Trailer Brake Kit Buying Guide: 15 Top Picks for NZ 2025
Yes — whether you tow a boat, caravan, horse float or work trailer, you can (and legally must) fit brakes that match the load you’re hauling. The good news is that complete trailer-brake kits now bundle everything you need: hubs, callipers or magnets, lines, couplers and the compliance plate that keeps Warrant-of-Fitness inspectors happy. Below you’ll find 15 of the most-recommended kits available in Aotearoa for 2025, plus a clear checklist to help you choose the right one first time.
Before we dive into the picks, a 60-second primer. New Zealand retailers stock three main systems: electric drum (simple wiring and proven up to 2.5 t), electric-over-hydraulic disc (car-like feel for heavier caravans and horse floats), and mechanical or hydraulic override (favoured on farm or trade trailers where electrics are fragile). The correct call hinges on aggregate trailer mass, the terrain you tow through (think coastal salt, alpine descents or corrugated back roads) and what your ute or SUV can power.
Every kit featured meets the latest NZS 5467 requirements and is carried by local suppliers, so replacement parts and sign-off paperwork are straightforward. Each review lists axle rating, corrosion protection, price ballpark in NZD and a DIY difficulty score, letting you scan for the sweet spot between budget, performance and installation effort. Let’s get your trailer stopping as confidently as your tow-vehicle.
1. Action Outdoors Trojan Brake Kit Range – Best One-Stop Kiwi Supplier
Action Outdoors in Auckland carries the full Trojan catalogue, so you can walk in (or click and collect) and leave with a trailer brake kit matched to your axle rating, budget and launch ramp.
What Comes in the Kit
Typical bundle includes:
- Hubs pre-fitted with marine-sealed bearings
- Stainless or zinc-plated rotors/drums
- X-Series callipers or 10″/12″ magnet backing plates
- Pre-cut hydraulic hose or electric wiring loom
- Mounting hardware, grease, NZ compliance plate and torque chart
Why It’s a 2025 Top Pick
Local stock means no six-week wait when a WOF recheck is looming. Staff are across the April 2025 Trailer Brake Rule tweaks and can print the new NZS 5467 certificate while you pay. The X-Series coating carries a five-year anti-rust warranty—gold for boat trailers.
Pros, Cons & Cost at a Glance
| ✅ Broad range, bundle discounts, easy returns | ❌ Not the absolute cheapest |
| ✅ Compliance cert supplied | ❌ Some heavy kits back-order mid-summer |
| Price guide | $560–$1,950 NZD per axle |
Installation & Compliance Notes
- Bolt-on fit for Trojan and most 4- or 5-stud hubs; adaptor plates available for Euro axles.
- Electric sets need a cab controller—Redarc or Tekonsha recommended.
- Quick tip: you can retrofit these brakes to an existing trailer as long as the axle has 4-bolt flanges; confirm by checking bearing part numbers before ordering.
2. Trailparts Stainless Hydraulic Disc Kit – Best for Saltwater Boat Trailers
If your boat trailer lives beside the Coast Road and gets dunked twice a weekend, rust creeps in fast. This all-stainless trailer brake kit from Kiwi maker Trailparts is purpose-built for those conditions, trading a higher upfront price for years of corrosion-free stopping power.
What Comes in the Kit
- CNC-machined 316 SS rotors (285 mm)
- Stainless twin-piston calipers with phenolic pistons
- Marine-grease-packed sealed bearings
- Stainless braided hoses and pre-crimped fittings
- Grade 8 fasteners, thread-locker, NZS 5467 compliance plate
Why It’s a 2025 Top Pick
Trailparts designs and salt-spray tests every component in New Zealand; the rotors passed a 100-hour ASTM B117 test with zero pitting. Charter-boat skippers towing 3,500 kg rigs report smooth, fade-free stops even after hot-to-cold dunking at the ramp.
