Based on the very positive reviews from ROG, yesterday I had Performance Trailer Braking install disc brakes on my 2017 3401RL. While I expected braking performance to improve, the dramatic improvement in braking is very impressive! It feels as if the truck and trailer can stop as quickly as the truck alone! The brakes were installed at my home by Performance Trailer Braking installer (John Alinger), in under 5 hours, including a test drive where John adjusted the braking boost level so that the truck/trailer braking is balanced. While normal driving with the disc brakes is significantly improved, stopping in emergency situations is night and day...a major uptick in the margin of safety!! The disc upgrade was well worth the $3,100. expense!

So now I have two questions for Redwood regarding critical safety components.

1. Disc Brakes. Does it make sense that a high quality, 17,900 gross vehicle weight, 5th wheel trailer install clearly inferior drum brakes as original equipment on new trailers? I felt it was necessary to spend $3,100 on my almost new Redwood in order have an adequate level of safety.

2. My new Redwood came equipped with Westlake 17.5" H rated tires that had a 62 MILE PER HOUR SPEED RATING. Many interstates have speed limits of 65 or 70 (and some 75). Does it make any sense to have 62 mph speed rating OEM tires on a high quality 5th wheel trailer that will often be driven on interstate highways?Because of my serious safety concerns with these tires, I replaced the Westlake tires with Goodyear G114 H rated tires with a 75 mph speed rating...at a cost of $2500.

Hi Bill,

I have a question or too for you. What size brakes did you take off ? What brand of disc brakes did you install ? Do you have any pictures ?

I totally agree with you about the tires. Saluin is a good brand of china made tires. Or maybe I should have said, they have a good reputation.

Redwood is just using advertisement to make you think that their trailers are better. They are no better than any other rv built in the northeast corner of Indiana. That is just my opinion. I have a 2019 trailer that has it's problems. There is no pride in workmanship.The only thing that the workers are looking for is a short work week with a big pay check.

Thank you for posting this good info,
Al

I don't know the size of the old drum brakes and the installer took them away at my request.

The new disc brakes kit; 13" 7k Premier Disc Brake End Kit 8-6.5" BC, 9/16" Stud Breakrite by Dexter EHB 1500 psi, Brakerite Mounting Bracket, Tandem Brake Line Kit
(The part # for the entire kit from Performance Trailer Braking is K71-908-00).
The kit cost $2,100 inc.shipping to my house plus $1000 paid to the installer.

John & his son John installed mine 2 years ago & did an awesome job!
I only wish I would have done them a lot sooner.
Wow! $2500 for GY tires alone? I paid $1300 for 4 Sailun 17.5 " tires, new wheels & new lug nuts from PTB when I ordered the disc brakes, all shipped to my location & I don't think the GYs would be more than twice as good for that kind of $$$$...

John & his son John installed mine 2 years ago & did an awesome job!
I only wish I would have done them a lot sooner.
Wow! $2500 for GY tires alone? I paid $1300 for 4 Sailun 17.5 " tires, new wheels & new lug nuts from PTB when I ordered the disc brakes, all shipped to my location & I don't think the GYs would be more than twice as good for that kind of $$$$...

I guess the G14's have gone up a lot. I bought 4 a few years back but were 16" and was only around $1,500 mounted and balanced.

Steve

Yea! That was what helped my decision to go with the 17.5" tires, just replacing the 4 GY Gs was more $$ than upgrading to the Hs & glad I did.

Note: The $2500 was for 5 GY tires.

Note: The $2500 was for 5 GY tires.

I was hoping/betting it was for 5 at that price, but still $500 per tire.
Most rv tires age out long before they wear out, hope GY guarantees those for 8-10 years for that kind if scratch.