Trailer Brake

3 times in the past 2 years I've gotten a trailer that were found to have no working trailer brakes. I found this out during pre trip by slowly taking off in 2nd and than gently pulling on the trailer brake. So how would I catch that major issue without it? Thus far I've never had a truck without one.

Grumpy reiterates:

Yes, my question was how to test the service brakes on the trailer with no trolley brake.

You don't. The service brake is all one system, with the trailer service system added when you're hooked up. And as discussed here, that trailer brake control in the cab is actually an option for the buyer. I figure if it's optional, there's no real reason for a separate test.

3 times in the past 2 years I've gotten a trailer that were found to have no working trailer brakes. I found this out during pre trip by slowly taking off in 2nd and than gently pulling on the trailer brake. So how would I catch that major issue without it? Thus far I've never had a truck without one.

Correct me if I'm wrong here.

In order for the service brakes to not be working on the trailer they would have to be so far out of adjustment that the shoes no longer make contact when applied.

Right?

And part of a proper and through pretrip involves checking the adjustment of your slack adjusters?

Right?

So.. the answer to your question would be... Doing a proper and through pretrip.