checking brake lights
 

I was helping my little brother with his CDL permit test and was reading the manual again. One thing I noticed is that it said you must check the marker, turn, 4 way, tail, and BRAKE lights seperatly. So how do you check the brake lights? I dont know of any way to turn on the brake lamps only and have enough time to walk back and check them, wait maybeI do....a rubber tarp strap on the Trolley bar??? :D

I remeber just walking around and making sure that the lights were working, ie brake lights turned on with marker lights.

Just curious

If it is dark, you can see them glow with the mirrors when you hit the pedal.

He needs to check them on his CDL skills test, it will be during the day. I told him to walk around when the parking lights are on. That trailer lights them all up. Just tell the tester that they are working..lol

I still cant think of how to check that they are getting brighter, especially since your SUPPOSE to do a pre-trip yourself and may not be anyone around, etc.

may be a stupid question but here it goes...
When you put on your trailer breaks , engine off, key on, doesn't the break lights come on?

NM... found it

section 2.4 checking single lights
Turn on stop lights ( apply trailer hand break or have a helper put on the break pedal )

Some trucks won't hold the trailer brake handle in the "on position" when you let your hand off. The T2000 I drove the handle would spring back to off when you let go of it.

I noticed that some makes of trucks would flash the brake lamps on the trailer when the 4 way flashers were on, instead of just the turn signal lamps. That would make it simple to check that the brake lamps weren't burned out at least.

My Freightliner Columbia doesn't have a hand brake and I have no helper. I start my day at 4am so it's dark and I can see the brake lights in the mirrors.

I know the hand brake on mine will only turn them on as long as I hold it on.

Nice.... so I found the first lie in the CDG. Hope they stick to there lie when I take the test. :roll:

Yeah I don't know why they went from the under steering wheel bar that would stay where you put it to the ones where you have to hold it. I suppose the manufacturers were getting complaints about people riding around burning up their brakes with them engaged partly.