So I left AZ for few months to go to NorCal. Now that I’m here, I’m gonna hook up my camper and go further north, still in CA.
My camper weighs over 6500 lbs, dry. With all my stuff in it, I’m easily over 7000 lbs. Naturally the trailer has electric brakes and requires that the tow vehicle has a brake controller. My Tundra came with tow package, but not the controller. Later years, 2014+ were equipped with integrated one.
Here is just for fun pic of my father’s-in-law Tacoma with my Tundra. I just paid him a little visit and thought this was kinda funny.
Now, all the aftermarket brake controllers that I’ve seen, came with a mounting bracket, and it seems that most people just drill them into the plastic s, somewhere within easy reach. Usually under the steering wheel area, or center console, or alike.
I never liked that method, as it seems tacky, and I hate drilling into perfectly smooth plastics. So I decided to see if I can utilize a small cubby hole. And would you look at that, right next to the TOW/HAUL button!
With just a little help from my AAA card, the bezel comes out
Here’s what I’m working with. Controller and hardware, for about $10, plug and play extension wires. Tundra came prewired for controller, so it was really nice. I just had to pick up couple of small screws, nuts and washers, to make it work with my plan
I really lucked out here. The tabs that held the cubby in place, lined up perfectly with controller bracket!
All that’s left to do is run the wiring and hook up ground.
See the two white plugs? The further one is part of factory harness
Pop the bezel back in and it’s all done! I’m really pleased with the way it turned out.
Comments (15)
That doesn't look half bad dude. That brake controller looks a little slimmer that most of what I've seen. What year is your truck though? I'm suprised that Toyota didn't start integrating the controller until 2014. Ford has been doing it a bit longer, mine even has one.
Thanks. Mine is 2012. Yeah, when I was looking at other pickups, I noticed that some of 2007 F150s had them.
Reply to: The Dude
Yeah, that's around when they started. I think they put them even earlier in the SuperDutys in the late 90's
Whoever designed that fan knob placement needs fired lmao
:joy: right??
That’s some clean install right there!
As a euro guy I don’t know a lot about these. How do the trailer brakes work? Hydraulic? Mechanical? Also, what is the power supply for the trailer?
It’s interesting to see all this. In europe we only use push brakes.. automatic braking trailers with mechanism in the hitch
I think I know exactly the brakes you’re talking about. Spring loaded mechanism in the hitch. These are electric. You can adjust how much brakes the trailer applies 0-10, by pushing an arrow on the controller up or down.
It’s a pretty slick design. There is a small lever (potentiometer if you will) on the controller that you can press to see how much brakes the trailer applies without activating the tow vehicle brakes. So basically you don’t want too much on the trailer, or else they’ll lock up and you don’t want too little, as the trailer will push the truck. So you dial it in and trailer apples similar amount of brakes as the tow vehicle does.
Hope that makes sense. That’s the best way I can explain at this time, being few vodka drinks deep :joy:
Reply to: The Dude
Thank you :sunglasses:
It looks good but I would not trust it tho :sweat_smile: or other people if they set it correctly.
Yes, our trailers have spring loaded brakes which are dead reliable and work with every vehicle.
Yet another difference between us and europe 🤔
Reply to: jura.poh
Electric trailer brakes are pretty much American standard. All pickups now come with integrated controllers. The controllers don’t come preset from the factory, everyone sets it themselves. You change it in seconds, depending on the weight of the trailer, or road conditions.
Any concerns on how much it sticks out
Not at all. There is nothing it can interfere with, plenty clear of the shifter too. If you think about it, it’s actually a lot less exposed, as opposed to how they suggest to mount it. You know, usually by your knees somewhere
Reply to: The Dude
Ah excellent. Does It Turn Off separately or With ignition. I always worry about accessories not wired for off same time as ignition draining my battery
Reply to: j_young182
None of the lights are on, however, the power is always supplied to it, even with the ignition off. The reason for that is because it’s essentially part of braking system. So if the trailer is hooked up and the key is out of ignition, if you depress brake pedal, the brake lights on the trailer will illuminate.
Not bad. Like how it turned out!
Thanks