Eg. Picked up a trailer the other week that belonged to a different co. different livery and all the rest of it.
Tried to set off…trailer brake on, went to lhs of trailer…no red button, other side the same, back of trailer suspension lift handle there but again no red button.
Thought…must have missed it, walked around again nothing.
Asked one of their drivers, (a young boy about 22), who must have thought I was a bit dim
He lead me back to the trailer and pointed to the left hand side of the bulkead on the block where the suzies are attached…and behold there it was. it was obviously ‘normal’ to him, being that he worked there, I have never seen a brake button situated there before.
I jokingly said to the young lad with a big smile…‘’ Sorry mate I’m new to all this’’ he missed the irony completely, and especially the fact that I even ■■■■ LOOK like a seasoned trucker (complaining not boasting btw ) and said…‘Ok, we all have to learn’’
Next thing it had those bloody stupid LED lights on the back, ok they all look very pretty and all the rest of it, but how the hell do you ‘‘change a bulb’’ or whatever the term is for them.
They both worked thankfully.
That reminds me I had a bulb out the other day, took out the usual 6 ■■■■ screws on the lens while getting ■■■■ wet in the rain (oh for the days of push on/off round Rubbolite trailer lenses…another example of my point btw) tried to pull out the bulb, no chance as it had some fancy ■■■■ bulb holder that I could not suss out, and I ended up breaking the bulb in my fingers with ■■■■ claret everywhere .
Put in the new bulb…after ■■■■ ing about holding the release clip with a (blood covered screwdriver )…a 2 min job that took 15.
I understand ‘progress’ but that is a contradiction in it’s self, more like ■■■■ wind ups just for the sake of it.
Bloody old long in the tooth drivers who won’t move with the times…
Moving the park brake to the front is an excellent move i think, beats the hell out of staggering round in 6" deep puddles like some trailer parks are seacching for an elusive bloody button.
These new fangled LED’s seem to last well, but when they do go it’s not as simple as a bulb change and the cost of them means you most likely won’t have a dashboard drawer full of several of every bulb imaginable like what i have got…‘‘beauty like what i have got’’ (Glenda Jackson on Morecome and Wise )
Not come across the type of bulb holder you got all ham fisted with t’other day, need some better glasses? , not some evil bloody German finger torture device on your Merc is it, shades of ‘for you Tommy ze var iss ovar’.
Luckily ours are all pretty normal so far, though no doubt when i get me new lorry next year that will all change, apart from the self driving/braking ■■■■■■■■ its bound to be festooned in bloody LED’s and soddin too camp by far DRL’s which unlike on me present steed can’t be turned off, i’m gunna get me pilot shades out so no bugger recognises me…
Wonder how the drivers of new Daf’s get on with the fancy Aldi A4 style scrolling indicators, bet they’re cheap as chips when they pack up.
Red button by the suzies sounds like a good idea to me. LED side/rear lights, again, if as reliable as claimed, and they do seem to be,are a good idea.
Ive got an argument against LED and HID headlights tho. Their longevity is a good point of course. But I argue that having a bright concentrated patch of illumination, with little beam spread makes the area outside of that patch comparatively darker. An older type beam with some scatter will light up verges side roads etc more. In daytime driving dont we look to the sides for wandering animals, clues about weaving pedestrians etc? An assertion that less light scatter is a totally good thing doesn`t convince me anyway. And look at low speed corner lights: not necessary if you have a bit of beam scatter. Also a single bright source will give a flat appearance to what is in front, some side illumination will give depth and “modelling” to the view.
I’ve seen loads of trailers with brake there, if you ask me all trailer brakes should be there and secondly part of great reason for LED lights is the fact they don’t really blow and need changing. If we kept everything the same because it works we’d all be leading horses and carts around. Change is good, change is necessary
now its leds and not rubbolites,then we dont have to spend half the time,either looking for,or trying to nick a set of lenses from the end of the trailer…remember nowadays your nothing more than a steering wheel attendant and should be defecting a faulty light…then waiting for 4 hours till the callout fitter appears to change the bulb for you…im assuming you went to hospital,filled out the miles of accident forms,made a suitable accident claim plus are now on the panel awaiting counselling,and the debreif for trying to do someone elses job by using your own initiative and saving the co a fortune by changing a bulb yourself?..daft i know,but thats not how the beancounter tosco types see it…
LEDs are great, you just need to be able to change them. Instead of huge clusters perhaps they need to make them as individual lamps or modular somehow.
