Handy Checklist

Rig-Light Safety Check

With winter’s short days and long nights, it’s especially important to make sure all your truck and trailer lights are in working order. Here’s a rig-light checklist; perform this check every time you load your horse.

Before you begin, hitch up your rig, and set the engine key in the auxiliary position. If you prefer to warm up your engine, put your gear shift in park and set the emergency brake to keep your rig in place.

■ Update your trailer lighting. Is the lighting system on your trailer adequate? Consider updating to brighter LED lights. ■ Ask someone to help you. For truck lights, it’s best to have a helper inside the vehicle working the controls while you check the lights. ■ Clean all light coverings. Clean all light coverings; dirt, dust, ice, and mud cut visibility. Use a soft cloth and soap designed for to wash vehicles. Then wipe each covering with a 2:1 distilled vinegar/baking soda mixture. Lastly, rinse with clean water. ■ Check the turn signals. Inspect both your tow vehicle and trailer turn signals to make sure they are blinking. Check both the left and right turn signals. ■ Check headlights. Turn on your tow vehicle’s headlights, then hop out and make sure they work. Or, ask a friend to help you. (Safety tip: Turn on your headlights and your trailer’s lights even during daylight hours, for visibility). ■ Check interior lights. ■ Check the brake lights. If you have a helper, ask them to depress the brake pedal a few times while you check the brake lights on your tow vehicle and trailer. If you’re alone, place a heavy brick or rock on the brake pedal to keep it depressed while you check the lights. ■ Check turn signals/brake lights simultaneously. Turn on your left turn signal and depress the brake at the same time to make sure all lights will work together. Do the same with the right turn signal. ■ Check running lights. Check the running lights on your trailer’s roof, fenders, and corners. ■ Turn on the lights. On the road, turn on your tow-vehicle lights (low-beam) and trailer lights for enhanced visibility. The better the other drivers see you, the safer you’ll be. — Bonnie Davis

PHOTO BY CLIXPHOTO.COM With winter’s short days, it’s especially important to make sure all your truck and trailer lights are in working order.

PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO Check the brake lights and turn signals on both your truck and trailer.

PHOTO BY CLIXPHOTO.COM Clean all light coverings; dirt, dust, ice, and mud cut visibility.