Disc brakes

[Tarheel]

The current issue of Trailer Life has an interesting article on replacing drum electric brakes with hydraulic disc brakes on a 5th wheel 10,000 pound trailer. It improved the braking distance considerable, but then the 5th wheel only had two axels. I was wondering, since Airstream did install disc brakes, if anyone has ever seen the braking distances in print for Airstreams. I know my 34' takes longer to stop from 60 mph than the truck does solo. I'm not certain that I want to take my unit out and do a panic stop from 60 mph to measure the distance, but it would be nice to know if the $3,000 required to put this on my unit would really make difference to me in saftey or more of a difference to the salesman's comission.

[Silvertwinkie]

There was a pretty good conversation about this on this thread:

http://www.airforums.com/forum...ht=disc+brakes

[Tarheel]

Thanks, I don't know why finding threads is so hard for me. I do appreciate the help

Rick

[jfowler218]

I read the same article, very interesting. I did not know any A/S came with disk brakes. Are they available as an after market item?

[Silvertwinkie]

As far as I know, it's all aftermarket...including at the factory offering on the linked thread. Not sure if the factory has made that standard equip on the Classics (or other lines) yet.

IMHO, for the cost of these units, it should.