I like the new stuff, change is good, Rubbolites were good in their day however the filled with water and dirt the wiring and holders corroded and the lenses were often stolen.
The positioning of the handbrake at the front makes perfect sense safer too, you don’t have to ■■■■■ around in the dark banging you’re head on the way out, and miles better than the crappy old ratchet brake that nobody ever used and only worked on the day of the M.O.T.
The LED’s have a 10,000 thousand hour life span and are connected with one plug making them easy to change, loads of stuff has improved immesurably over the years.
I would love to have a go in an old ERF or similar with an old 40ft flat with a coil well and double wheels just to remind myself how lucky we are today, I have a good memory the old trucks were crap no doubt about it.
Ok fair enough guys, it seems as if it’s just me alone that has not come across the front mounted trailer brake,
It appears I have led a trailer brake themed sheltered life .
As I said it was just the sheer frustration of going for something that is normally ‘just there’ to discover it ‘just aint’ On reflection I do agree with you who say it is a handy position to put it, as for the led.s, my experience with them is limited…but I will keep you posted on my progress with them.
But still not keen on the bulb holders that bite back.
Until about 8 weeks ago we had trailer brakes in 3 different positions
Iceland at the front nearside
Booker at the rear
Irish deckers next to the winding handle plus these things have a new trick. The slider comes out from the nearside by about 3 feet which locks the brake on. A bit dodgy if the safety handle fails and you are relying on a dog clip to hold it in place. They are known to go missing at the ferry terminal
Franglais:
Red button by the suzies sounds like a good idea to me. LED side/rear lights, again, if as reliable as claimed, and they do seem to be,are a good idea.
Ive got an argument against LED and HID headlights tho. Their longevity is a good point of course. But I argue that having a bright concentrated patch of illumination, with little beam spread makes the area outside of that patch comparatively darker. An older type beam with some scatter will light up verges side roads etc more. In daytime driving dont we look to the sides for wandering animals, clues about weaving pedestrians etc? An assertion that less light scatter is a totally good thing doesn`t convince me anyway. And look at low speed corner lights: not necessary if you have a bit of beam scatter. Also a single bright source will give a flat appearance to what is in front, some side illumination will give depth and “modelling” to the view.
Bloody good point about headlights. I find that these HID’s and those that have the prism’s in the reflector and a plain glass are dangerous for oncoming drivers… they’re too bloody bright, so that something coming over a hill or round a bend can catch you out and blind you. Even bumpy roads make them look as though they’re flashing as they’re coming at you. If you need lights that bright, you probably shouldn’t be on the road. As for the light bleed, another good point.
Although I doubt its the first time an older driver has asked a youngun to help locate their little red knob its good to read how even us olduns need a helping hand once in a while.
Never to old to learn and with unfamiliar equipment never be afraid to ask.
Franglais:
Their longevity is a good point of course. But I argue that having a bright concentrated patch of illumination, with little beam spread makes the area outside of that patch comparatively darker. An older type beam with some scatter will light up verges side roads etc more. In daytime driving dont we look to the sides for wandering animals, clues about weaving pedestrians etc? An assertion that less light scatter is a totally good thing doesnt convince me anyway. And look at low speed corner lights: not necessary if you have a bit of beam scatter. Also a single bright source will give a flat appearance to what is in front, some side illumination will give depth and “modelling” to the view.
Agree with you 100% on that, 4 series scanias had the best headlamps ever fitted to a truck.
The volvos i drive now have a dipped beam that reaches about 25 to 30 feet in front of the cab and past that it is pitch black making it almost impossible to see pedestrians or other objects in time to avoid running over them
(complaining not boasting btw 
) and said…‘Ok, we all have to learn’’ 
.
