This actuator activates your trailer’s hydraulic drum brakes automatically whenever your tow vehicle slows down. The built-in surge mechanism compresses the aluminum master cylinder to push brake fluid through your lines—no electronic brake controller required. It’s a simple, mechanical way to get dependable braking every time you tow, with a 7,500-lb gross towing weight capacity that handles a wide range of trailer loads with confidence.
The rustproof aluminum master cylinder resists corrosion that would eat away at cast steel designs. The actuator comes primed and ready for welding, so it’s easy to mount on top of a 3" wide trailer tongue and then paint to match your setup. The durable primed surface also helps protect it during installation before paint is applied, keeping your build clean and straightforward from the start.
The low-profile design keeps the coupler latch flush with the actuator body, reducing the chance of bending or damage when hitching up. Sliding the thumb button and closing the latch gives an audible click once the 2" ball is fully seated, so you know you’ve got a secure connection. A tethered safety pin keeps the socket locked around the ball even if the latch pops up, giving you peace of mind for every trip.
A preinstalled breakaway cable with an S-hook automatically engages the brakes if your trailer ever separates from the hitch. It’s a straightforward safety backup that keeps your trailer from rolling away in an emergency, built right into the actuator so there’s no extra piece to add later.
Dexter kept the proven UFP design that’s been trusted for years on boat and utility trailers. The 17-1/2" long by 4-3/16" tall build fits easily into standard setups and welds securely in place. With SAE certification for safe, reliable operation, this actuator makes it simple to replace a worn or discontinued unit without changing how your trailer handles or brakes.
Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer installation instructions and specs for complete information.
Hi everybody. Steven here with etrailer.com. Folks, today we're looking at the Dexter DX7 .5L A-60L surge brake actuator. This is gonna be for drum brakes. It's gonna work with a two inch ball and it comes already primed for you to paint. It's ready for 7,500 pounds.
Folks, this is gonna be, again, a surge brake actuator. If you're not sure what that means, basically it simply activates your trailer's drum brakes when your tow vehicle slows down or makes a stop so there's no brake controller needed. So it's using the inertia that's then pushing the fluid back to the brakes and slowing the trailer down that way. Now you can separately purchase a manual lockout pin that lets you back up without locking up the trailer brakes. And that's sold separately, item number DX49FR.
Now this is gonna be a nice sleek design. As you can see, it's low profile and everything. And the coupler latch that's flush with the actuator body. So again, it's a nice low profile. It's gonna give you a reliable and secured connection.
Now this latch mechanism only engages when the hitch ball is fully seated and then you have that safety pin on there on both sides that keeps it secure, enclosed around the ball. So even if this latch popped up, let's say, for some rare reason, that safety pin in there is still gonna keep that ball from coming undone. Everything here is rust and corrosion resistant. Again, it's been primed, so all you need to do is get it painted, whatever color you want after you got it installed. Now the master seal that that's inside here is an aluminum construction, so that's gonna help prevent rust and those kind of things unlike some of the older models out there that use cast steel.
Now you can get a fill cap sold separately, that'll prevent fluid contamination and that basically goes up here on top. You do have a basic little cap on there as well, so just keep that in mind, but if you want that hard black plastic cover that is sold separately. You get the breakaway cable with the included S hook. And if you don't know, basically this gets hooked up right pretty much where your safety chains are. And they prevent a catastrophe of some sort of unhook. This would automatically pull and apply the brakes if you had a breakaway to keep everything safe. So this is gonna work on top of a three inch wide tongue. Again, it uses a two inch ball and use this trailers with hydraulic drum brakes only. So electric brakes, you don't wanna use something like this. It's approximately 17.5 inches long overall, and about 4 and 3/16ths inches tall. And once again, the gross towing weight is 7,500 pounds. And that's gonna wrap it up for our look together. I'm Steven, as always stay safe while you're towing.
Customer Satisfaction Score:
97% were satisfied with this product
3% of customers were not satisfied
Ratings & Reviews
Product specs are right on. Well built.
Came packaged well and in a timely manner. Product just as expected. Installed and ready to go.
Was exactly what I was expecting, good quality, a fair price, and will fit right on my trailer tongue.
Good job!!!
Fast courteous service, great equipment.
I ordered late Tuesday evening. It shipped on Wednesday, arrived Friday and my boat trailer was fixed by Friday evening. Product was exactly as advertised and the perfect replacement for my damaged one. Quick and accurate shipping had me back out fishing by the weekend. Very impressed with etrailer service levels.
worked great
Paul is awesome!!
I was very pleased with the way he handled the order. I was going to order it online but he suggested that he could possibly have it delivered in 3-4 days. Actually it was delivered in 24 hours.
I thought [other retailers] were quick about deliveries till I ordered from etrailer.
The coupler and the brake actuator fit perfectly and definitely was a great replacement from the Atwood coupler.
Thanks. Paul.
Worked great, replaced an old Atwood, welded in where the old one was cut out. Minor modification to the brake line, easy to bleed master cylinder and then bleed brake system. Coupler is extremely easy to use.
I installed this brake actuator on a 3500 lb boat trailer with drum brakes, is working great so far. Needed to replace the existing broken hitch on my trailer and this was a suitable replacement to get the brakes working again.
Product as described and will be the needed replacement for the existing actuator on the trailer.
Worked perfectly
Perfect fit exactly the part that I nee ded
Installed and working as expected.
As advertised and arrived promptly
Great service and fast shipping
My 1993 Jayco 1206 pop-up was originally equipped with an Atwood weld on hitch with surge brake actuator. The actuator became seized and unserviceable and was obsolete, so it couldn't be replaced. I got this replacement hitch, cut the old one off, and had this one welded on. This is a great option and will be much more serviceable in the future. I am very pleased!
Worked well, easy to swap my old one
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