1961 Trade Wind Hydraulic Brakes

[lamacki1]

Hello,

I've been a lurker for several years but just bought a 1961 Trade Wind - which I have not yet picked up from the seller. When questioning whether it had electric brakes so that I could buy an appropriate brake controller, I was told that it does not. It has the original hydraulic brakes and the seller knows nothing about them.

I have read through this forum and I am confused to say the least. If the brakes have never been converted, what do I need to do to get it safely home (it's roughly 450 miles from me). The seller says he's been towing it just fine with his truck. I have a Lexus LX470 with the factory towing package but I've never towed anything this big or heavy. My current trailer is a little vintage Shasta.

Help, please?

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[idroba]

If it does truly have hydraulic brakes, there is little you can do to tow it safely now. I suppose some kind of electric over hydraulic system could be devised but it would not be an easy or inexpensive solution. You cannot tap into the hydraulic brake system on your tow vehicle the way one did in the distant past.

Since I believe that the '61's were the first Airstreams with the dura torque axle, probably your best bet would be to change out the axle to a current one with electric brakes. If it is the older spring system axle, you would have to develop a system to use the newer dura torque axle, or find a way to convert the old hydraulic system to electric.

I have and idea in my mind that the seller is wrong, that it does actually have electric brakes. I can't recall seeing any Airstream made that late (1961) with hydraulic ones, but I certainly could be wrong.

You could pay the seller to deliver it to you, then deal with it at home. You could have someone flatbed trailer it to you. I would not tow it home with your current TV, not only would it be illegal, but it is also dangerous.

I wish you could actually confirm that it does not have electric brakes. That would give you a much better idea of what to do.

[markdoane]

There were some optional hydraulic brake systems available on Airstreams of that vintage. Assume the seller is telling the truth. I don't think there is a way to jury rig it to work with current tow vehicles.
Cheapest and easy way would be jack it up, slap on a pair of loaded backing plates, new hubs and bearings, run some wires and hook it up to your electric brake controller. If you've ever done a brake job you should be able to handle it.

[A W Warn]

When I clicked on the photo (which is actually a link to Photo Bucket) there is a second photo of the front of the trailer that shows the hydraulic brakes system on the trailer tongue.

In Illinois it is illegal to tow a trailer without brakes, if the weight of the trailer is over 3000 lbs.
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publ...?Name=093-0344

add edit: further examination of the photos shows no evidence of the required emergency brake disconnect switch. That is also a legally required item that is missing (per the requirements in the above web link)

[lamacki1]

No electric brakes. That's a certainty. It appears that this was a 1960 model which only had hydraulic brakes but was not titled until 61.

[lamacki1]

Thank you A Warn. This was expensive. I likely overpaid but wanted something with minimal restore work. Now I'm not sure what to do. I won't tow it like that.

[idroba]

A W Warn: I looked at the original photos as you suggested, and yes, that does look like a hydraulic brake system front part. So, I would have to agree with you, it does not have electric brakes, as the original owner said.

So, it does need to be converted in some way to a new brake system, probably electric, and as you note, also needs a break away system activator for the electric brakes. That of course means it needs an operating 12 volt battery in the trailer.

Good call, looking for the other photos.

To the OP and new owner, you may have more than you expected to get this AS to your home. Something will need to be done with the brakes to make it legal to tow.

[beatrix1]

I do not think that is a 61. It has different vents and doors than does mine, and I know mine is a 61. Check the serial number. That could explain a lot.

[lamacki1]

Originally Posted by beatrix1

I do not think that is a 61. It has different vents and doors than does mine, and I know mine is a 61. Check the serial number. That could explain a lot.

It is likely a 1960 that wasn't titled until 1961. It matches the layout of a 1960 model.

[kdickinson]

Could be a solution - not cheap but less than a new axle & brake system:

Hydrastar Trailer Brakes - HBA-10
Anodized aluminum electric-hydraulic actuator lets you use your brake controller (sold separately) to activate your trailer's hydraulic drum brakes. Includes hardware. Hydraulic lines and breakaway sold separately.

