if for me to drop another $140 for the parking brake just yet.

[John E Davies]

Originally Posted by OlympiaFJ60

Glad I found this. Just ordered my trailer axle from ABC Trailer Parts. I will have to see if uses Dexter brake assemblies.

Dexter is by far the most common trailer brake in the USA. Ask them if they can substitute the P brakes for an additional fee before they ship the axle. I bet it wouldn't cost much to swap out, unless the axle is already built up with the brakes pre-installed. Then you would have a small labor charge, say, half an hour...

Otherwise, buy the complete P brakes, swap them yourself, and sell the standard brakes on eBay for 75% MSRP.

How did the prices you quoted compare to the non P brake cost? I wouldn't expect too much difference.

John Davies
Spokane WA

[OlympiaFJ60]

Well, on this site the regular assemblies are 47.66 each POTTER WEBSTER. Didn't think to ask SixRobblees. I have an email in to see what the parking brake assemblies are.