On a trailer which side is left and which is right?

Having some weird wiring/electric braking issues and I'm wondering whether they have put the brakes on the correct sides. So, is the wheel on the driver's side (with trailer connected to vehicle) the right or left one?
Once I sort that out I can continue with my investigations.
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Reply By: Member - Stuart P (WA) - Sunday, Jan 22, 2012 at 16:50

Sunday, Jan 22, 2012 at 16:50
right one
AnswerID: 475686

Reply By: Whirlwinder - Sunday, Jan 22, 2012 at 16:51

Sunday, Jan 22, 2012 at 16:51
Left and right on cars, boats, planes is always when looking from behind the vehicle.
AnswerID: 475687

Reply By: Rockape - Sunday, Jan 22, 2012 at 17:02

Sunday, Jan 22, 2012 at 17:02
Mate,
when turning right you put on the right indicator. That should explain it all.
AnswerID: 475688

Follow Up By: Member - MUZBRY(Vic) - Sunday, Jan 22, 2012 at 17:53

Sunday, Jan 22, 2012 at 17:53
Gday Rock A
Not where we live , most vehicles arn't fitted with indicators.

Muzbry
Great place to be Mt Blue Rag 27/12/2012

Lifetime Member
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FollowupID: 750686

Follow Up By: Rockape - Sunday, Jan 22, 2012 at 18:11

Sunday, Jan 22, 2012 at 18:11
Muzbry,
Yep they are fitted you and your lot either don't use them, can't find them or they are broken due to being under water. LOL.

The young Muz may have not lost his ve-hick-el if he had indicated and turned right before the drowning.

Have a good one,
R.A.
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FollowupID: 750687

Reply By: Hairy (WA) - Sunday, Jan 22, 2012 at 19:08

Sunday, Jan 22, 2012 at 19:08
Gday,
Hop in your car through the right hand door (open it first)........you should have a steering wheel in front of you (if its a right hand drive).......your hand closest to the door will be your right. Put your right hand on the indicator lever and push down. That will be your right indicator,( if your indicator lever is on the right hand side of the steering collum not on the left, but I dont wont to confuse things).
Get out of your car and take note of what indicator is flashing......keep walking down that side of your vehicle ( without stepping over the "A" frame) until you get to the trailer wheel....that should be the right hand wheel if you have followed the instructions properly......LOL

Cheers
AnswerID: 475709

Follow Up By: Hairy (WA) - Sunday, Jan 22, 2012 at 19:43

Sunday, Jan 22, 2012 at 19:43
Sorry.....I should have asked.......are you towing your trailer or pushing it in front of the vehicle? Also, are the wheels on the top of the trailer or underneath?
This also can make a difference..........its not as simple as some people might think.................ROTFLMAO!!!!!
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FollowupID: 750698

Follow Up By: Member - Boobook - Sunday, Jan 22, 2012 at 20:39

Sunday, Jan 22, 2012 at 20:39
LOL

I have followed your instructions to the letter Hairy, however can you help me with the additional information.

I am doing a hard right hand turn, and if stop, and get out of the vehicle and look along a straight line down the rhs of the tow vehicle, the entire trailer is to the left of that line, indicating that it is the LHS! However if I stay in the vehicle and look in the RHS mirror, the entire trailer is to the right. What gives?


Awaiting your reply,

Daized and Confused.

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FollowupID: 750703

Follow Up By: Hairy (WA) - Monday, Jan 23, 2012 at 00:13

Monday, Jan 23, 2012 at 00:13
Ahahaha.....see.....like I said, its not as simple as people might think. LOL
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FollowupID: 750728

Follow Up By: pop2jocem - Monday, Jan 23, 2012 at 11:25

Monday, Jan 23, 2012 at 11:25
Hey Boobook,

I think I may be able to help, your towball and hitch have seized. If you have done a hard right hand turn, get out of your vehicle and look down the RHS and the trailer is to the left that is. Now if you are looking from the front (thats the end you are looking at if seated in the drivers seat and travelling in a forward gear) the situation needs re- calibrating.........if you see what I mean.


Cheers
Pop
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FollowupID: 750764

Reply By: TheMightyMoose - Sunday, Jan 22, 2012 at 19:16

Sunday, Jan 22, 2012 at 19:16
Just as I thought - but wanted confirmation. Thanks for quick responses.

OK - next question. What effect does having the brakes on the wrong sides have on braking?