Features:
Electric-over-hydraulic brake actuator activates your trailer's hydraulic brakes when you apply the brakes in your tow vehicle
Brake controller (sold separately) is required to send signal from tow vehicle to actuator when brakes are applied
7-Way trailer connector (sold separately) is needed to transmit signal from brake controller
Improved functionality when compared with surge brake couplers
Faster response time - trailer brakes are triggered when you apply brakes in tow vehicle, as opposed to when trailer pushes against hitch ball
No need to manually lock out brakes when you back up
Trailer brakes can be intentionally activated when you reverse
Manual override on brake controller can be activated so you can engage the trailer brakes without having to apply your vehicle brakes
Electronic, proportional pressure valve ensures that braking is smooth and effective
Built-in bleeder screw lets you easily flush air out of the brake lines
Durable extruded aluminum provides corrosion resistance
Compatible with any standard, 5-amp-hour-battery breakaway kit (sold separately)
DOT compliant
Unit installs on trailer frame and connects to trailer's wiring and hydraulic brake lines (sold separately)
Made in the USA

[jimden]

I had a boat trailer with hydraulic brakes that were activated by the hitch. When the tv braked the activator acted like pushing the brake pedal. They worked fine for a while but the launching into salt water eventually ruined them. It seems that for you this would work fine.

[dannydimitt]

This is an electric servo type system that applies the brakes using what ever voltage is supplied by the tow vehicles electric brake controller. It was built in 1960 so it came with 12 volt wiring and servo . The same as your fancy new Lexus . It should work just fine as is if in working order . As far as having to have a break away brake activator , Most all vintage car trucks and trailers are perfectly legal with the equipment installed at the time of manufacture . Sort of like a 33 Ford V8 with cable brakes . They are legal on the road as is . This is more than likely why the seller has had no problems towing it where ever .
Go for it !

[lamacki1]

Originally Posted by dannydimitt

This is an electric servo type system that applies the brakes using what ever voltage is supplied by the tow vehicles electric brake controller. It was built in 1960 so it came with 12 volt wiring and servo . The same as your fancy new Lexus . It should work just fine as is if in working order . As far as having to have a break away brake activator , Most all vintage car trucks and trailers are perfectly legal with the equipment installed at the time of manufacture . Sort of like a 33 Ford V8 with cable brakes . They are legal on the road as is . This is more than likely why the seller has had no problems towing it where ever .
Go for it !

Thanks you. I "wish" that Lexus was new. It's a 2006 however.

This trailer only has hydraulic brakes...no electric to use a brake controller.

I'm working my way through all the new information I've received from all the great people here.

[truckasaurus]

When I picked up my 33' sovereign in Arizona it has hydraulic drums I ended up getting a surge actuator coupler installed for the trip back to Canada and would not really recommend it. Not bad for a shortish trip with a bigger tow vehicle but there were days of stressful driving that I never want to endure again. Your trailer sub combo would probably be much better but it might be easier on yourself to just book it into a shop near the seller and get electric drums installed

[Action]

Originally Posted by lamacki1

It has the original hydraulic brakes and the seller knows nothing about them.

I have read through this forum and I am confused to say the least. If the brakes have never been converted, what do I need to do to get it safely home (it's roughly 450 miles from me).
Help, please?

Part of the issue is the seller knows nothing about the brakes and neither do you as you have not even seen them.

Since the seller has been successful towingwith a big truck you might consider renting the same to get it home to understand what you have.

OR obtain some pictures from the seller of the brake set up on the trailer tongue.

This would not be the first seller that thought the set up was original and was in fact replaced later down the road. As a 55 year old trailer who knows what modifications were done. And it sounds like the seller doesn't use the trailer brakes so may be they don't even work.

Just some thoughts

>>>>>>>>>>Action

[dannydimitt]

Thanks you. I "wish" that Lexus was new. It's a 2006 however.

This trailer only has hydraulic brakes...no electric to use a brake controller.

I'm working my way through all the new information I've received from all the great people here.

The same wire that applies the voltage from the tow vehicle to trailers electric brakes supplies power to the this trailers servo motor which then applies the hydraulic brakes .
Should not have to change a thing on the TV as long as it has a brake controller installed for electric brakes .

[ijustlee]

You can be pretty sure that the existing brakes haven't worked since a previous owners '61 Oldsmobile was sold! The best solution would be convert to electric brakes or cancel the deal. If you really want this particular trailer it might not be all that hard to convert to electric brakes, the parts are pretty common but it's always more work than you figure because of glitches. If it was me and the tow vehicle has anti-lock brakes and weighs more than the trailer, I'd just tow it. I would not go over 55 or drive on wet roads. I'm a good driver and always look as far ahead as possible anyway to avoid sudden moves.