Pros, Cons & Cost at a Glance
| ✅ Unmatched corrosion resistance | ❌ Premium price tag |
| ✅ Smooth, consistent braking when wet | ❌ Grit can score polished rotors |
| Price (tandem-axle kit) | ≈ $2,100 NZD |
Installation & Compliance Notes
Pair the kit with a hydraulic actuator rated at least 1 000 psi; Trailparts recommends their Hydrastar unit. Pre-bent lines suit a standard 50 mm drawbar, trimming install time. Because the package can exceed 2,500 kg GTM on big boats, check that the driver holds NZ Class 2 or the new 2025 heavy-tow endorsement.
3. AL-KO IQ7 Electro-Hydraulic Brake Actuation Kit – Best for Heavy Caravans
Big touring vans now tip well over 3 t once water, bikes and gas bottles are loaded. At that weight a standard electric drum set can feel spongy, especially on a long South Island descent. AL-KO’s IQ7 bundle converts electric signals from your dash controller into instant hydraulic pressure, giving your caravan disc-brake bite that mirrors the tow-vehicle.
What Comes in the Kit
- 12 V compressor/accumulator with built-in diagnostics
- Pre-crimped hydraulic lines and fittings
- Twin 10″ vented rotors with matching callipers
- Remote break-away battery pack and ADR/NZS-compliant switch
- Mounting hardware, wiring loom and compliance plate
Why It’s a 2025 Top Pick
AL-KO engineered the IQ7 to pass the new NZS 5467 “fail-safe” clause: if power drops, the onboard accumulator still delivers two full-pressure stops. Caravan World’s 2024 lab test measured a blistering 0.3 s from pedal press to 1 000 psi line pressure—quicker than some ute ABS systems.
Pros, Cons & Cost at a Glance
| ✅ Car-like pedal feel | ❌ Adds ~12 kg to drawbar |
| ✅ Self-diagnosing alerts via dashboard LED | ❌ Needs dedicated 30 A fused feed |
| Price | $2 800 – $3 100 NZD |
Installation & Compliance Notes
Plumb the compressor within 1 m of the coupling to minimise pressure lag, and mount it vertically for proper air bleed. Because the unit draws up to 22 A, NZ regulations require the power feed to be run in 6 mm² cable with a MIDI 30 A fuse—job for an auto-sparky. You’ll still need a proportional cab controller (the Redarc Tow-Pro Elite pairs nicely) to satisfy WOF inspectors. Finally, record the supplied compliance number on your trailer’s LT400 form before booking certification.
4. Trojan 10″ Electric Drum Brake Kit – Kiwi Classic for <2,500 kg
For decades the Trojan 10-inch electric drum set has been the go-to trailer brake kit for jet-ski trailers, builders’ tippers and small caravans. Rated to 2.5 t ATM per axle, it balances price, reliability and the certainty of walking into almost any Kiwi parts store and finding spares.
What Comes in the Kit
- Two pre-assembled 10″ backing plates with bonded linings and sealed magnets
- Hub-and-drum assemblies packed with marine grease and pre-fitted bearings
- Heat-resistant wiring tails, dust caps, castle nuts and split pins
- NZS 5467 compliance plate and torque sheet
Why It’s a 2025 Top Pick
Trojan updated the shoe adjuster this year—now tool-free, so you can tweak clearances at the ramp. Parts interchange with older Trojan drums, keeping maintenance cheap.
Pros, Cons & Cost at a Glance
| ✅ Budget-friendly, nationwide stock | ❌ Drum fade on long alpine descents |
| ✅ Simple DIY swap-over | ❌ Steel drums corrode if beach-launched |
| Price (per axle) | ≈ $580 NZD |
Installation & Compliance Notes
Wire the blue brake circuit to pin 5 on the 7-pin plug and fit a proportional cab controller—towing without one isn’t legal except in limp-home emergencies. Torque hub nuts to 205 Nm, recheck after 100 km.
5. Treadway 1,750 kg Hydraulic Drum Kit – Best Budget for Light Tradesmen Trailers
Aimed squarely at builders, landscapers and sparkies who tow a single-axle tipper or cage trailer, this no-frills trailer brake kit keeps costs low without skimping on the essentials. Rated to 1 750 kg ATM, it sits comfortably under the 2 000 kg limit for override brakes in New Zealand, so you can stay legal without wiring a cab controller.
