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Happy Tripping 
Senior Member 
Joined: 27 May 2014 Online Status: Offline Posts: 473 |
 Topic: Checking brake lightsPosted: 25 Nov 2014 at 3:01pm |
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I am new to trailering. My wife is sometimes unavailable. When solo I have been told by one person to back my trailer against a light colored wall to check to see if the brakes are working. I have successfully wedged a block of wood against the brake pedal and gotten out and looked at the brake light, early on I tried to rig a mirror that I could see from the driver's seat, less successfully.
I need a fool proof (for me) method for checking brake lights. Any suggestions??
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Podster
Senior Member
Joined: 16 Sep 2014 Location: San Antonio Online Status: Offline Posts: 1108 |
Posted: 25 Nov 2014 at 4:04pm |
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Some may suggest that you can turn on your four way flashers and if they work your brakes lights will work. The problem with this is that some wiring configurations may not support the test and there are other components in the brake light system that can fail and will leave the 4 ways (Hazards) working while the brake lights are failing. E.g., The brake light switch...When solo, the only way to be absolutely certain the break lights are working properly is to step on the brake pedal, so I think a wooden dowel cut to the perfect length could be used to hold the brake pedal in place. Thanks for bringing this subject up. I just added "brake pedal dowel" to my to do checklist.
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Cliff & Raelynn
Ranger 4.0/178 (1/2 ton 5,800lb tow capacity) |
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp 
Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9062 |
Posted: 25 Nov 2014 at 8:33pm |
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You can be 99% certain your brake lights are ok if you do the hazard flasher test mentioned. Personally I use my truck's remote, pressing the unlock button which flashes all of the lights.
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Podster
Senior Member
Joined: 16 Sep 2014 Location: San Antonio Online Status: Offline Posts: 1108 |
Posted: 25 Nov 2014 at 9:08pm |
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Using the remote is a great idea, and I think I'm OK with 99%.
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Cliff & Raelynn
Ranger 4.0/178 (1/2 ton 5,800lb tow capacity) |
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JStrube
Groupie 
Joined: 11 Aug 2014 Location: Atwater, CA Online Status: Offline Posts: 90 |
Posted: 25 Nov 2014 at 9:55pm |
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I've always used rt turn signal, then left. Same as flashers.
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2012 181G
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Checking brake lights