This actuator is made for serious towing jobs. With a 20,000-lb gross towing weight and 2,000-lb maximum tongue weight, it’s built to handle large trailers that use hydraulic drum brakes. The heavy-duty steel construction gives it the strength to stand up to demanding use, while the weld-on design keeps it securely mounted to a 3" wide straight trailer tongue. It’s primed and ready for paint so you can match it to your trailer once installed.
The adjustable channel gives you five different mounting positions for your coupler (sold separately). It’s a smart setup when you need to fine-tune the height of your hitch for a level towing position. The channel-down layout provides extra drop, which helps line up taller trailers more easily. Whether you use a standard ball coupler, lunette ring, or clevis attachment, this design makes it simple to dial in the fit you want.
The composite master cylinder uses glass-reinforced nylon that resists rust and corrosion better than steel or aluminum. Inside, a large reservoir increases brake fluid capacity, which helps maintain pressure and smooth braking over long hauls. The automotive-style diaphragm cap seals the system completely to keep out moisture and contaminants. Every press of the tow vehicle’s brakes triggers steady hydraulic pressure for dependable stopping power.
The actuator’s inner slide moves on an acetal copolymer liner that keeps the telescoping motion smooth every time the trailer pushes forward under braking. A built-in breakaway lever adds an extra layer of safety by applying your trailer’s brakes automatically if it ever disconnects from the tow vehicle. The snap hook on the safety cable ensures a secure connection so it’s ready when you need it.
Designed for weld-on applications, this unit mounts solidly to your trailer frame without bolt holes to weaken the tongue. The primed finish protects against corrosion during build-out and gives you a clean surface to paint once installed. With steel housing that measures 19-3/4" long by 4-1/2" wide by 6" tall, it fits neatly on most standard builds while offering long-term durability in tough environments.
Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer installation instructions and specs for complete information.
Hello everybody, this is Jeff at etrailer.com. Today, we're gonna take a look at this Demco 12 inch Adjustable Channel Down Hydraulic Drum Brake Actuator with a 20,000 pound gross towing weight capacity. Now, this hydraulic actuator will activate your trailer's brakes when your tow vehicle slows or stops. Basically, what happens is when you apply the brakes in your tow vehicle, the deceleration occurs, and the momentum will push your trailer toward the rear of your vehicle, and with this surge brake system, this actuator is triggered as your trailer moves forward once your tow vehicle starts to slow down. And when this happens, the actuator will contract, it applies force to the master cylinder in the back here, and this in turn supplies the necessary hydraulic pressure to engage your trailer's brakes. Now, this does use an acetal copolymer lining between the inner and the outer case, provides a nice smooth operation as this actuator telescopes in and out.
You can see it is an adjustable channel up front here, has five different mounting positions for your coupler. Now, the coupler's not included, we do sell those separately on our website. Now, the height on this channel, we go from the very bottom to the very top, it's right at 12 inches tall. The width, which will be measured inside to inside, it's right at three inches. If you noticed, this has a nice primed finish to it to help prevent rust and corrosion, and this is a heavy-duty steel construction.
We mentioned the master cylinder back here, it is a composite master cylinder, which is very durable and efficient. Uses a glass reinforced nylon construction to resist rust and corrosion, and it offers a large reservoir, provides increased capacity for your brake fluid. You can see up at the top here, uses this automotive style diaphragm cap to create a completely enclosed system, helps prevent contamination of your brake fluid. And this does include this breakaway cable and hook. Now, that is required by law, and the reason is it prevents a trailer runaway situation.
Basically, when you install this or hook up to your tow vehicle, you'll take this cable with the hook and the keeper here, and you'll run this to the tow vehicle, hook it under the tow vehicle, so what happens in case of this becoming detached from your tow vehicle, it'll pull on this cable, which will activate the lever here, again, which will activate the brake cylinder back here to apply the brakes in a runaway situation. And again, it is required by law and it is included. Now, this is a weld-on installation. It does mount to a straight three inch wide trailer tongue. It is made in the USA.
Few specs again, this is for trailers with hydraulic drum brakes, gross towing weight capacity on this is 20,000 pounds, maximum tongue weight, 2,000 pounds, this goes by a model number of DA20. And one last note I do wanna mention on this, because this actuator does not include a reverse lockout, it is recommended that you equip your trailer with either a reverse lockout solenoid that'll install right back here, or free backing brakes on your 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 Demco 12 inch Adjustable Channel Down Hydraulic Drum Break Actuator with the 20,000 pound gross towing rate capacity..
Ratings & Reviews
Really happy with customer service and flexibility with shipping to Hawaii.
I think the demco actuator is grate
Excellent product,service and price. I was notified at every stage where my item was on its journey without contacting etrailer other than placing my order. They have their "stuff " together.
Package wasn't the greatest, it was a heavy item and should have been packaged a little better, box was torn and one of the clips that holds the pins in place was missing
It worked out very well for us and was very affordable.
It does the Job. I tried to talk them in to going with an electric over hydraulic Disc system but the did not want to spend the money with this set up at least is has some brakes.
The product delivered was exactly what we ordered. It arrived within only a few days and the package showed up with zero damage. We will continue to order from eTrailer. 5 Stars!!
Great quality excellent service
Quality is great and exactly what I was looking for in a Brake Actuator. Customer service was super friendly and online invoice and tracking was speedy and easy to obtain! Highly recommend.
Worked perfect, exactly as described.
A perfect fit and it took paint beautifully. Upon brake testing, it performed as an OEM! Customer Service was extraordinary.
GREAT AS ALWAYS
I am building a very strong utility trailer for a Mustang Skid Steer- I'm a welder by many years- and strong matters. I will put a 'dully' axel under a dump truck body with hydraulic breaks- thus you product was a perfect fit- strong, functional and safe. Thank you for your design intelligence and craftsmanship. I am set up for two trucks- a big one, Mack B-81SX, and a pick-up.
Well built just replaced a old unit that been sitting for years and had been jackknifed
we received in the hitch, we installed it without a problem.
the tech tried to beleed the brakes.
the tech was having problems with the master cylinder sticking.
we ordered in a replacement master cylinder in. after the new master cylinder was installed the tech bled the brakes with no issue. we received the hitch in with a bad master cylinder
Just what I needed and came right on ti me.
We're replacing old brake units on our fleet of tank trailers. These Demco actuators have a longer adjustment channel than the ones we could get locally, and they were cheaper. Great customer service also!
Anna did a GREAT job on getting the trailer parts I needed give her a raise :-)
Welded it together, haven't used it yet.
Do you have a question about this Brake Actuator?
Info for this part was:
At etrailer we provide the best information available about the products we sell. We take the quality of our information seriously so that you can get the right part the first time. Let us know if anything is missing or if you have any questions.
Thank you! Your comment has been submitted successfully. You should be able to view your question/comment here within a few days.
Error submitting comment. Please try again momentarily.