Video Transcript for Comprehensive Review: Demco Hydraulic Brake Actuator-DM8759142

Hi everybody, Andy here with etrailer.com. Let's take a look at this Demco Hydraulic Drum Brake Actuator with adjustable channel. Now this model number DA91 hydraulic actuator is going to mount on your straight three inch wide trailer tongue and activate your trailer's brakes when your tow vehicle slows down or stops. Now when you apply brakes in your tow vehicle, as you know deceleration occurs, and momentum pushes your trailer towards the rear of your vehicle. With surge brake systems, the hydraulic actuator is triggered as your trailer moves forward, once your tow vehicle starts to slow down. When this happens, the actuator contracts applying force to its master cylinder, and this in turn, will supply the necessary hydraulic pressure to engage your trailer's brakes.

Now this has a gross towing weight of 8,000 pounds at a maximum tongue weight of 800 pounds, and the adjustable channel on this trailer brake actuator is going to allow for ultimate versatility. You're gonna be able to mount almost any type of coupler, which is sold separately from this, from a standard ball coupler to a lunette ring or clevis attachment to fit your specific application. In addition, the three mounting positions on the channel is going to let you adjust the height of the coupler. You're just going to place the coupler so that it matches the height of the ball mount or other hitch attachment on your tow vehicle, and you're gonna be able to tow your trailer levelly. So this actuator is going to be great for low riding trailers.

That's because the adjustable channel is positioned so that the mounted coupler can sit above the actuator tube, allowing for a greater rise than with a standard centered mounted channel. So as a result, you can line up your low trailer with your tow vehicles hitch for a level setup. And alternatively, if you have a standard trailer paired with the lifted tow vehicle, then this channel up design will help you achieve a level towing setup for this type of application as well. The width of our channel is about three inches and the channel height is eight inches. The composite master cylinder is durable and efficient.

It's glass reinforced nylon construction is going to resist rust and corrosion, and it has a large reservoir that's going to provide increased capacity for brake fluid. The automotive style diaphragm cap is going to create a completely enclosed system to help prevent the contamination of fluid. And this has an acetyl copolymer lining that's going to give you a smooth operation as the actuator telescopes in and out. And as you probably already saw, this does include a breakaway cable with a snap hook that's going to ensure a secure connection to your breakaway lever here. And this will hook to your tow vehicle and prevent a trailer in a runaway situation.

So if your trailer unhooks from your tow vehicle, it will pull this cable, which will activate the master cylinder and apply the brakes to keep it from a runaway situation. This is made here in the USA of heavy duty steel construction with this primed finish, kind of a beige color and this is going to be a bolt-on installation or a weld-on installation, whichever's gonna work best for your particular application. This is going to require 1/2" by 4-1/2" grade five bolts. The bolts are not included, but obviously you will need those type of bolts for mounting this onto your trailer, your straight tongue trailer. And just a final note, because this actuator does not include a reverse lockout, it is recommended that you equip your trailer with free backing brakes so that you can drive and reverse without the actuator triggering your trailer brakes. Well, I think that's gonna wrap up our quick look today. I do hope that it was helpful for you. Again, my name is Andy, thank you for joining me.