Help me pleez! Newbie... - Fiberglass RV
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 Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 09-13-2007, 03:55 PM   #1
Junior Member
 
Trailer: Scamp 13 ft
Posts: 15
Unhappy

I just purchased a 1982 13' Scamp - cute as a bug. That is the great and wonderful news.

I own a 1991 Toyota Previa (max tow 3500#) and had a hitch mounted to tow my new prized possession.

So, thinking I am all well and good - am now realizing there is much more to this.

I'm all over getting a trans. cooler installed - so that is next - IF, and only IF this isn't going to break the bank ultimately with my Previa.

Do I need trailer brakes? If so, give me an idea of a cost and what kind to get. And, this era of trailer -- is there brakes on it?

And yes, I do plan on towing it in the mountains...Oregon Coast Range and the Cascades and Blues.

I am hoping to make SE Oregon in the next 2 weeks....

(bearings repacked, tires good, looks good, and I am loving looking at her, waxing her, thinking about adventures in her...)

Any Portlanders out there? If so, maybe we can hook up and y'all can give me some local pointers........
Janelle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-13-2007, 04:08 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Donna D.'s Avatar
 
Trailer: 1988 16 ft Scamp Deluxe
Posts: 25,697
Hi Janelle, welcome to FiberglassRV.... from a Portlandite! (Actually I live in Gresham). Trailer brakes are always a good idea. But your trailer doesn't require them. Just remember the trailer is behind you, when going down those mountains and you'll be fine. The thing I noticed that makes trailer brakes a really good economic idea, is the brakes on the tug are going to wear out sooner with out trailer brakes and they're more expensive to replace than trailer brakes.

Be sure to check out the Northern Oregon Gathering happening in about a month at Champoeg Park! We'd love to meet you, even if you can only come out for the day. Click here for more info: Northern Oregon Gathering, Fall Event

__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward - 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Double Yolk - 1988 16' Scamp Deluxe
Donna D. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-13-2007, 05:07 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Byron Kinnaman's Avatar
 
Trailer: Scamp
Posts: 7,056
Registry
Quote:
I just purchased a 1982 13' Scamp - cute as a bug. That is the great and wonderful news.

I own a 1991 Toyota Previa (max tow 3500#) and had a hitch mounted to tow my new prized possession.

So, thinking I am all well and good - am now realizing there is much more to this.

I'm all over getting a trans. cooler installed - so that is next - IF, and only IF this isn't going to break the bank ultimately with my Previa.

Do I need trailer brakes? If so, give me an idea of a cost and what kind to get. And, this era of trailer -- is there brakes on it?

And yes, I do plan on towing it in the mountains...Oregon Coast Range and the Cascades and Blues.

I am hoping to make SE Oregon in the next 2 weeks....

(bearings repacked, tires good, looks good, and I am loving looking at her, waxing her, thinking about adventures in her...)

Any Portlanders out there? If so, maybe we can hook up and y'all can give me some local pointers........

The weight of the 13' Scamp is well below your max tow rate. As for brakes you probably should check or have somebody check as to whether there are brakes installed on the Scamp. If there isn't any brakes, you're fine. If there are brakes installed on the Scamp Oregon law requires that they be operational, that is connected to brake controller and working. It's a funny little quirk in Oregon Law, you don't have to have brakes on the trailer but if you do have them you have to use them. Go figure.
__________________
Byron & Anne enjoying the everyday Saturday thing.
Byron Kinnaman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-13-2007, 05:23 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Brian B-P's Avatar
 
Trailer: Boler (B1700RGH) 1979
Posts: 5,002
Quote:
I just purchased a 1982 13' Scamp...

I own a 1991 Toyota Previa...

Do I need trailer brakes?
Quote:
You've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?'
I expect that the Previa owner's manual probably specifies that any trailer with a loaded weight over 1000 lb requires trailer brakes. Legally, they are not likely required; however, legally, you can operate all sorts of stupidly unsafe vehicle combinations. In this case, it's not as if a 1001 lb trailer will keep the Previa from stopping adequately for normal traffic conditions, but that doesn't mean it's good enough when you really need brakes.

It's possible that Toyota specifies a higher acceptable weight for trailers without brakes for the Previa than all their other similar models, in which case, maybe you don't need brakes.

Most 13' trailers do not have brakes. Many people tow them with vehicles smaller than the full-size pickup or SUV which actually doesn't need them to have brakes. Few people get killed doing this.
I would still add the trailer brakes; call me conservative.
__________________
1979 Boler B1700RGH, pulled by 2004 Toyota Sienna LE 2WD
Information is good. Lack of information is not so good, but misinformation is much worse. Check facts, and apply common sense liberally.
STATUS: No longer active in forum.
Brian B-P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-13-2007, 07:19 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Pete Dumbleton's Avatar
 
Trailer: Scamp
Posts: 3,072
Send a message via Yahoo to Pete Dumbleton
I'd add the brakes (I did on mine, even towing with a half-ton Dodge, and they made a looot of difference!).

