Trailer inside lights

NEW AND WANNABE DRIVERS (INTERACTIVE)
1

Guys,
Out for the first time yesterday pulling a Tesco trailer - got a couple of questions about lights:
1- where’s the switch for the lights inside the trailer - it’s bloody dark in there ! Had a good look round but couldn’t find it.
2- the light on the back of the cab for use when coupling - couldn’t find a switch for that either - Daf CF or was it XF 53 plate?
Simple questions for all you experienced guys
Thanks :slight_smile:

2
  1. i have seen them near the internal tail lift controls or under the body near the external tail lift controls
  2. its been a while since i drove a CF but isnt the back light switch above the drivers head near the tacho?
3

In addition to the places scanny mentioned they are also sometimes on the back of the trailer near the rear lights or fixed on the underside of the trailer near the back so the switch points down at the road.

4

1 - Don’t know about Tesco trailers particularly but apart from what’s already been said you’ll sometimes find trailer interior light switches are large grey flat looking switches on the side of the trailer near the rear end.

2 - On the CFs that I’ve driven the rear unit light switch is positioned on the right hand side of and below the steering wheel next to the door, you’ll see two light switches the first is for fog lights and the second is the one you want.

5

Thanks guys - that’s good info.
:smiley:

6

Hi gerontius, A couple of extra points have come to mind:

Sometimes the normal sidelights have to be switched on before the internal light in the trailer will work. I say that because you might have found and tried a switch that you thought did nothing, whilst the sidelights weren’t switched on.

Sometimes the work-light on the back of the cab actually has the switch on the light itself, depending on which model of light is fitted.

7

dieseldave:
Sometimes the work-light on the back of the cab actually has the switch on the light itself, depending on which model of light is fitted.

I have found this to be the case with Renaults.

Another point: -

On some trailers, the interior lights are powered via the Anderson (tail-lift) lead.

8

flying_fenman:
On some trailers, the interior lights are powered via the Anderson (tail-lift) lead.

Spot-on mate some of them are-- I’d forgotten about that :blush:

9

the interior light switch on my trailer is at the front on the drivers side near the fridge unit.
like tachograph said the switch for the coupling light is on the right hand side of the steering wheel. you have to have the lights on though.

10

dieseldave:

flying_fenman:
On some trailers, the interior lights are powered via the Anderson (tail-lift) lead.

Spot-on mate some of them are-- I’d forgotten about that :blush:

I’ll vote for this one as all the tesco’s trailers I’ve pulled have used this method.

If you’re on a proper dock so not using the tail lift it’s easy to roll down the door and drive off when you’ve finished, forgetting about the lead still being connected! My way to avoid this is to leave the nearside wind deflector out so I’ll see in in the mirror before I move off.

11

Tony1968:
If you’re on a proper dock so not using the tail lift it’s easy to roll down the door and drive off when you’ve finished, forgetting about the lead still being connected! My way to avoid this is to leave the nearside wind deflector out so I’ll see in in the mirror before I move off.

I’d say that’s an excellent piece of advice. (From experience… :blush: )