Check trailer's tail lights on BOTH sides before towing
Just after hitching up, we always check to see if the electrical connection between the tow vehicle and trailer is working. Usually, I just flip the turn signal, and DW verifies that the rear light is flashing.
The other day, I put on my hazard lights when we pulled over to the side of the road, and I just happened to walk behind the trailer. To my surprise, the light on one side was flashing, but not on the other. My first thought that a fuse had blown or that the LED panel had gone bad. But on the "why not" theory, I unplugged the seven-pin connector on the rear bumper of the truck, saw that it was dusty, blew on it, wiped it on my jeans (why not??), and plugged it back in.
That fixed the problem! But I am surprised that the connection to one of the rear lights could be imperfect while the other one was functioning properly. In any event, I have learned my lesson -- before towing, make sure that BOTH rear lights are working!
The other day, I put on my hazard lights when we pulled over to the side of the road, and I just happened to walk behind the trailer. To my surprise, the light on one side was flashing, but not on the other. My first thought that a fuse had blown or that the LED panel had gone bad. But on the "why not" theory, I unplugged the seven-pin connector on the rear bumper of the truck, saw that it was dusty, blew on it, wiped it on my jeans (why not??), and plugged it back in.
That fixed the problem! But I am surprised that the connection to one of the rear lights could be imperfect while the other one was functioning properly. In any event, I have learned my lesson -- before towing, make sure that BOTH rear lights are working!
