Video Transcript for An In-Depth Look at the Dexter Brake Actuator w/ Drop

Hi there, I'm Michael with etrailer.com. Today we're gonna take a quick look at this Dexter Brake Actuator with a three inch drop. This is a surge-type actuator that's going to bolt over your three inch wide trailer tongue, and it's going to include the standard heavy-duty coupler with the three inch drop so that you can connect to your two and 5/16 inch ball on your tow vehicle. This is going to activate your trailer's hydraulic drum brakes when your tow vehicle slows. So basically, as your tow vehicle slows, the momentum of the trailer is gonna push it forward. And then we are going to have the telescoping function here that's going to apply force to the master cylinder, and that in turn is going to supply the necessary hydraulic pressure to engage your trailer's brakes.

This does feature a unique roller design that's gonna help reduce binding during your telescoping, so it's going to create a nice straight line pull and make sure that your brakes are applied properly. This does have a sturdy, steel construction, so it is going to resist bending and jackknife situations. It's also gonna provide a 12,500 pound capacity with a maximum tongue weight of 1,250 pounds. You can see this does have a primed finish, so it's ready to be painted in whatever color you prefer. They do include the breakaway kit, so you'll hook this onto your tow vehicle.

So if for some reason your coupler we're to become disengaged from the ball or your ball were to become disengaged from the receiver tube on your hitch, this is still gonna be connected. So it's going to pull this lever up and engage your brakes so that your trailer is not just bouncing down the road without anything slowing it down. And this model does not include a reverse lockout, so it is recommended that you equip your trailer with free-backing brakes so that if you we're to drive in reverse it's not going to cause your brakes to be applied even though this will be telescoping. So because this doesn't have the ability to prevent the brakes from being applied itself, it's recommended that you get brakes that have that free-backing option to them so that your trailer's not, the brakes aren't being applied as you're backing up. I do wanna point out the coupler connection here.

So very simple to operate. Lift that up, get that set down on your two and 5/16 ball, and then once it's in place it'll snap closed for you so that you know you have a nice solid connection to your trailer ball. So overall, a really great option. If you are needing that three inch drop for your trailer, this is gonna be a great way to go. That completes our look for today.

Again, I'm Michael with etrailer.com. Thanks for watching.