Installing Brake Controller for 2004 V8 Sport

[mac0822]

I have searched for hours and can't seem to find exactly what I'm looking for. I am buying a 3000-4000 trailer. I have five quick questions:

-Where exactly is the wiring located that I plug the harness into for a brake controller? Is it down near the parking brake?

-Is installing a brake controller as simple as plugging in the harness and then plugging that into the brake controller and I'm ready to go? OR is there more to it?

-Are there any pics of intallations of brake controllers on 4th gens (I have a 2004 V8 Sport)?

-Would basically any brake controller work for my 4Runner or are there specific ones that work best?

-When I'm not towing, can I just unplug the brake controller - or should I leave it active all the time?


I'm sorry if this has been asked a million times. I'm just totally clueless when it comes to this. Thanks a lot for any help.

 

[lonesouth]

I have searched for hours and can't seem to find exactly what I'm looking for. I am buying a 3000-4000 trailer. I have five quick questions:

-Where exactly is the wiring located that I plug the harness into for a brake controller? Is it down near the parking brake?

Correct, it is just behind the parking brake and just above the kick panel.

-Is installing a brake controller as simple as plugging in the harness and then plugging that into the brake controller and I'm ready to go? OR is there more to it?

You will need to crimp, splice, or wire nut the harness to the controller. The controller should have adequate instructions for you to be able to hook it up, i think there are 4 wires.

-Are there any pics of installations of brake controllers on 4th gens (I have a 2004 V8 Sport)?

I can snap some pics when I get home

-Would basically any brake controller work for my 4Runner or are there specific ones that work best?

Pretty much any electronic controller should work. I'd get one rated for more than one axle if you have a choice, just in case you upgrade trailers later.

-When I'm not towing, can I just unplug the brake controller - or should I leave it active all the time?

Leave it there. When there is no trailer attached, it will not affect your driving. The only time I notice mine is when I accidentally hit the manual slide and it kicks the cruise control off.

I'm sorry if this has been asked a million times. I'm just totally clueless when it comes to this. Thanks a lot for any help.

Better to ask, than to risk messing it up or going without. I will never tow a heavy load without brakes again. The difference is night and day and can be the difference between stopping short and a major wreck.

 

[mac0822]

Lonesouth...Thanks so much. That was very helpful.

I guess my only other (dumb) question is...

-Once I crimp, splice and wirenut the controller to the harness, I'm ready to go? Nothing else on the 4Runner needs to be wired?


Thanks again!

 

[lonesouth]

Nope, just plug it in, no other changes required. This is all assuming you have the towing package with the 7-pin round plug in the rear.

If you haven't used electronic trailer brakes before, it will take some getting used to. The controller will have two settings, speed and intensity. Speed affects how fast the brakes actuate and intensity affects how hard they brake. You will want to adjust both depending on the size of the load and the type of driving you are doing. It will take some fiddling to find what works best for you, and it will take some getting used to how it affects your stopping, but soon you will be able to predictably stop where and how you want to.

 

[Kmvreter]

I agree with lonesouth.
There was a loose harness connector pigtail (packaged up seperate in my glove box) that came with the T4R. You may need to buy this if yours is missing. I spliced this to the wiring that came with my brake controller. Plugged this new harness into the mating connector poking out just above the side kick panel by the parking brake.
Check the link in my signature to find the thread for how I built a temporary mounting for the controller.

 

[lonesouth]

pic of where I mounted my brake controller. I used velcro to mount it, that way I can take it out and use it in my dad's tundra if I need to. I broke that panel, so it is out getting glued up right now.

here is the connector above the kick panel. It is an odd angle for the pic, but shows the location.

 

[Ross]

I am about to do one on mine. I have found some companies sell an extra wire harness for about 30 bucks so you won't have to splice. Even if you splice it is an easy job. You should have gotten a pig tail (wire harness with on side having a plug that fits into the Toyota and the other ready to splice to). If you didn't get this don't stress it, some brake controllers have harness specifically for your Toyota.

Worst case you will have to splice 4 wires. The hardest thing is to figure out where you want to mount the controller so it is out of the way but easy to get to.

Here is a link for a plug and play wire harness with no splicing required:
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/HBC0/081785HBC.oap?keyword=trailer+brake+controllers+universal&pt=N2123&ppt=C0386

Here is one for a controller to work with it:
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/HBC0/81741B.oap?keyword=hayes+trailer+brake+controller&pt=N2123&ppt=C0386

Here is the one I have, I got it on Amazon for about 60 bucks, I will have to splice in this one with the Toyota supplied pig tail:http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/hop0/47295.oap?keyword=hayes+trailer+brake+controller&pt=N2123&ppt=C0386

 

[lonesouth]

The hardest thing is to figure out where you want to mount the controller so it is out of the way but easy to get to.

I agree with that. Mine is easily accessible, but I find it hits my knee constantly. When I drove it more, I got used to it and drove around it. Now that it is the wife's car, I find myself hitting it more often. Still the best location I could find that would provide quick access and feedback on performance without too much taking my eyes off the road.

 

[mac0822]

Do I need a sway bar to tow a 2788lb (dry) trailer with my 04 V8?

 

[lonesouth]

Depends on how much weight you put on the trailer...

I'm assuming you are talking about a weight distribution hitch. I don't have any experience with them, but imagine it is one of those things I will never tow without again, once I get one. I don't tow that heavy often enough to make me get one yet...

 

[mac0822]

It's a camper, so I'd assume it would be around 3500lbs total. I've had people tell me that it's not needed and others tell me it's a must have. I guess I'll tow it around town a few times and see if it feels right.

Thanks again.

 

[Ross]

It's a camper, so I'd assume it would be around 3500lbs total. I've had people tell me that it's not needed and others tell me it's a must have. I guess I'll tow it around town a few times and see if it feels right.

Thanks again.

My trailer weighs about 3200 loaded. I have the V6 and don't use one. My Dad has a newer V8 trail blazer and a trailer the about the same weight and he uses one. Old style weight disturbing hitches were difficult to back up with, that is not the case with newer ones.

If you are doing allot of freeway driving and want to maintain a decent speed I would get one. I rarely tow for more than an hour or two at a time and I keep my speed down.

It’s probably not necessary but it will make the driving less fatiguing if you are drivning any distance.

 

[edwardn]

First post and thanks to everyone for passing on their knowledge, i was scratching my head trying to figure out how to connect up my electric trailer brakes, read this thread then checked my 4 Runner for the plug then found the other half in the glove box, so thanks to the previous owner for not removing it also... brakes are working as they should... it sure made my day.

Regards
EDD