This is the Dexter axle price I was quoted

[Kevin K]

I just talked to a Dexter Axle dealer here in MPLS,MN about buying a #9 Dexter Torflex Axle (1000-2200 LBS) NO HUBS or BRAKES included for $172.50 tax included, but I pickup, at the dealer. Does this price sound about right? Axle is going in a 13' Scamp.

[Greg A]

Did you get a price with brakes?

[Kevin K]

NO
I've had 5 different tent trailers in the last 10 years, that were heaver than this 13' Scamp trailer, and they didn't have brakes, I never had a problem stopping. I know every one will say I should get brakes.

[Roger H]

Kevin, obviously you can do what you want, but just about all of us here would recommend that you buy an axle with brakes for a couple of reasons. First, everyone who has replaced their axle with an axle with brakes has only commented that they'd wished they'd done it sooner. And secondly, when you go to sell this Scamp, while whether or not it has brakes is seldom a deal killer, it certainly makes your trailer more attractive to a prospective buyer than a similar trailer without brakes.

Adding brakes to a #9 axle when you have it built adds less than $100 to the price of the axle, certainly worth the investment. At the very least, make sure it has brake flanges so brakes can be added later if you want.

Back to your original question, $172 for a #9 axle without brakes is about right. Make sure you have it rubbered for 2200 lbs. For comparison, about three years ago I paid a little less than $350 for a #10 axle with 10" brakes and e-z lube spindles rubbered at 3500 lbs.

Roger

[Donna D.]

I'd get brakes on the axle for your 13' for two main reasons, it's easier on the tugs brakes and it's far cheaper to replace trailer brakes than most tug brakes.

Notice, I not once mentioned stopping.... to me it's a case of good economics.

[Greg A]

I'd at a minimum get the brake flanges so the next owner has the option of adding brakes if they want. As Roger says it will help with resale. It was a big factor when I purchased mine that it had brakes even though it was a 13.

[Kevin K]

Whats better or the easiest to set up-----electric brakes or hyd brakes

[Roger H]

'lectrics by far.

Roger

[CD Smith]

Get the brakes. It will save a bunch on TV brake repair.

I have towed our Casita over 17,000 miles with the Escalade on the original brakes that now have over 53,000 miles.

[Darwin Maring]

A good source to use to compare pricing is:
www.northerntools.com

Will not be Dexter however what they do have is an excellent substitute, brakes, hubs, etc that will fit on a Dexter and are usually less expensive.

I purchased the new brake assembly and hubs and they looked just as good as the original equipment that was on the Scamp.

Definitely less expensive than purchasing magnets, shoes, etc separately.

[Pete Dumbleton]

I strongly recommend you get the brakes. Even if you never hook them up, they will likely more than pay for themselves on resale.

Also, keep in mind that no matter how good the brakes are on your four-wheeled TV, the braking is even better when there are six of them.

[Byron Kinnaman]

I strongly recommend you get the brakes. Even if you never hook them up, they will likely more than pay for themselves on resale.

Also, keep in mind that no matter how good the brakes are on your four-wheeled TV, the braking is even better when there are six of them.

Boy oh boy do I agree with this. Just today suddenly in front of me everybody stopped. We were on a two lane highway going about 55 mph when this happened. Hard braking and ABS activating I stopped about 5' from the car in front of me. Did trailer brakes make a 5' difference? I don't know, but all they had to do was make a 5' difference in stopping distance.

[Gina D.]

count me in as a "I don't know how I lucked out without them"

I have a had couple experiences such as Byrons and I know that without them, the situation would have been ugly.

Get the brakes.