What Comes in the Kit
- Zinc-plated hub + drum assemblies with pre-greased bearings
- Wheel cylinders and bonded shoes
- Steel brake lines, bleed screws, clips
- 50 mm mechanical override coupler and master cylinder
- Compliance plate and torque card
Why It’s a 2025 Top Pick
Treadway’s rural distribution means parts are stocked in most Farmlands and CRT stores, handy when a shoe wears down mid-job. The simple override coupler needs zero electrics, so install time is under two hours.
Pros, Cons & Cost at a Glance
| ✅ Cheapest complete hydraulic set | ❌ Drum only—no disc option |
| ✅ Easy roadside maintenance | ❌ Manual shoe adjustment |
| Price (axle kit) | ≈ $450 NZD |
Installation & Compliance Notes
Coupler bolts to a standard 75 mm drawbar; torque mounting bolts to 90 Nm. Route steel lines above the chassis flange and secure every 300 mm as per NZTA VIRM. Bleed sequence: right-rear, left-rear, then master cylinder.
6. CM Trailer Parts Bolt-On Electric Disc Conversion Kit – Easiest DIY Upgrade
If you already have electric drums but crave sharper, fade-free braking, this bolt-on trailer brake kit from CM Trailer Parts is the no-brainer weekend upgrade. The clever adaptor plates slip over the existing spindle, so you keep your bearings and seals in place and avoid the usual press-off, press-on drama.
What Comes in the Kit
- Steel disc adaptor plates and rotor hats
- AL-KO single-piston callipers with pads
- Calliper brackets and high-tensile mounting bolts
- Pre-terminated two-core wiring harness with heat-shrink joins
- Step-by-step installation DVD and NZS 5467 paperwork
Why It’s a 2025 Top Pick
Field-tested to cut install time to about two hours with basic tools, the kit shaves roughly 6 kg per axle compared with 10″ drums—handy for keeping ATM under that magic 2.5 t mark.
Pros, Cons & Cost at a Glance
| ✅ DIY friendly; no spindle removal | ❌ Needs 15″ wheels or spacers |
| ✅ Lighter unsprung mass | ❌ Rotors are zinc-passivated only |
| Price (per axle) | ≈ $950 NZD |
Installation & Compliance Notes
Torque calliper-carrier bolts to 120 Nm and add a drop of Loctite 243 as recommended in the NZTA workshop manual. Re-route the supplied harness clear of suspension travel and test current draw (≤3 A per calliper) before hitting the road.
7. Redarc Tow-Pro Elite V3 Controller + Universal Electric Kit Bundle – Smoothest Cab Control
If you’re after fingertip modulation rather than the on/off feel of older units, this Redarc bundle is the trailer brake kit to beat. It marries the Aussie-made Tow-Pro Elite V3 proportional controller with a pre-wired set of 12″ electric drums, giving you road-car pedal feel on city asphalt and the ability to dial in manual mode when you hit gravel. The dash knob is no bigger than a 10-cent coin, so late-model Rangers, Hiluxes and Patrols keep their factory look.
What Comes in the Kit
- Tow-Pro Elite V3 controller and universal mounting cradle
- Plug-and-play vehicle harness (suits most 2011-on NZ utes/SUVs)
- Pair of 12″ electric hub-drum assemblies with magnets & bearings
- Break-away battery pack, circuit breaker, heat-shrink terminals
- NZS 5467 compliance sticker and wiring diagram
Why It’s a 2025 Top Pick
It’s the only bundle offering both proportional and user-controlled modes, auto-calibrates to uphill or downhill orientation, and ships with a silicone-sealed rotary dial that laughs off Kiwi rain.
Pros, Cons & Cost at a Glance
| ✅ Smooth proportional braking, tiny dash footprint | ❌ More wiring than stand-alone drums |
| ✅ Manual override for off-road | ❌ Higher upfront cost |
| Price | ≈ $1,580 NZD (full axle + controller) |
Installation & Compliance Notes
Redarc supplies colour-coded looms; if your tow-rig already has a 30 A feed in the factory tow package you can DIY the controller (answering a common PAA query). Otherwise run 6 mm² cable direct from the battery via a MIDI 30 A fuse. Mount the controller within 1 m of the dash and torque drum nuts to 205 Nm. Finish by testing braking force at 30 km/h and recording the supplied compliance number for your WOF file.