You'd rather regret the expense of getting brakes than the possible expense of not getting brakes.

PS If you have the original axle, the rubber is 25 years old, so it may not be all that long before you may want to replace it. By far, the least expensive way to buy the brake hardware is to buy a new axle w/brakes!
Pete Dumbleton is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-13-2007, 10:25 PM   #6
Junior Member
 
Trailer: Scamp 13 ft
Posts: 15
Hi -
Thank you so much for all your help. Of course, it is a clear as mud. So, if I ADD brakes, do I add electric or the pulse or whatever you call it?

I want to be economical (cheap would be the term), yet safe.

Any other tips are always welcome. I'm a little worried about sway.....but think that her maiden voyage will tell the tale and I can always stop along the way if I need to add sway bar/s. Any advice o that?
Janelle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-14-2007, 05:20 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
Roger H's Avatar
 
Trailer: Y2K6 Bigfoot 25 ft (25B25RQ) & Y2K3 Scamp 16 ft Side Dinette
Posts: 5,040
Janelle, the brakes are electric, and will require a brake controller. The Prodigy is probably the most popular, and with good reason. You'll find that it is about the same or even less expensive to replace the axle with a new axle that already has brakes installed as it is to buy and mount brakes on an old axle. Further, if your axle didn't come with square mounting brackets for the brake backing plates, it isn't possible to mount brakes on that axle as the brackets can't be added. As Pete suggested, the design life of a rubber torsion axle is about twenty years. Some make it nearly to thirty, but in any case, yours (if it's not already bad) is at the end of it's useful life. This may be an excellent opportunity for you to have new suspension under the trailer AND new brakes as well. Your little Scamp will thank you.

Enjoy!

Roger
Roger H is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-14-2007, 02:32 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Trailer: LittleGuy Classic Teardrop ('Baby Osmo') (Previously 13 ft Scamp Custom Deluxe)
Posts: 234
For towing in the mountains, definitely go with brakes. On long downgrades, the trailer will be pushing you, and the Previa's little engine won't be able to slow you down on its own (by downshifting to a lower gear). The Previa's brakes will slow you down fine the first few times, but they'll get hot and start to fade unless the trailer has brakes as well.

I agree, also -- adding trailer brakes makes economic sense as compared to repeated replacement of the tow vehicle brakes.

That's my two cents.
Mr. W. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-14-2007, 05:54 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Brian B-P's Avatar
 
Trailer: Boler (B1700RGH) 1979
Posts: 5,002
Quote:
...So, if I ADD brakes, do I add electric or the pulse or whatever you call it?...
The alternative to electric (here in North America) is hydraulic surge brakes. Technically, I find the surge brake design attractive. In practice, almost no one uses them on travel trailers, and electric (although they require a controller, unlike surge brakes) will be less expensive to buy (and perhaps less expensive to service over time). A later buyer would likely expect the brakes - if there are any - to be electric.

By the way, electric operation implies that they are drum brakes, or a quite expensive option of electrically controlled hydraulic disk brakes... which are really nice, but essentially no one has on light trailers. When people here say "electric brakes", they almost certainly mean the drum type.

A different trailer forum had a discussion of electric versus surge brakes... it was "lively". The topic seems to elicit strong reactions.
__________________
1979 Boler B1700RGH, pulled by 2004 Toyota Sienna LE 2WD
Information is good. Lack of information is not so good, but misinformation is much worse. Check facts, and apply common sense liberally.
STATUS: No longer active in forum.
Brian B-P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-15-2007, 05:14 AM   #10
Senior Member
 
Donna D.'s Avatar
 
Trailer: 1988 16 ft Scamp Deluxe
Posts: 25,697
Quote:
Hi -
Thank you so much for all your help. Of course, it is a clear as mud. So, if I ADD brakes, do I add electric or the pulse or whatever you call it?
Roger is right... it would probably be cheaper to replace the axle with brakes... than ADD brakes.
Quote:
You'll find that it is about the same or even less expensive to replace the axle with a new axle that already has brakes installed as it is to buy and mount brakes on an old axle. Further, if your axle didn't come with square mounting brackets for the brake backing plates, it isn't possible to mount brakes on that axle as the brackets can't be added.
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward - 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Double Yolk - 1988 16' Scamp Deluxe
Donna D. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-15-2007, 05:44 AM   #11
Senior Member
 
DanPatWork's Avatar
 
Trailer: 88 Scamp 16 ft
Posts: 196
Registry
Quote:
Roger is right... it would probably be cheaper to replace the axle with brakes... than ADD brakes.
This may be true in your location. As a mechanic I've priced it both ways for our Scamp and it comes down to around $400 for the complete axle with brakes, vs. $160.00 for drums and new shoe kits.

When converting from no brakes over to brakes, it may be necessary to buy new bearings, depending on your choice of 7 or 10 inch brakes. Bearings at cost average around 10-20 bucks apiece for good ones. cheaper ones can be had for around 5-8 bucks.

