A method of determining the configuration of a tow load (12) coupleable to a vehicle (10), the method comprising: controlling (116) a vehicle system to obtain an indication of the presence of a unique identifier (40) mounted on the tow load (12); retrieving data (120) encoded within the unique identifier to determine the configuration of the tow load; configuring (124) the vehicle in dependence on the determined configuration of the tow load.

An apparatus and methods for testing a trailer light system including a trailer connector for coupling a first voltage to a first trailer light and a second voltage to a second trailer light, a transmission state detector for determining a vehicle transmission state, and a trailer interface module for detecting an electrical connection to a trailer at the trailer connection, and for applying the first voltage to the trailer connector and the second voltage to the trailer connector in response to the detection of the electrical connection and the vehicle transmission state being in a park state.

The present disclosure relates generally to measuring and testing circuits of towed vehicles. Testing circuits of towed vehicles for proper function is required for safe use of the vehicle. Instruments that currently exist are expensive, the instruments are large in size, use outdated technology to perform the test and do not provide a means to reliably and effectively test braking systems.

An adaptor for connecting an LED lighting unit to a vehicle CAN-bus. The adaptor has a connector connectable to a corresponding connector on a vehicle, to receive a lighting current from the CAN-bus of the vehicle. A wireless power transmitter of the adaptor wirelessly transmits power to the LED lighting unit at a first level, typically suited to LED operation. The adaptor further includes one or more resistors connected between the connector and transmitter and arranged to draw power from the connector at a second power level higher than the first power level, which second power level is suitably equivalent to that for halogen or filament lighting.

A device for alerting approaching vehicles of a slow-moving vehicle is provided. The device includes a light bar having one or more illumination units positioned on a front face thereof, a sensing unit, and means for activating the one or more illumination units on the light bar. The light bar further includes a mounting mechanism on a rear face thereof for removably mounting the light bar on a vehicle. The sensing unit senses the location and speed of the vehicle and for compares the speed of the vehicle to a posted speed limit for a roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling. The activating means serve to activate the one or more illumination units when the sensing unit determines that the speed of the vehicle is less than a pre-determined value below the posted speed limit for the roadway.

A monitoring system for a combination vehicle comprises at least one image capture device mounted on a tractor, which has a trailer mounted control system within its field of view. The trailer mounted control system has a visual indicator. A controller is associated with the at least one image capture device. The controller captures images of the visual indicator, determines if the visual indicator meets a predetermined event condition and provides notification to at least one of a driver of the tractor and a remote fleet operator in response to the visual indicator meeting the predetermined condition.

A cable system for a truck trailer with connectors having a main power connection, a ground connection, and one, two, or more communication cable connections. Connectors include at least a power and ground connection for electrically connecting an individual trailer to the cable system. A master control circuit may be included in the trailer nosebox, and the master control circuit configured to send commands to slave control circuits mounted within the connectors. The slave control circuits in the connectors are configured to receive a control command sent by the master control circuit that may include an address, mode identifiers, or other indications of which connectors in the cable system should take action, and what actions should be taken.

A trailer brake system may include a trailer brake controller comprising a manual braking control, and a trailer light controller; where the trailer brake controller comprises a brake on/off relay, which responds to the manual braking control.

The present invention relates to a system, device, and method for checking functionality of tail lights, brake lights, and turn lights of a vehicle and/or a connected trailer. The invention includes a key fob device that wirelessly connects with a vehicle's on-board light control module (i.e. ECU). The key fob can be used from outside of the vehicle to transmit wireless instructions to flash or actuate tail lights, brake lights, and turn lights for a predetermined time enabling a user standing behind the vehicle to check the functionality of the lights of the vehicle. The user can activate control buttons on the key fob to selectively activate tail lights, brake lights, and turn lights. The present invention eliminates the need to ask for assistance to check functionality of vehicle lights or spend time getting in and out of a truck cab to check the lights while alone.

Various examples are provided related to boat loaders for trailers. In one example, a boat loader includes a primary tube extending between a first end and a second end and a light tube that can move within the primary tube. The light tube can include light elements extending along a portion of the light tube at a first end and a float attached to the light tube at a second end. The primary tube can be coupled to a trailer at the second end and the first end of the light tube can extend outward from the first end of the primary tube exposing the light elements as the primary tube is submerged in water and can retract into the primary tube as the primary tube is removed from the water.