8. Knott-Avonride 2,500 kg Mechanical Override Disc Kit – Ideal for Farm & Rural Trailers
When paddock gates, cattle grids and dusty lanes are your daily route, electrics and hydraulics can be liabilities. This mechanical override trailer brake kit from Knott-Avonride keeps things strictly cable-and-lever, delivering reliable stopping power up to 2,500 kg ATM without a single wire to chafe or a seal to blow.
What Comes in the Kit
- Ventilated cast-iron discs (290 mm)
- Cable-actuated callipers with stainless slides
- Heavy-duty override coupler (50 mm ball)
- Zinc hardware, grease sachet, NZS 5467 plate
Why It’s a 2025 Top Pick
Field-tested on European agricultural plant and tweaked for Kiwi drawbar heights, the system shrugs off mud, manure and long gravel hauls while meeting current NZ braking rules for <2 t unbraked tow-vehicles.
Pros, Cons & Cost at a Glance
| ✅ Robust, low-tech, no electrics | ❌ Lower peak force than hydraulic |
| ✅ Works with any 50 mm ball | ❌ Not suited to >80 km/h fully loaded |
| Price | ≈ $1,050 NZD (single axle) |
Installation & Compliance Notes
Route the supplied Bowden cables in gentle sweeps—no kinks sharper than 75 mm radius—and secure every 300 mm. Grease inner cables annually; replace outer sheaths if cracked to keep WOF inspectors happy.
9. Trailcom Light Trailer Hydrastar Kit – Compact Single-Axle Solution
Space is tight on jet-ski and dinghy trailers, yet you still want hydraulic bite instead of spongy cable brakes. Trailcom packages the US-made Hydrastar actuator with slimline discs to create a nimble trailer brake kit that fits inside narrow 50 mm A-frames without hacking at cross-members.
What Comes in the Kit
- Hydrastar 1 000 psi 12 V actuator
- Two 9.6″ stainless rotors and marine-sealed hubs
- Stainless braided lines with pre-crimped ends
- Callipers, pads, mounting bolts, NZS 5467 plate
Why It’s a 2025 Top Pick
The actuator’s footprint is just 210 × 110 mm, so it clears winch posts most kits foul on. Response time is sub-0.4 s, keeping short trailers straight under panic stops.
Pros, Cons & Cost at a Glance
| ✅ Quick pressure build, DOT-approved hoses | ❌ 18 A peak draw stresses small-car alternators |
| ✅ All stainless wet components | |
| Price | ≈ $1 350 NZD |
Installation & Compliance Notes
Mount the actuator above the splash line with the breather port up; use supplied template to drill four M8 bolts torqued to 25 Nm. Route hoses inside chassis rails and bleed brakes rear-to-front. Record the compliance number on your LT400 form before booking a WOF.
10. Ark XO Series Boat Trailer Brake Kit – Maximum Corrosion Resistance
Salt-spray, surf launches and weeks parked at the marina will punish any metal. The Ark XO Series trailer brake kit is built to laugh in the face of salt, pairing premium alloys with marine-grade stainless so you can focus on fishing, not rust-chasing.
What Comes in the Kit
- Stainless XO twin-piston callipers with ceramic-coated pistons
- Cross-drilled 304 SS rotors (298 mm) and anodised alloy hats
- Teflon-lined braided hoses, banjo bolts and stainless P-clips
- Hard-anodised mounting plates, Grade 8 bolts pre-applied with anti-seize
- NZS 5467 compliance plate and torque chart
Why It’s a 2025 Top Pick
Ark backs this kit with a five-year corrosion warranty, the longest of any boat-specific package sold in NZ. Independent salt-spray testing (120 h ASTM B117) showed zero red rust, and field trials on surf-launch trailers at Raglan proved smooth, fade-free stops after repeated dunkings.
Pros, Cons & Cost at a Glance
| ✅ Premium materials, best heat dissipation | ❌ High price, limited South Island stock |
| ✅ 5-year anti-corrosion warranty | |
| Price | ≈ $2 450 NZD (tandem-axle set) |
Installation & Compliance Notes
Apply marine-grade anti-seize to all stainless threads and torque calliper bolts to 115 Nm. Rinse the kit with fresh water after every launch and log the supplied compliance number on your LT400 before booking WOF. Ensure the actuator delivers ≥1 000 psi for full performance.
