Pre-purchase inspection checklist — 2001 Great Dane Trailer
The 2001 Great Dane trailer has a few notable recall issues mainly related to its braking system, including potential ABS warning and spring brake valve failures. Prospective buyers should pay close attention to the trailer's braking components, as these issues affect safety and require diligent inspection.
Known issues to inspect
ABS warning light circuit short
How to check: Inspect the ABS warning light for functionality.
Spring brake valve separation
How to check: Check for unusual air leaks when brakes are applied.
Non-compliance with FMVSS No. 121
How to check: Ensure power to rear pintle hook for ABS.
Test-drive walkthrough
- 01
Cold start
What to check: Listen for air hissing sound.
Red flag: Persistent air leak sound.
- 02
First minute idling
What to check: Monitor ABS warning light.
Red flag: Light stays on or blinks.
- 03
Engaging brakes
What to check: Feel for brake response delay.
Red flag: Delayed brake response.
- 04
Initial acceleration
What to check: Observe stability under load.
Red flag: Trailer sways or shifts excessively.
- 05
Stopping from speed
What to check: Check for brake pulsing or fade.
Red flag: Brakes feel uneven or weak.
Questions for the seller
Use this exact phrasing.
- Has the trailer had ABS repairs?
- Were spring brake valves serviced recently?
- Is there a history of brake issues?
- Any modifications to the brake system?
- How often was the trailer maintained?
Documents to request
Don't sign anything until you have these.
- ABS repair documentation
- Brake valve service records
- Trailer maintenance log
- Recall remedy receipts
- FMVSS compliance certificate
Generated by gpt-4o on 6/9/2026. Grounded in the NHTSA recall corpus and owner-complaint patterns for the 2001 Great Dane Trailer.