Disc brakes

[Wanderer26]

Does anybody have experience with aftermarket disc brakes on there fifth wheel ? What seems to be the biggest difference between disc brakes and the drum brakes? How much better is the braking power with disc brakes especially with mountain driving? I appreciate any responce to these questions. I’ve towed a number of travel trailers in the past but this is my first fiver.

[neal10a]

I would shy away from NevRLube. They are great until they fail. If they fail on the road you are essentially screwed because they can not be easily repaired on the road side like regular bearings that fail. I don't mind packing bearings at recommended intervals just to have a better experience in case of failure. Also do not grease regular bearings via the EasyLube method and repack the ol'fashion way-

[laknox]

Out of curiosity, can a conversion be done on NevRLube axles?

Lyle

[justme]

I think the drum brakes are too small for the load. A 7000lb axel has 12X2 brake shoes for a 16000 gvw trailer. They should be 12X3 or better to provide adequate brake power. If that were the case drum would perform well until over-heated which translates to fade or become wet. I would be much cheaper to install 12X3 drum brakes and drums than disk brakes if one can manage to avoid fade and water. the 8000 lb axels have the larger drum brakes and upgrade to 8000 lb axels would be a good option as well for 15000+ gvw trailers.

[RollandB]

Have had Titan Disc Brakes for the past year. The biggest improvement having had two seals fail on the Dexter Drum Brakes is I have no worries about hidden greased drum brakes. On the rotors I can see the seals anytime I’m under the trailer.

On the brake performance, as others have noted, they stop in less distance. The easiest place I see this is when doing the Pull Test. On the drum brakes it would move some when applying trailer brakes manually, with disc, it doesn’t move an inch.

I have disc brakes on the truck and wouldn’t go back to drums, won’t on the trailer as well!

[WeBeFulltimers]

On our previous 2012 Montana I installed Kodiak disc brakes myself buying the parts from trailer.com. Total cost in early 2017 was $1550.00 and included replacing all bearings with Timkens made in USA, Money was WELL spent and no special tools/skills were required. A friend had the same done by MorRyde and cost him $3500.00. Will probably do our current 2018 Montana soon the same way.

[Wanderer26]

Thanks to all that answered. I knew you folks would help. I will be checking out PERDORMANCE TRAILER BRAKING. Again thanks a million

[2naEagle]

Wanderer26 wrote:
Does anybody have experience with aftermarket disc brakes on there fifth wheel ? What seems to be the biggest difference between disc brakes and the drum brakes? How much better is the braking power with disc brakes especially with mountain driving? I appreciate any responce to these questions. I’ve towed a number of travel trailers in the past but this is my first fiver.

I had Performance Trailer Braking do my trailer. They will come to you and install them. Absolutely love the disc brakes.

[Wood_chip]

Wanderer26 wrote:
Does anybody have experience with aftermarket disc brakes on there fifth wheel ? What seems to be the biggest difference between disc brakes and the drum brakes? How much better is the braking power with disc brakes especially with mountain driving? I appreciate any responce to these questions. I’ve towed a number of travel trailers in the past but this is my first fiver.

I posted last week regarding disc brakes. Try the search for more info

[time2roll]

Consistency of braking force is far better both overall and between the wheels. Always questioned how well the drums would do on a panic stop. Have seemed sluggish and have had lock-up. No such worry with disks as the controller is set just less than lock-up and is repeatable every time.

I had experienced some fade coming out of Death Valley with my drums. No fade with the disks and I rode them harder.

If you have ever driven an old car from the '60s with four wheel drums you know how much better disk is.

[Housted]

After market disk brakes here. I installed myself to get the lines perfect.
There is NO comparison. Had to reduce the gain on my IBC.
If I want to I can lock up all 4 wheels!!
Stops as good or better than the truck solo.
I will never be without them again.

Housted

[Second_Chance]

Have "after-market" disk brakes on our 14K fifth wheel. It stops in less than 1/2 the distance it did with the drum brakes. No contest.

Rob

[packnrat]

never here. but if they work even half as good as the "factory" instaled do, can only be a great improvment over drum..

when i buy my montana, the first $$ thing will be disk brakes.
now if air can be done i would go that rt. even do air bags to replace the hard leaf springs.
but then i am a class A driver so work with that now, so i do know how good they can be.