Is there a 7 pin truck/trailer plug tester?

   / Is there a 7 pin truck/trailer plug tester?
  • Thread Starter
#11  
No, I do not have one with me. In Providence RI this morning for work. Its really simple. All I did was take a trucks 7 pin female plug and hook one wire to each pin with a small box I got at Radio Shack with 6 switches and then a 20' piece of wire going to a cigarette lighter plug for power. I have a 10 amp fuse in line. Like I said I usually use a jumper box to power it. To check 4 flat plugs I just use a 7pin to 4flat adapter.

I then labeled each switch for function like Brake light, L turn, R turn, 12 Volt constant, Reverse lights (optional on most trailers), Electric brakes.

Chris

Ok, thanks for the explanation.
 
   / Is there a 7 pin truck/trailer plug tester? #12  
Tekonsha makes a trailer side tester, when I bought it I think it was about $300. It's got a little battery and you can set it to auto test and walk around the trailer to make sure all the lights are working. It will also test for shorts and apply the brakes too.
 
   / Is there a 7 pin truck/trailer plug tester? #13  
Tekonsha makes a trailer side tester, when I bought it I think it was about $300. It's got a little battery and you can set it to auto test and walk around the trailer to make sure all the lights are working. It will also test for shorts and apply the brakes too.

That's why I made mine for about $30 and a hour in my shop. It was too pricey for me when I knew I could just make one. I used to just use a old Jet Ski battery and some short leads of wire but too many sparks so this was a good winter project.

Chris
 
   / Is there a 7 pin truck/trailer plug tester? #15  
No, I do not have one with me. In Providence RI this morning for work. Its really simple. All I did was take a trucks 7 pin female plug and hook one wire to each pin with a small box I got at Radio Shack with 6 switches and then a 20' piece of wire going to a cigarette lighter plug for power. I have a 10 amp fuse in line. Like I said I usually use a jumper box to power it. To check 4 flat plugs I just use a 7pin to 4flat adapter.

I then labeled each switch for function like Brake light, L turn, R turn, 12 Volt constant, Reverse lights (optional on most trailers), Electric brakes.

Chris

I have a friend who is a farmer, with trailers having 4 pin and 7 pin lighting, as well as semi trailers. One of his mechanics made a tester for all of them using a 5 gallon bucket to hold the battery and mount the switches on. Pretty creative, easy to use, and absolutly essential if you have more then 2 or 3 trailers.
 
   / Is there a 7 pin truck/trailer plug tester? #16  
I have a friend who is a farmer, with trailers having 4 pin and 7 pin lighting, as well as semi trailers. One of his mechanics made a tester for all of them using a 5 gallon bucket to hold the battery and mount the switches on. Pretty creative, easy to use, and absolutly essential if you have more then 2 or 3 trailers.

Sounds like just about the same thing I have. I just decide to use my jumper pack as the power source since I had it on hand or you can just plug it into a cigarette lighter of the boat I am working on or a convenient truck nearby.

You are right though, they are essential.


Chris
 
   / Is there a 7 pin truck/trailer plug tester? #17  
Just as a note, I know you need a trailer end. but if buying a truck end to adapt dont pay to much. Not sure in U.S. but here it was kinda a tough find and at gregg and acklands they started at 75$. I almost went for it but they were terrably cheap looking and one didnt look like it would come out of the socket after use (without pliers on plastic).

anyway I stumbled into Traction and they ordered me a Hopkins brand for 29.95 and its been very helpfull and quite durable too. Shop around
 
   / Is there a 7 pin truck/trailer plug tester?
  • Thread Starter
#18  
Just as a note, I know you need a trailer end. but if buying a truck end to adapt dont pay to much. Not sure in U.S. but here it was kinda a tough find and at gregg and acklands they started at 75$. I almost went for it but they were terrably cheap looking and one didnt look like it would come out of the socket after use (without pliers on plastic).

anyway I stumbled into Traction and they ordered me a Hopkins brand for 29.95 and its been very helpfull and quite durable too. Shop around

The first link posted in this thread was $12.95 if I recall.
 
   / Is there a 7 pin truck/trailer plug tester?
  • Thread Starter
#19  
Tekonsha makes a trailer side tester, when I bought it I think it was about $300. It's got a little battery and you can set it to auto test and walk around the trailer to make sure all the lights are working. It will also test for shorts and apply the brakes too.

Thanks for the info. I will look into this and see if the price is still that much of if it has dropped any.
 
   / Is there a 7 pin truck/trailer plug tester?
  • Thread Starter
#20  

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