I have a idea for a feature on a brake controller. Not sure if any of the manufactures have done it or not yet. But I was thinking it would be nice if you could hit a test button on the brake controller and it would turn the running lights on for say 20 sec. then the brake lights, then the turn single. Just a fast easy way to check all light as you do a walk around. I know I would use this and it seems it should be easy for them to add this to a brake controller. It would also be a nice selling point. I think I might send a email to prodigy and see what they say.

On a side note I just found out stud one is power for the brake controller and stud 2 is aux power for the back hookup. Took me a few minutes to figure out what was going on.

Sounds like a nice feature for the truck, but the brack controller has no connection to the lights.

I test mine by turning on the running lights and the emergency flashers then make a lap around the trailer.

I also do the same thing. Just seems like there would be a way to set it up to do that.

MaxBrake makes this:
http://www.maxbrake.com/brakelightflyer.pdf
Not exactly the same thing but similar.

Our RV techs use a test box that does the same thing also.....

Those things seem cool and would work. But for the added cost to buy one? It would be nice to just have it all in one unit.

Great idea... But brake controllers are not tied into the tail lights.

well than maybe gm could offer this. should not be to hard to run a few more wires.

A lot of the new class-8 tractors have this - they call it "circle check assist" or "vehicle inspection assist". Basically cycles all the lights (including low/high beams, clearance lights, brake lights, etc) in a routine so the driver can walk around the vehicle and check operation.

For my little truck I just put the hazard lights and clearance lights on and walk around that way. Same thing, basically.

For my little truck I just put the hazard lights and clearance lights on and walk around that way. Same thing, basically.

This is the same as what I was suggesting. Keep in mind that there really is only 3 circuits on the trailer.

1) Clearance and Tail lights (brown wire)
2) Right bright (green wire)
3) Left bright (yellow wire)

Buy doing the above you are working all three of these circuits at the same time. While granted this may not show a miswire but we are assuming at this point that this is your trailer and you know it is wired correctly and you just wish to do a test of the lamps and connections.

While granted this may not show a miswire but we are assuming at this point that this is your trailer and you know it is wired correctly and you just wish to do a test of the lamps and connections.

Yes, good point. For anyone hooking up to a trailer for the first time it's important to confirm left and right signals *independently* to ensure they are wired correctly and not crossed.

As someone who spends all day on the roads you'd be amazed at how many little trailers I see every summer with the trailer flashing opposite turn signals then the tow vehicle it's hooked to.

It's already been invented.

It's called a girlfriend....

Yes, good point. For anyone hooking up to a trailer for the first time it's important to confirm left and right signals *independently* to ensure they are wired correctly and not crossed.

As someone who spends all day on the roads you'd be amazed at how many little trailers I see every summer with the trailer flashing opposite turn signals then the tow vehicle it's hooked to.


It is just plain amazing what people will do with a trailer in tow. - From no tail lights to 5K loaded on the Harbor Freight 900 Lb capacity trailer with 8" wheels.

The older Corvettes had a fiber optics cable to each light-- you could see if a light was not working from the driver's seat. Guess they don't have that anymore. That vwas a nice feature.