Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 01-19-2017, 08:36 PM   #1
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 53
Electric to hydraulic brake conversion

Hello forum folk. I'm seriously thinking about converting the electric brakes on my Wildwood 28RKSS (2017) from electric factory puny brakes to something that actually stops mo better. I've played with the settings on the Tekonsha P3 and I'm at about a 6.3 - Dont get me wrong, it's not bad, but I live in the Raleigh, NC area and we just love that Blue Ridge. Really good brakes are a must have. Does anyone have any experience with disc brakes vs electric? Has anyone done the conversion? (I must be really bored this winter!!)
Sawtooth is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-19-2017, 09:12 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
BessieHunter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: In the 5th wheel!
Posts: 145
Have not done a actual conversion but did buy a 5er with disk brakes after owning three other trailers with electric brakes and will not go back to electric again. Absolutely love the disk brakes.
BessieHunter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-19-2017, 09:39 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
dieselguy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Kansas
Posts: 1,272
I'm just waiting on warmer weather this Spring to swap over to disk brakes on my Silverback. I've bought all the components from 4 different sources to the tune of around $1300 for 6K axles with 6 lug wheels. It will be a few hundred more for 7K axles and or 8 lug wheels. I've done the swap before taking about 1/2 day for the install and another hour to bleed and tune the controller the following morning. The more difficult part is running the lines and making a mount (if needed) for the power unit ... the rest is very straight forward.
dieselguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-19-2017, 09:58 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
W5CI's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Carlisle, Arkansas
Posts: 1,387
From what I have heard there is no comparison in the braking. I am having it put on my CC when it warms up some. Performance Trailer will come to you for install
__________________
2005 Cedar Creek 30RLBS/TrailAir Hitch/ MORryde 7K IS/Disc Brakes/ PI PT-50 EMS/ RV Flex Armor Roof
2015 RAM 3500 DRW 6.7 Cummins 3.42/ Garmin 760RV
40 Gal TransferFlow fuel tank/ TST 507
Amateur Radio W5CI 2019 Days Camping 25
2020 Days Camping 7
W5CI is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-20-2017, 02:28 AM   #5
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 53
Hey diesel guy, where did you get the parts? Did you use the GAWR to determine the right units to buy. I'm a little apprehensive about getting the right parts. Not at all shy about doing the work. I may even get to buy some more tools - always a good thing!
Sawtooth is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-20-2017, 01:02 PM   #6
Junior Member
 
bscottroberts's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 12
My heavy fifthwheel had electric drum brakes and they were horrible. With my brake controller on full, it did not stop like it should. I upgraded to disc and electric over hydraulic. (Did the work myself- not hard.) Night and Day difference!!! I now run my brake controller at around 40% and it stops on a dime. I am very happy with the results. If you have a heavy trailer, then disc with hydraulic is the way to go.
It cost me right under $1500 to do this on 7K axles.
__________________
2006 34FK Work and Play
2016 Chevrolet 3500 Duramax DRW
bscottroberts is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-20-2017, 02:12 PM   #7
Don
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: North West Florida
Posts: 82
Elec to Hydraulic Disc Brake Conversion

I too would like to convert to disc brakes. Where do you get the parts to do this and how does the emergency brake work. When I had my previous truck with an add on brake controller my elec brakes worked very well and had to keep it set low so the brakes didn't lock up. On my new 2016 Ford F350 I have to run my controller at about 80% to get sufficient braking. Don't know what the difference is.
Sandy12345 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-20-2017, 02:27 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
BandJCarm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Between Pickles Gap and Toad Suck, AR
Posts: 6,070
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sandy12345 View Post
I too would like to convert to disc brakes. Where do you get the parts to do this and how does the emergency brake work. When I had my previous truck with an add on brake controller my elec brakes worked very well and had to keep it set low so the brakes didn't lock up. On my new 2016 Ford F350 I have to run my controller at about 80% to get sufficient braking. Don't know what the difference is.
Performance Trailer Braking Titan Hydraulic Disc Brake Conversion Kits and Installation

https://www.etrailer.com/question-136671.html

https://www.lci1.com/assets/content/...-brake-web.pdf
__________________
"Next to prayer, fishing is the most personal relationship of man" Herbert Hoover
"American by Birth, Southern by the Grace of God"Lewis Grizzard

FROG AR-0019-242
2016 GMC Denali 3500Dually--2017 CC 36CKTS
BandJCarm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-20-2017, 04:58 PM   #9
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 53
Thanks for the links and the good words everyone. I've done some more reading on various websites. My TT is about 7000# loaded up and I'm towing with the Ram 1500 Crew Cab 5.7L. It seems that the only difficult part is the wiring and getting the wires on the 7 pin identified correctly. Dont know if there is standard color coding or if you need to trace them. Anyone have any experience with the wiring of the Hydraulic actuator for the brakes?
Sawtooth is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-20-2017, 05:13 PM   #10
2007 WildCat 32QBBS
 
18CrewDually's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: NJ
Posts: 2,349
Blue "usually" represents electric brake.
I'd pull the plug apart and see what color is used. Then remove the cover of the junction box that the pigtail is going into and see what color is mated to it.
Here's the diagram of the terminals on the plug.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	1484950434702.jpg
Views:	169
Size:	55.1 KB
ID:	128354  
__________________
*Current: 2005 Ford F350 Crew Cab Dually 6.0 diesel 4x4*
*Retired: 1987 F350 Crew Cab Dually 6.9 turbo diesel
2007 Forest River WildCat 32QBBS
18CrewDually is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
electric, hydraulic

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:40 AM.