Any of us that own a trailer know that the chances of the trailer lights working is inversely proportional to the urgency of the mission.
If we were conscientious and always employed Proper Prior Planning (HARharharhar...) we'd hook the truck up the day before and check everything. Back in the Real World however, that rarely happens, especially on spur-of-the-moment trips. Plus, firing up the truck, hooking up the trailer and running back and forth between the cab and the back of the trailer to look is a pain in the ass.
I got to thinking (highly irregular, but it does happen...) and thought "Ya know, if I had a portable trailer light checking rig of some sort so I didn't have to futz with the truck I could just hook it up to whatever trailer and check things out." So, it being a rainy day and having nothing more urgent on the schedule, I came up with The Binford 6000 Light Checker.
I'll use my mini jump pack for power hooked to the two terminals in the lower right, and it powers the three switches for Tail (brown), Driver's Side Brake/Turn (yellow) and Passenger's Side Brake/Turn (green). Right now I've just got the flat 4 pin, but I left enough room to wire in a 7 pin for the big trailer as well.
Of course in the finest redneck tradition, it's all ginned up from stuff I had laying around. Might have to actually buy a female 7 pin connector, but I won't tell anybody if you don't.
If we were conscientious and always employed Proper Prior Planning (HARharharhar...) we'd hook the truck up the day before and check everything. Back in the Real World however, that rarely happens, especially on spur-of-the-moment trips. Plus, firing up the truck, hooking up the trailer and running back and forth between the cab and the back of the trailer to look is a pain in the ass.
I got to thinking (highly irregular, but it does happen...) and thought "Ya know, if I had a portable trailer light checking rig of some sort so I didn't have to futz with the truck I could just hook it up to whatever trailer and check things out." So, it being a rainy day and having nothing more urgent on the schedule, I came up with The Binford 6000 Light Checker.
I'll use my mini jump pack for power hooked to the two terminals in the lower right, and it powers the three switches for Tail (brown), Driver's Side Brake/Turn (yellow) and Passenger's Side Brake/Turn (green). Right now I've just got the flat 4 pin, but I left enough room to wire in a 7 pin for the big trailer as well.
Of course in the finest redneck tradition, it's all ginned up from stuff I had laying around. Might have to actually buy a female 7 pin connector, but I won't tell anybody if you don't.
