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!

If you turn on your headlights and four way flashers, you can check the function of all the bulbs at the same time. That is what we do before pulling out. We do have standard bulbs, your LED set up may be different.

I do almost the same as Dog. I turn on the parking lights, and the 4 ways, and check every bulb. I installed LED Fixtures in the back of my TT.

I squirt alittle dab of WD-40 into my truck connector and move the trailer plug around a couple of time. Then I always turn on lights flashers etc and do my walk around before leaving... I also stop my truck and trailer at the first stop sign in my neighborhood by only using the electric brake manual brake thumb lever to tell my the electric brakes are working ok...Have done this since day one of pulling anything...Roy Ken

Yep, sometimes my right turn signal light does not work even though the left does. Unplug and replug and it usually works first time. Dirty or loose connection I guess. Have not followed up on it yet.

profdant139 wrote: But I am surprised that the connection to one of the rear lights could be imperfect while the other one was functioning properly. Such anomalies are often related to poor grounding rather than specific function, which may explain why one light on the same circuit worked. Replugging might have cleaned up the ground connection.

Check trailer's tail lights on BOTH sides before towing

Dog_Folks
Explorer
May 31, 2014
If you turn on your headlights and four way flashers, you can check the function of all the bulbs at the same time.

That is what we do before pulling out. We do have standard bulbs, your LED set up may be different.
ChooChooMan74
Explorer
May 31, 2014
I do almost the same as Dog. I turn on the parking lights, and the 4 ways, and check every bulb. I installed LED Fixtures in the back of my TT.
RoyB
Explorer II
May 31, 2014
I squirt alittle dab of WD-40 into my truck connector and move the trailer plug around a couple of time. Then I always turn on lights flashers etc and do my walk around before leaving...

I also stop my truck and trailer at the first stop sign in my neighborhood by only using the electric brake manual brake thumb lever to tell my the electric brakes are working ok...

Have done this since day one of pulling anything...

Roy Ken
BB_TX
Nomad
May 31, 2014
Yep, sometimes my right turn signal light does not work even though the left does. Unplug and replug and it usually works first time. Dirty or loose connection I guess. Have not followed up on it yet.
Francesca_Knowl
Explorer
May 31, 2014
profdant139 wrote:
But I am surprised that the connection to one of the rear lights could be imperfect while the other one was functioning properly.

Such anomalies are often related to poor grounding rather than specific function, which may explain why one light on the same circuit worked. Replugging might have cleaned up the ground connection.
Atlee
Explorer II
May 31, 2014
After connecting the trailer & just before shoving off, my wife will always check all the lights.
Atlee
Explorer II
May 31, 2014
RoyB wrote:

I also stop my truck and trailer at the first stop sign in my neighborhood by only using the electric brake manual brake thumb lever to tell my the electric brakes are working ok...

I've never thought of testing the TT brakes while rolling slowly in the subdivision. Good idea. I'll try to remember that in the future.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
May 31, 2014
Lights on/4 way flasher on........check ALL lights.
Just part of normal walk around routine before removing wheel chocks and hitting the road.
ChooChooMan74
Explorer
May 31, 2014
Atlee wrote:
RoyB wrote:

I also stop my truck and trailer at the first stop sign in my neighborhood by only using the electric brake manual brake thumb lever to tell my the electric brakes are working ok...

I've never thought of testing the TT brakes while rolling slowly in the subdivision. Good idea. I'll try to remember that in the future.

I always do a "running brake test" on my trailer brakes. Carries over from doing a test on my locomotives when I depart the service facility.
chasmatt45
Explorer
May 31, 2014
My wife and I have a routine. We use Walkie talkies for communications. The procedure is left turn signal, right turn signal, brake lights, headlights/running lights, flashers. Then she walks forward to check the hitch connection. Then I roll forward and she makes sure everything looks right. We don't skip steps. We do these checks when we start out and after every stop.

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Check trailer's tail lights on BOTH sides before towing

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