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The EZ-Latch coupler makes hitching to a 2" ball simple and foolproof. You don’t have to hold a latch open or guess if it’s locked—just drop the coupler onto the ball and listen for the metallic “clink.” The latch snaps into place automatically, giving you a solid connection without tugging or re-checking. A locking pin can be added through the dedicated side hole if you want extra theft protection. It’s an easy way to know your trailer is secure before you hit the road.
This actuator’s heavy-duty steel body is zinc plated for marine-grade protection that holds up twice as long as standard coatings. The 200-hour salt spray rating means it’s made to stand up to water, road grime, and years of use without flaking or rusting. Whether you store your trailer outside or launch in saltwater, this finish keeps it working smoothly and looking clean for longer.
Inside the actuator, a heavy-duty plastic liner made from acetal copolymer keeps the moving parts gliding freely. It’s self-lubricating, so it stays smooth without constant maintenance and prevents metal-on-metal wear. That gives you consistent braking force and an actuator that telescopes easily each time you slow down or pull away again.
With an 8,000 lb gross towing weight and 800 lb maximum tongue weight rating, this surge brake actuator gives plenty of margin for most drum-braked setups. Bolt it on top of a 3" wide trailer tongue using three 1/2" x 4-1/2" Grade-5 bolts (not included) and you’re ready to tow. The built-in breakaway cable with snap hook adds extra security if your trailer ever disconnects on the road.
When your tow vehicle slows down, the Demco actuator compresses its master cylinder and sends hydraulic pressure to your drum brakes—no electric brake controller needed. As soon as you accelerate again, it releases smoothly so your wheels roll free. It’s a straightforward mechanical system that delivers dependable braking power trip after trip.
Customer Satisfaction Score:
93% were satisfied with this product
7% of customers were not satisfied
Ratings & Reviews
Jose
6/24/2025
Excellent. Very sytrong
Kate F.
6/25/2025
James D.
5/19/2026
Thanks for sharing your experience, Robert! We also appreciate the install and bleeding tips, insight like this is very helpful.
Barry
7/29/2026
Great! Boating is so much easier with the etrailer, DM72VR.
Claire H.
7/6/2026
It's a lot of work to replace a welded-on actuator! You're new one looks great though!
Heather A.
5/26/2026
Glad to hear the swap from the Dico actuator worked out well, even with having to cut the old one off and drill new holes. That’s never the most fun part of an install, but it sounds like you got everything lined up nicely in the end. How’s it been performing since the install? Any noticeable difference compared to the original Dico setup?
Lazer S.
10/7/2025
The trailer slowing down when you want it to is definitely a nice thing to have happen, Steven! Demco makes some good stuff and this is one of my preferred actuators due to their EZ-Latch mechanism. It is so much easier to use than some of the other options out there. What kind of boat are you towing?
Mike L.
10/21/2026
Awww shucks Gary, thank you very much! We appreciate your business.
Engineer55
5/13/2025
This was a great choice and perfoming well.
Gwendolyn Y.
9/18/2025
Looks great, Josh! Based off you saying "was restoring" sounds like you're finished with the restoration. How does it handle out on the road?
Gwendolyn Y.
9/23/2025
Do you have a question about this Brake Actuator?
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Marc
1/25/2026
Although there was a bump in the road with a cross threaded fitting from the manufacturer, Etrailer was fantastic to work with and resolved the issue very quickly and very generouslyfairly. The actuator works great and I really like this particular design. The brake works exactly as you would expect and it is nice since I don’t have to worry about electric brakes, gain adjustment, or changing surfaces or loads. It makes it a very user friendly set up and ifwhen I build another trailer I will likely use this or similar designed brake actuator.