This actuator comes primed and ready to weld onto a 50-degree A-frame trailer. The steel housing is heavy-duty, giving it the strength needed for demanding setups, and the primed finish means it’s ready for paint once the welds are done. With a gross towing weight rating of 8,000 lbs and a maximum tongue weight of 800 lbs, it’s built to handle serious loads without flexing or twisting at the tongue.
The 8" adjustable channel-down design gives you flexibility when lining up your coupler. You can mount your coupler attachment (sold separately) in one of three positions, so your trailer sits level behind your tow vehicle. The channel-down setup also lets the coupler sit lower than the actuator tube, which helps level out taller trailers or setups that need extra drop.
The composite master cylinder is made from glass-reinforced nylon that won’t rust or pit, even in rough conditions. It has a large reservoir that holds more brake fluid to cut down on refills, and an automotive-style diaphragm cap that seals out dirt and moisture to help prevent contamination. Inside, an acetal copolymer liner keeps the piston travel smooth every time the actuator telescopes in and out under braking.
A built-in breakaway feature helps stop your trailer if it ever becomes uncoupled from the tow vehicle. The safety cable trips the actuator automatically, activating your brakes and preventing a runaway situation. It’s a simple safeguard that stays ready without needing extra add-on parts or wiring.
This surge-type actuator activates the trailer’s hydraulic drum brakes when the tow vehicle slows down. As momentum pushes the trailer forward, the actuator compresses to apply pressure through the master cylinder, giving you dependable braking without electronics or complicated connections. It’s a clean mechanical setup that just works—every time you hit the brakes.
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 A-Frame eight inch adjustable channel down hydraulic drum break actuator. Has an 8,000 pound gross towing weight capacity, and a nice, prime finish. Now, as we've mentioned, this is designed to fit the 50 degree A-frame trailers. And this is a hydraulic actuator which 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, deceleration will occur, and a momentum will push your trailer toward the rear of your vehicle. And with a surge brake system, this actuator's then triggered as your trailer moves forward once your tow vehicle starts to slow down. And when this happens, the actuator will contract. Basically, this inner slide right here will go into the outer case, and it applies force to the master cylinder in the back here, which in turn, supplies the necessary hydraulic pressure to engage your trailer's brakes. Now, right here they do use an acetal co-polymer lining.
Provides a nice, smooth operation as the actuator telescopes in and out. We mentioned the adjustable channel right here, has three different mounting positions for your coupler. Now, the coupler is not included. We do sell that separately. We did mention, if you look at this channel, it is a channel down design, so it allows for greater drop for tall trailers.
The channel height itself, if we measure it bottom to the top, is eight inches. Inside width, it's gonna be measured inside the inside, is standard three inches. And this is a heavy duty steel construction. Mentioned it has a nice, prime finish for better corrosion resistance. And the master cylinder in the back here, it is a composite master cylinder, which is durable and efficient.
It's a glass reinforced nylon construction so to resist rust and corrosion, and it offers a large reservoir to provide increased capacity for brake fluid. The very top here, you have your standard automotive style diaphragm cap, which will create a completely enclosed system that'll prevent contamination of your brake fluid. Now, right here up at the top, it does include this breakaway cable with the hook and the latch on it. And this is included and it is required by law, because this part here will prevent a trailer runaway situation. So what happens is when you connect your trailer to your tow vehicle, you also take this hook with the latch and hook this to your tow vehicle. So what would happen is, by chance, if your trailer became disconnected from the tow vehicle, it will pull on this cable, which would activate the lever, which again applies the pressure in the master cylinder to apply the brakes on your trailer. So, this does prevent a trailer runaway situation, and as we mentioned, it is required by law. Now, this is a weld-on installation. You can see, as we mentioned, it's designed to be welded or mounted to a 50 degree A-frame trailer. It is made in the USA. Application, we mentioned, is the A-frame trailers with hydraulic drum brakes, gross towing weight capacity of 8,000 pounds, and a maximum tongue rate of 800 pounds. One last note I do wanna mention. If you look on the back here on the brake cylinder, the master cylinder, it does not include a reverse lockout, and that is recommended that you equip your trailer with either a reverse lockout solenoid on the back here or to have free backing brakes on your trailer, so that you could drive in reverse without the actuator triggering your trailer's brakes. But that should do it for the review on this DEMCO A-Frame eight inch adjustable channel down hydraulic drum brake actuator with the 8,000 pound gross towing weight capacity and a prime finish.
Customer Satisfaction Score:
95% were satisfied with this product
5% of customers were not satisfied
Ratings & Reviews
Great design. Easy to install. Very sturdy and excellent updated features
Perfect , the delivery was faster than expected. The product is real good quality.
Thanks for your great service.
Regards,
Marcel
Extremely happy with service and product. Thank You!
Good product for a reasonable price. Product availability and service was excellent.
Excellent product. Exact product as shown. Quality materials. Quick to ship and receive.
Super replacement and much cheaper than the bulldog style.
The people at E-trailer were very helpful and the product that came was exactly what i needed.
Needed this for a water trailer. Couldn’t find one locally. Ordered and received very quickly. Item was as pictured and looks like it should work great!
this hitch was by far beyound my expections they will get most of my business
Very happy with my purchase. It was a good price, easy to order and was received in short time. Thank you!
Very good product. I have been a fabricator for 42 years, and I will say this is very well made. etrailer.com is a great place!
Have not installed yet, but the product appears to be of high quality and heavy weight steel. Looks great.. would reccomend to anyone!
far superior to what it is replacing. well constructed, fast shipping.
Thanks again for supplies a quality product keep it up!
Really pleased on the outcome. I did have to paint where I had to weld. Would be nice to have the color to match the metal.
Amazing upgrade from magnetic brakes! Brittany was friendly, prompt, knowledgeable.
Very impressed! This will be perfect for my trailer rebuild.
Product has met my expectations. The customer service at etrailer is fantastic.
The product was just what I expected. The real story was that etrailer had a delay in shipping due to a manufacturer issue. Etrailer stayed in constant contact with me and made sure I was up to date on every stage of the order. AAA+ service...!!!
Thanks for your help in these trying times. I am restoring the surge brake operations to a 1985 Wells cargo enclosed trailer and performing all of the work myself. Not an easy task on a 36 year old trailer purchased new. I received this part and it is fantastic and arrived many days ahead of the projected delivery date. My prior orders also arrived early and the trailer brake parts and lines fit perfectly. Thank you for providing the service and knowledge to get me what I needed to restore an obsolete trailer. I can provide photos on completion. I may need to order new parts again in 36 years, I will be 94.
Yes i recieved the device , I'ts better than i expexted , very well built , Can definetely handle more weight than designed for, P/S I invented the device about 45 years ago. The device takes the shifting weight away from the hitch and tong of the trailer. The first device used a coil spring, The device i recieved uses a shock works the same as a coil spring.
excellent!. I painted with the trailer color
Awesome unit, but did not come with installation or system bleed instructions.
The weld on installation matched the trailer tongue angle perfectly and is a very rugged build. I connected the hydraulic line to the original brake tubing, bled the brake fluid through the system using pressure with the break away lever and put the trailer back to work. The braking power is smooth and consistent. The only trouble is when I back the trailer up an incline. I would purchase the backing option lever so you don’t have the trouble backing the trailer putting on the brakes.
perfect! its exactly what i needed.
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