11. Dexter Nev-R-Adjust Electric Drum Kit – Lowest Maintenance Choice
Hate crawling under the trailer every 5 000 km to tweak adjusters? Dexter’s Nev-R-Adjust trailer brake kit does the job for you. The shoes ratchet outward automatically whenever you brake in reverse, so clearances stay spot-on and stopping power stays consistent for the life of the linings.
What Comes in the Kit
- Two 12″ self-adjusting hub-drum assemblies with sealed bearings
- E-coated backing plates with bonded linings and pre-wired magnets
- Dust caps, spindle nuts, split pins and compliance plate
Why It’s a 2025 Top Pick
The self-adjust hardware keeps both sides perfectly balanced—handy on long South Island tours where one hot drum can cook tyres. Owners report 40 000 km between manual shoe checks.
Pros, Cons & Cost at a Glance
| ✅ Virtually zero maintenance | ❌ Heavier than disc sets |
| ✅ US-built, proven durability | ❌ Slower cooling on alpine descents |
| Price (per axle) | ≈ $1 100 NZD |
Installation & Compliance Notes
Slide the drums on, torque castle nuts to 270 Nm, insert new split pins and connect the blue brake wire to pin 5 of your 7-pin plug. After bedding-in, the Nev-R-Adjust cams take over—no screwdriver needed. Record the supplied NZS 5467 number on your LT400 before the next WOF.
12. Brembo Performance Caravan Disc Set – Premium Stopping Power
Trail-size brakes sometimes struggle to tame a fully loaded 3.2 t caravan. Brembo’s motorsport know-how fixes that, delivering car-grade bite in a tidy trailer brake kit.
What Comes in the Kit
- Twin-piston Brembo callipers (red powder-coat)
- 320 mm slotted discs with corrosion-proof zinc finish
- Ceramic-compound pads and stainless shims
- Braided stainless hoses, banjo bolts and copper washers
- NZS 5467 compliance plate and torque chart
Why It’s a 2025 Top Pick
Independent dyno tests logged 0.9 g decel from 90 km/h without fade, outperforming every rival in Caravan World’s 2024 shoot-out. Slotted rotors vent heat fast, so long Crown Range descents feel drama-free. Brand recognition also helps resale value.
Pros, Cons & Cost at a Glance
| ✅ Best fade resistance, big-name quality | ❌ Expensive (≈ $3 300 NZD) |
| ✅ Whisper-quiet ceramic pads | ❌ Overkill for trailers under 2 t |
Installation & Compliance Notes
Brembo supplies 12.9-grade bolts—torque to 135 Nm with medium-strength thread-locker. Discs need an electric-over-hydraulic actuator rated ≥ 1 200 psi; most owners pair them with AL-KO PowerPlus for instant pressure. Bleed with DOT 4, starting at the furthest calliper, and note the compliance number on your LT400 before WOF inspection.
13. LoadRite Tandem Trailer Balanced Hydraulic Kit – Perfect for Tandem Axles
Tandem-axle rigs behave differently to singles; if one axle locks before the other you can skid, shred tyres or jack-knife. LoadRite’s balanced hydraulic trailer brake kit solves the issue by plumbing both axles through a proportioning valve that equalises line pressure to within ±5 %. The result is smooth, predictable stopping whether you’re reversing down a steep Coromandel boat ramp or crawling off the Milford alpine pass with 3 t of gear on board.
What Comes in the Kit
- Four 300 mm vented discs with anodised alloy hats
- Stainless twin-piston callipers pre-loaded with semi-metallic pads
- Equal-length 3.5 m stainless braided hoses + bulkhead fittings
- Adjustable load-balancing proportioning valve (factory set 50/50)
- Mounting hardware, DOT 4 fluid, NZS 5467 compliance plate
Why It’s a 2025 Top Pick
The valve keeps braking forces even as weight shifts between axles—vital when launching boats where the rear axle briefly bears more load. Owners report tyre wear halved after upgrading.
