Another Innovative Product from Innovative Products of America The Light Ranger Mutt #9101 I work on a lot of trailers at my shop and with any electrical diagnostics I do, having the right tool for the right job makes all the difference in the world. The usual method for trailer diagnosing is to have the customer leave their tow vehicle so I can use it to power up the trailer. Sometimes, that might not be possible, which could mean I might not get the job. Innovative Products of America (IPA) has solved that problem with the Light Ranger Mutt.
IPA has come up with this compact tester that eliminates the need to have the tow vehicle and the trailer there at the same time. It not only can test the lights on the trailer from front to back, but also the electric brake systems with one handy standalone tester.
Made from durable plastic and about the size of a small arms ammo box this weather proof unit has its own 10amp @ 12v output with an automatic resetting internal breaker. You can test the entire circuit by simply plugging the trailer into the convenient “multi-trailer receptacle” connector on the side of the unit. It not only can test the lights on the trailer from front to back, but also the electric brake systems and it doesn’t matter if it’s a 7 flat, 6 round, or the typical 4/5 flat boat trailer connector. They all can be tested with ease.
Inside the unit you’ll find one switch that has all the functions clearly marked for all the different circuits found on a trailer. Turn signals will also flash just as they would on the vehicle as well as an LED to indicate the condition of the battery pack. (A standard motorcycle battery fits in it perfectly.) Oh, don’t worry about charging the battery there’s a built in trickle charger to maintain the battery as well as a handy 12v power port on the side of the unit.
At about 2lbs (without the battery) it’s easy to carry and easy to store. Everything is self-contained in its weather tight case. The only thing you need is the trailer. It’s a definite a must for anyone who works on trailer wiring, especially when you find it time consuming to run back and forth from the tow vehicle and back to the trailer constantly or when you need to snag that extra guy in the shop to hold the brake pedal down.
IPA also carries the testers for the tow vehicle as well. These testers simply plug into the tow vehicles trailer connector and will give you a visual LED to indicate whether or not the system on the vehicle is functioning properly. Using these two testers together can eliminate a lot of the guess work and speed up your diagnostic time for sure.
This is definitely something every garage and road service professional should have in their toolbox inventory. I highly recommend purchasing the LIGHT RANGER MUTT #9101 and the Trailer Tester kit #TSTPK1 from IPA. You can find them at www.ipatools.com. Check out all of their great products while you’re there. Tell em’ Gonzo sent ya!
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