Morons? Idiots? Stupid? Well, perhaps ....

[jrandom]

I remember when most if not all trucks didn't even come with one. It was a mash of tapping into the rear brake lights and running a power brake controller from the cab. Not really sure where you would put it in the outside of the current bumper without causing a nice knee gnashing protrusion.

Me too, I trailer a few things, and I prefer it right were it is.

Don't bichit fixit! Add a pigtail, do the [MENTION=65614]Antman[/MENTION] rear bumper cup holder mod, run the pigtail into one of the cup holders and coil it up in there when not in use. Problem solved... And you get cup holders, genius I know :madgrin:

 

[gotblika]

Perspective is a funny thing; I once had a Tacoma with the plug hanging way down on a bracket. After dragging it many times (not really "wheelin", just on rough roads with washouts), it broke off and I was disappointed in the design. Got my 5th gen 4Runner and couldn't believe how smart the placement was!

Love that you not only asked a dealer a design question (the answers are priceless!) but you asked two different dealers.

Dan

Someone actually make a bracket for the Tacoma's to relocate the plug just as the 4runner plug sits. Lots of guys smashed it like you did.

 

[Rmack]

Put me down as one who does not like it. Only reason I really do not care is I own 3 other full size trucks that do the towing, all with an easily accessible receptacle. The placement on my other trucks from the factory is even with the receiver, no way it could drag without the hitch touching the ground.

Understand the thinking if it were designed for wheeling/crawling, but it could be located in a better position and accomplish the same thing.

 

[Titanpat57]

Put me down as one who does not like it. Only reason I really do not care is I own 3 other full size trucks that do the towing, all with an easily accessible receptacle. The placement on my other trucks from the factory is even with the receiver, no way it could drag without the hitch touching the ground.

Understand the thinking if it were designed for wheeling/crawling, but it could be located in a better position and accomplish the same thing.

I agree..but I think to bring it through the bumper would compromise the duty the aluminum I bean on the back

 

[flyinhawaiian01]

Okay, so its a bit inconvenient for those who tow a lot, and I've already experienced a cable that's too short to connect to the stock box (had to improvise and extend a connector I already had), but a simple search on amazon and google brings up every possible extension one could ever want or need! 20-40 bucks and a few days later, you too can have a short extension that you can clip to your hitch so crawling under the vehicle is a thing of the past!

Most folks will need something like this one, but there are many more for rv and other uses:

Simple 7 way to 5 way extension

Of course, some will whine that they have to pay for an extension and it should be part of the vehicle's accessories, but what I say to that is the fact that most vehicles didn't even come with ANY trailer wiring just a few years back! You had to pay a couple hundred bucks to get a "kit" installed at the local U-Haul or trailer shop, or spend a few hours under and inside the vehicle wiring up a trailer harness, which usually ended up under the dash somewhere. For 40 bucks, I like the idea that the connections are under the vehicle, out of sight and protected from damage from rocks, and I can put the connector away until I need it again.

 

[sandcrawler]

I remember when most if not all trucks didn't even come with one. It was a mash of tapping into the rear brake lights and running a power brake controller from the cab. Not really sure where you would put it in the outside of the current bumper without causing a nice knee gnashing protrusion.

Me too, I trailer a few things, and I prefer it right were it is.

Don't bichit fixit! Add a pigtail, do the [MENTION=65614]Antman[/MENTION] rear bumper cup holder mod, run the pigtail into one of the cup holders and coil it up in there when not in use. Problem solved... And you get cup holders, genius I know :madgrin:

upvote for Antman cupholders :beer:

 

[jbjones85]

i personally like the placement as it is tucked away and won't get damaged off road (well not easily at least). I don't tow often but for the few times I do it is not a huge issue to plug it in. Make an extension to tie onto the hitch if a huge deal.

 

[ScoMey]

you'll find with a little practice, you can "find the hole"...

the door opens down on the 7 way to lock the plug in. If it really is bugging the living shit out of you, you can get a replacement unit from eTrailer (be sure to get the 18" extension model) and you can face it directly towards the back, albeit hanging down the width of the plug

After hooking up my tent trailer a couple of times, I was able to get the 7-way plug in without looking anymore. It's really not that bad.

 

[Antman]

I was pretty disappointed that the first time I needed it (the 4 pin part) was rusted solid and had to be cleaned. I'm going to make a sacrificial plug to leave plugged in when not in use to protect the pins from the elements.

Get some dielectric grease and fill up the connections with it.

Mine are packed solid with it- can't take a chance on the trailer lights not working and wasting a fishing day, ya know?!

 

[Ike64]

Get some dielectric grease and fill up the connections with it.



Mine are packed solid with it- can't take a chance on the trailer lights not working and wasting a fishing day, ya know?!

This was just what I was gonna suggest


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[barryhiram]

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/2005169-post13.html

 

[3wbdriver]

Get some dielectric grease and fill up the connections with it.

Mine are packed solid with it- can't take a chance on the trailer lights not working and wasting a fishing day, ya know?!

Great idea! I'll get some this week. I guess that means I need to clean out the pigs lard now though...... :caked:

 

[Bootleg]

This was just what I was gonna suggest

Yet another sensible idea snaked by Antman

:fish2:

 

[Moroney167]

I figured it was an awesome thought out design. As someone who tows a lot in the past. Although not towing much with this truck I still do on occasion, its towing capabilities was a bit of a selling point as a last resort small trailer deal to not need a truck bed anymore. I loved that it has the flat pin and 7 pin round factory! Hell I have had some actual trucks not coming with both. On top of it they kept out of site and mounted secure up out of way. I'll agree with Die electric grease all the time. And that 30 years of the line being well overthought for such a simple thing. Not just ugly and welded to a tab on hitch so first snow bank you hit yanks it and bends.