And, how do I tell if the brakes really are on the wrong sides - i.e. what do I look for to confirm they are ar$e about? Apart from the sticker that is!

Thanks in advance
AnswerID: 475711

Follow Up By: Inflataduck - Sunday, Jan 22, 2012 at 19:57

Sunday, Jan 22, 2012 at 19:57
If your brake set up (elect) has over ride/ Mechanical hand brake this should in most (99%) cases pull fwd & this will tell you if its on the correct side if its wrong it will have to pull back wards to apply you can often tell by the override cable going past the axle to a pulley & back to the hub
this is normally the case when left is on right & right is on left. I have seen this hundreds of times when they under sling the axle & are to lazy change the backing plates or re weld the axle locator or are just ?
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FollowupID: 750700

Follow Up By: pop2jocem - Monday, Jan 23, 2012 at 11:17

Monday, Jan 23, 2012 at 11:17
Now that all our closet dwelling unemployed comedians have helped sort out the LH RH issue...lol may I enquire what the problems are, assuming the brakes are of the electrically operated type and are they drum or disc type?

Cheers
Pop
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FollowupID: 750762

Follow Up By: TheMightyMoose - Monday, Jan 23, 2012 at 14:01

Monday, Jan 23, 2012 at 14:01
Pop & Inflataduck
I am getting stuff all braking irrespective of my efforts. Electric drum brakes. Also my voltage reading were odd but I think I've figured that bit out.

When I opened up the right hand side it had a sticker inside saying "left side". At that point I posted my initial question because I figured a CT manufacturer would know left from right. I was beginning to think that perhaps the sides on trailers were determined when viewed frrom the front. I didn't want to swap them around only to find out the manufacturer knew what they were doing.

If they are on the wrong sides then that would explain why the braking is crap. And perhaps why the hand brake is crap. I cannot lock up the brakes even on loose gravel using the slide on the controller.

Guess I'll have to do some swapping around next weekend.

The unemployed comedians can go and g f.
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FollowupID: 750779

Reply By: member - mazcan - Sunday, Jan 22, 2012 at 19:18

Sunday, Jan 22, 2012 at 19:18
omg !!!!!!
the right side ----- and is determined by looking forward from the rear of your vehicle/caravan /trailer /boat /cycle /4wd/truck or what ever
how and where did you get yr license
how do you work out which is your left and right hand ??
by looking in a mirrow and then picking the other one -lol
hope i never meet you coming towards me ---lol cheers
i think this question takes the cake on this site
thank our lucky stars you have cleared up that confusion
AnswerID: 475712

Reply By: Member - Outback Gazz - Sunday, Jan 22, 2012 at 20:38

Sunday, Jan 22, 2012 at 20:38
G'day Mighty Moose

I'm guessing you are a politician who works for Ronald McDonalds red headed sister ???


Happy Travelling

Gazz
AnswerID: 475722

Follow Up By: pop2jocem - Monday, Jan 23, 2012 at 11:30

Monday, Jan 23, 2012 at 11:30
MISTER GAZZ,,I hope you are not insinuating that our fearless leader has the IQ of a chook....lol

Cheers
Pop
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FollowupID: 750765

Follow Up By: Member - Outback Gazz - Monday, Jan 23, 2012 at 17:48

Monday, Jan 23, 2012 at 17:48
Hey Pop

I wouldn't praise her up that much !

Cheers

Gazz
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FollowupID: 750801

Reply By: The Bantam - Monday, Jan 23, 2012 at 12:03

Monday, Jan 23, 2012 at 12:03
I gather you think you may have a problem with your brake assemblies being on the correct side.

most electric trailer brakes are leading shoe systems, in that they use the mechanical advantage provided by the leading shoe arrangement to "boost" the braking preasure.

Most electric braking systems will work very poorly indeed running in reverse for this reason.

SO

to test this
find a flat open area, drive the rig forward and reverse, and use the manual override for the trailer brakes and compare the braking efficiency.

Full braking effort going forward should be able to lock the trailer wheels.


There are some other common brake system assembly issues..its enogh to say that the backing plates need to be straight, centered and properly aligned in the drums.


cheers
AnswerID: 475768

Reply By: toffytrailertrash - Monday, Jan 23, 2012 at 14:01

Monday, Jan 23, 2012 at 14:01
In Australia the answer is very simple.... The left side is known as the NEAR side or kerb side. The right side is known as the OFF SIDE or road centre side.
AnswerID: 475774

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