Demco Hydraulic Brake Actuator - Drum - Primed - 8" Adjustable Channel Down - 20,000 lbs

Video Transcript for Review of Demco Brake Actuator - Surge Brake Actuator - DM8202132

Ellen: Hey, everyone. I'm Ellen here at eTrailer.com, and today, we're taking a look at the Demco Hydraulic Brake Actuator.Now, chances are you're already familiar with what a brake actuator does, but just in case you're not, basically what this is going to do is act as our brake controller for our trailer. This works with drum brakes, and basically, it's going to activate those brakes by the slowing down motion of our trailer.So, as we're coming to a stop in our truck, our trailer is going to be pushing forward against the coupler or against our actuator, and that's going to push this in. It's going to activate our master cylinder, which then in turn, activates that hydraulic pressure to our brakes. The brakes engage, and they slow down our trailer. So, it all happens at once, but as that trailer moves forward, that's really what gives you that braking force.So, there's nothing that you have to do in your truck.

It's just going to do it automatically mechanically with our brake actuator here.Now, this is an adjustable channel style, and this is going to be an eight inch channel, and that's the length here. The width is going to be three inches, and this is in kind of the down position, so it's coming slightly down from the rest of our actuator. There are other options available with it more centered or up, so it just kind of depends on what you need there.This allows you to make those adjustments between your trailer and your truck so that you can get everything leveled out, so you have a nice level operation. With it being in a down position, that's going to mean that your trailer is typically level or a little bit higher than where your ball is for your truck. So, that's typically what that's going to be for, or that's the advantage with that down position there.We'll go over some measurements in a little bit.

But, the other features of our brake actuator will have our reservoir here with the automotive style diaphragm. It helps to keep out any contaminants, dirt, debris, and air from mucking up our brake fluid. Let me get that threaded back on.And then, we'll also have our connection here too, our hydraulic line. So, you just remove this little red cap that's just for shipping, and then we'll have our attachment there at the back.This is going to have a heavy duty aluminum master cylinder, so it's going to be really durable, rust proof, so we don't have to worry about anything with that and very efficient. It's heavy duty enough to be built for high pressure applications, and it allows for 50% greater displacement of fluid than your standard master cylinders.Inside will have an acetal co-polymer lining, and that just helps to reduce the friction inside.

So, you're going to have a smoother operation as that actuator moves in and out.As you can see, the brake away is included. So, this is the part that we would attach to our truck, and in the case of an accidental disconnect, this is going to pull this lever and engage our brakes and bring our trailer to a stop.Whenever you get everything back together and get everything situated, you'll want to flip that back over into the green section where it says 'Brakes not engaged. Towable.' Whenever it flips into the red, it says 'Brakes on. Do not tow.' So, that'll be our system there. You just want to make sure that you get that connected to a secure mounting point on your tow vehicle.Now, as far as measurements.

Our main piece here is going to be about nineteen and three quarter inches long. Our channel, as I mentioned earlier, is three inches wide from inside edge to inside edge. And then, from outside edge to outside edge, just for fun, that is going to be about three and three quarter. The total height for that channel is about eight inches. The distance between those adjustment holes center on center is two inches.This has a max gross towing weight of twenty thousand pounds and a maximum tongue weight of two thousand pounds. It is a weld-on design. It's meant to be used with a three inch wide trailer tongue. It has a one-year warranty, and it is made in the USA. It comes already primed, so it's pretty much ready to go, made of a heavy duty steel construction.And that's going to do it for our look at the Demco Hydraulic Brake Actuator for drum brakes.