Video Transcript for A Closer Look at the Dexter Zinc-Plated, 5-Position Adjustable-Channel Brake Actuator

Hello everybody, this is Jeff at etrailer.com. Today, we're gonna take a look at this Titan Zinc-Plated 5-Position Adjustable-Channel Drum Brake Actuator with the 8,000 pound weight capacity. Now, this hydraulic actuator will activate your trailer brakes when your tow vehicle slows or stops. Basically, what happens is when you apply the brakes in your tow vehicle, deceleration will occur and the momentum will push your trailer toward the rear of your vehicle. So with the surge brake system, the actuator is triggered as your trailer moves forward once the tow vehicle starts to slow down, so when this happens, is the inner portion or the inner slide here of the actuator will contract, and it applies force to the master cylinder in the back here, and then this in turn supplies the necessary hydraulic pressure to engage your trailer's brakes. Now, this one here uses the unique roller design, which reduces resistance during the telescoping to create a straight line movement.

Also, if you noticed on the roller, has a grease zerk fitting, makes it very easy for lubrication of the moving parts, you just attach your grease gun to the zerk fitting, pump in the grease to lubricate it. This is a nice sturdy, durable steel construction, it does resist bending in any jackknife situations. If you look at the front here, it has the adjustable channel, has five different mounting positions for your coupler. Now, the coupler is not included, we do sell that separately. The channel height, in other words, from the bottom to the very top if we measure it, is gonna be right at 12 inches, the range of vertical adjustment with the five different positions is gonna be eight inches, and then the channel width, which will always be measured inside to inside, is gonna be right at three inches.

Now, the zinc plating on this will provide nice corrosion resistance. Now, if you noticed, it does include the breakaway chain with the hook right here, that's all included, and the breakaway kit is required by law, because it'll prevent a trailer runaway situation. Basically, attach the center of the cable to your tow vehicle, and then if it becomes detached, if the trailer comes detached, it'll pull this lever up, which will then apply the brakes to stop the trailer. Now, this is a bolt-on installation. If you noticed right down here where the holes are, it's designed to bolt on here, now, the hardware to bolt it on is not included, you would have to supply that.

A few specs on this, the application again is for trailers with hydraulic drum brakes, gross towing weight capacity is 8,000 pounds, maximum tongue weight is 800 pounds, and this is designed to mount on a straight three inch wide trailer tongue. One last note I do wanna mention on this actuator is because this actuator does not include a reverse lockout on the back here, it is recommended that you equip your trailer with either a reverse lockout solenoid, or a free-backing brakes on the trailer, so that you can drive in reverse without this actuator triggering your trailer's brakes. But that should do it for the review on this Titan Zinc-Plated 5-Position Adjustable Channel Drum Brake Actuator with an 8,000 pound capacity..