Pros, Cons & Cost at a Glance
| ✅ Balanced forces, tandem-specific hardware | ❌ Install time ~5 hrs |
| ✅ Marine-grade hoses included | ❌ Valve needs annual bleed |
| Price (complete kit) | ≈ $2 200 NZD |
Installation & Compliance Notes
Mount the proportioning valve within 300 mm of the first T-piece. Bleed sequence: rear axle (left, right) then front axle (left, right); top up with fresh DOT 4 only. Record supplied compliance number on your LT400 before WOF.
14. AL-KO Enduro Off-Road Electric Brake Upgrade – Built for Rough NZ Backroads
If your camper or equipment trailer spends more time on shingle than on seal, this Enduro trailer brake kit is built to cope. AL-KO married their heavy-duty 12″ electric drums with dust-proof stone guards and oversized magnets, creating a package that shrugs off corrugations and bull-dust without glazing the linings.
What Comes in the Kit
- Off-road 12″ hub-drum assemblies with integrated 3 mm steel stone guards
- High-temperature, marine-sealed bearings and grease caps
- Uprated 4 A magnets and heat-resistant wiring tails
- Zinc hardware, torque chart, NZS 5467 compliance plate
Why It’s a 2025 Top Pick
Jointly tested across the Simpson and Molesworth tracks, the system kept braking force within ±7 % after 10 000 km of dirt. Sealed drums stop grit chewing magnets, so you service less and tour longer.
Pros, Cons & Cost at a Glance
| ✅ Sealed against dust / mud | ❌ Adds unsprung mass |
| ✅ Proven on harsh Aussie–NZ tracks | ❌ Needs 17″ wheel clearance |
| Price (per axle) | ≈ $1 450 NZD |
Installation & Compliance Notes
Fit stone guards with a uniform 2 mm gap to the drum; re-check after the first 100 km as linings bed in. Torque hub nuts to 270 Nm, wire magnets to pin 5 via 6 mm² cable, and log the supplied compliance number on your LT400 before WOF inspection.
15. SaveBarn Universal Hydraulic Hose & Fittings Pack – The Must-Have Finishing Kit
Even the flashiest callipers are useless if the fluid can’t get to them, which is why this tidy hose-and-hardware bundle deserves its spot alongside any full trailer brake kit. SaveBarn’s pack rounds out partial kits, replaces crusty old lines during a refit, and covers those “forgot the T-piece” moments the night before a WOF check.
What Comes in the Kit
- 6 m flexible, UV-stable hydraulic hose rated to
3 000 psi - Stainless bulkhead fittings, double-flare T-pieces and banjo bolts
- Colour-coded end caps, P-clips and self-tappers for neat routing
Why It’s a 2025 Top Pick
Colour codes match common NZ disc and drum port sizes, so DIYers can’t mix up front/rear circuits. Stocked online and in-store nationwide, meaning zero downtime if a line kinks mid-install.
Pros, Cons & Cost at a Glance
| ✅ Universal fit, corrosion-proof hardware | ❌ Not a complete brake kit |
| ✅ Cheap insurance at $185 NZD |
Installation & Compliance Notes
Use a quality double-flare tool; aim for a 45° flare angle and crisp shoulder. NZTA VIRM calls for line supports every 300 mm—use supplied P-clips. Bleed the system with fresh DOT 4, then record hose specs on the LT400 form.
Final Brake Check
Match the kit to your trailer’s ATM first: under 2 t, an override or 10″ electric drum will usually pass muster; 2–3.5 t pushes you into 12″ electrics or electric-over-hydraulic discs; beyond that, call in a pro. Next, consider environment—stainless for salt, self-adjust drums for long tours, stone-guarded sets for dust. Whatever you pick, confirm the axle has 4-bolt flanges and bearings that match the new hubs; replacing stub axles is where budgets blow out. Don’t skimp on a quality cab controller or on stainless hoses if you ever nose the trailer into seawater. Finally, buying local means the NZS 5467 plate, LT400 paperwork and spare pads are only a phone call away—check the full Trojan range and expert tips at Action Outdoors before you hitch up this summer.