QUESTION: Towing and trailers: how to check the trailer's brakes and lights?

Monitoring the serviceability of the trailer's braking system and lighting equipment is a crucial procedure upon which the safety of all road users directly depends. To successfully solve tasks related to towing and trailers, always keep the main rule in mind: first, you must ensure the flawless operation of the brakes, tires, and lighting equipment, and only then ensure comfort on the trip. This approach allows you to minimize road risks and prevent unexpected expenses for accident repairs.

Most modern passenger trailers weighing up to 750 kilograms are not equipped with their own braking systems, so the car takes on the entire deceleration load. For heavier trailers, inertial overrun brakes are a mandatory standard, which operate automatically when the towing vehicle decelerates. It is necessary to regularly check the condition of the brake pads, actuation cables, and the brake fluid level in the trailer system, if provided by its design.

The trailer's lighting replicates all the car's signals: running lights, brake lights, turn signals, and fog lights. Before each trip, the driver is obliged to personally check the functionality of each light bulb by plugging in the 7-pin or 13-pin electrical socket. Contact oxidation in the connector is a frequent cause of lighting failures, so it is recommended to use protective caps and periodically treat the contacts with special anti-moisture compounds.