One note for all people who have trailer brakes. When it comes time to have your brakes replaced, Whether you do it yourself, or have a mechanic do it. Look for the "complete" shoe kit. This means a backing plate with the shoes, magnet (another wear item), and all hardware allready attached. You just need to clip the wires, Reconnect via your method of choice, Bolt on and go. The complete kit for each side can be generally purchased for around 3/4 the price of just the shoes, and you have the piece of mind that comes with knowing everything in there is new, including the magnet.
DanPatWork is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-15-2007, 06:06 AM   #12
Senior Member
 
Donna D.'s Avatar
 
Trailer: 1988 16 ft Scamp Deluxe
Posts: 25,697
Quote:
This may be true in your location. As a mechanic I've priced it both ways for our Scamp and it comes down to around $400 for the complete axle with brakes, vs. $160.00 for drums and new shoe kits.
What was it? Gold plated? Check the Torsion Axle info about 3/4 of the way down this page: Profile Trailers. $269.47 complete with electric brakes. That's a bit less than I paid for the Dexter axle I replaced on my Scamp. So, for $100 more than what you paid for drums and new shoe kits, I'd get an axle that will last another 20 years. Janelle has a trailer that is nearly 25 years old...
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward - 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Double Yolk - 1988 16' Scamp Deluxe
Donna D. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-15-2007, 07:18 AM   #13
Senior Member
 
DanPatWork's Avatar
 
Trailer: 88 Scamp 16 ft
Posts: 196
Registry
Quote:
What was it? Gold plated? Check the Torsion Axle info about 3/4 of the way down this page: Profile Trailers. $269.47 complete with electric brakes. That's a bit less than I paid for the Dexter axle I replaced on my Scamp. So, for $100 more than what you paid for drums and new shoe kits, I'd get an axle that will last another 20 years. Janelle has a trailer that is nearly 25 years old...
Sorry I didn't mention that the new axle was with wheels and tires and the weld on "bolt-in" plate as well. 10" brakes 5 lug. 4000 lb axle.


I had to go back and check my numbers too, because my memory wasn't serving me well. Right after I wrote that it seemed high. Believe me the mess to try to find it was interesting, I think there's about a 1/2 inch of fiberglass/gel-coat dust over everything in my garage, and house right now.
DanPatWork is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-15-2007, 07:33 AM   #14
Senior Member
 
Donna D.'s Avatar
 
Trailer: 1988 16 ft Scamp Deluxe
Posts: 25,697
Quote:
Sorry I didn't mention that the new axle was with wheels and tires and the weld on "bolt-in" plate as well. 10" brakes 5 lug. 4000 lb axle.
Adding in the wheels and tires, I can certainly understand the increase in price. By time I finished... the axle swap for me was up to about $700. I think Janelle is just looking for the least expensive option and would probably (?) stick with same wheels/tires. Bottom line, it pays to shop around.
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward - 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Double Yolk - 1988 16' Scamp Deluxe
Donna D. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-15-2007, 10:46 AM   #15
Senior Member
 
Brian B-P's Avatar
 
Trailer: Boler (B1700RGH) 1979
Posts: 5,002
On the other side of the parts-versus-complete comparison, the brakes parts would be much more than $160 here... about double that, at least in my 10" drum / 3500 lb size. I don't know how much the prices change with size.

I agree with Donna... shop around. Actual cost will also depend on labour costs in the area, which in turn depends on the types of businesses available to do the work. Trailer and suspension shops may seem less friendly to the retail customer than RV shops, but I would expect them to be cheaper.
__________________
1979 Boler B1700RGH, pulled by 2004 Toyota Sienna LE 2WD
Information is good. Lack of information is not so good, but misinformation is much worse. Check facts, and apply common sense liberally.
STATUS: No longer active in forum.
Brian B-P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-15-2007, 05:33 PM   #16
Senior Member
 
Pete Dumbleton's Avatar
 
Trailer: Scamp
Posts: 3,072
Send a message via Yahoo to Pete Dumbleton
I haven't priced them, but 10" drums may actually be less expensive than 7" drums because they are far more common. Also, when pricing drums be sure the price is for two, not just one. Scamp, for example, is very unclear about that.

Several years ago, when Dexter was selling to the public, I priced brake hardware (including drums) against a complete #9 axle w/brakes, and ignoring shipping, the complete axle cost less than the hardware (just as a complete brake plate costs less than the replaceable components). Had I lived closer to the factory, I could have bought the axle, stripped the parts, discarded the axle and still been ahead!
Pete Dumbleton is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
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


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Newbie- needs help Rosemarie K. Care and Feeding of Molded Fiberglass Trailers 23 03-09-2012 09:20 PM
Newbie just saying hi John Fazio General Chat 8 01-13-2008 07:42 PM
Newbie Eric & Tam General Chat 16 06-03-2007 11:51 AM
Newbie CindyL Care and Feeding of Molded Fiberglass Trailers 14 06-12-2006 08:27 PM
Newbie Lisa F General Chat 13 03-31-2006 10:56 AM

» Upcoming Events
No events scheduled in
the next 465 days.
» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:02 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.