Trailer brake control: Where to put it?

[Martinjmpr]

So I got the trailer brake control today (Prodigy P2) and I even got the harness and figured out where it plugs into the wiring harness under the dash.

But for those of you who have a brake controller, where the heck do you mount that thing? The only place I can seem to find is directly in front of the OBD-II port which I really don't want to block since I run a Scangauge II. I'm pretty sure I have to mount this parallel to the ground but it looks like anywhere under the dash it's going to get kicked by me.

The last vehicle I owned with a trailer brake controller was a 1967 International Travelall and the dash didn't go down nearly as low on that truck. Also that was in 1983.

Can those of you with brake controllers show me how you mounted them? Thanks!

 

[having fun]

Mines on the right side on the bottom.
If your tall, long legged, will probably be a problem.

 

[ebg18t]

My P3 was mounted just below the fuse box opening. I still had plenty of space for my scan gauge and plugging in my TechStream.

 

[Martinjmpr]

Ah, got it now. I thought the whole unit had to sit parallel to ground but looking at the instructions now I see that's not the case.

 

[ebg18t]

Ah, got it now. I thought the whole unit had to sit parallel to ground but looking at the instructions now I see that's not the case.

Yep, no need to make it parallel to the ground.

 

[CXS]

My P3 was mounted just below the fuse box opening. I still had plenty of space for my scan gauge and plugging in my TechStream.

Mine's there too, works well.

 

[Velonici]

Mines on the right side on the bottom.
If your tall, long legged, will probably be a problem.

Mines in the same place so annoying. One of these days I'm going to move it.

 

[Beater]

Not my 4Runner or posts, but I myself have been looking into this and found the following information:

From this thread: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/172962-thinking-towing-my-car-will-work.html

You will definately need some kind of electronic trailer brake controler. I got a Prodigy P2 and like it a lot. It is a gyroscopic controller, so based on movement it applies more or less brake. It is more expensive though.

The cheaper style is about $30-$50 bucks and is just time delay essentially.

They will both work ok but since I was near the weight limit of the truck like you are I got the more expensive style. That said even this Reese Controller for $24 shipped will work for you.

Amazon.com: Reese Towpower (74642) Brakeman Timed Compact Brake Control: Automotive

If you still have the trailer brake pigtail that came in the glovebox of your truck, you just need to buy the controller, and you'll just use the butt connectors that come in the controller kit. If you don't have it, you'll need to buy a harness adapter, or plug and play harness for the modern Toyota trucks, and the controller.

Amazon.com: TEKONSHA P2 PRODIGY BRAKE CONTROL + WIRING HARNESS FOR TOYOTA 4RUNNER, LANDCRUISER, SEQUOIA, TUNDRA TACOMA & LEXUS LX570 GX460 LX470 GX470. CONTROLLER + PLUG/PLAY WIRE KIT.: Automotive

That is both the controller and plug and play harness adapter so you just plug it in. I got my P2 controller on Ebay for $90 or so, and already had the wiring pigtail so I spliced together my own custom length harness.

Here is the install video to install basically any brake controller in a 4runner.. it is really easy.

Trailer Brake Controller Installation - 2004 Toyota 4Runner Video | etrailer.com

I mounted my controller to the fuse box door so it was out of the way and completely removable. I made a very short (6 inch or so) harness. I ordered a new fuse box door and only put the brake controller in when I need it. I can remove the whole controller with wiring harness in about 5 seconds and pop in the clean fuse box door when I don't need the brake controller.

I would also consider a tranny cooler. Keep the tranny out of OD too. Like [MENTION=77234]LargeOrangeFont[/MENTION] I run a Prodigy brake controller. I have the P3 installed.

:beer:

 

[mb66]

I have a P3 but mounted it higher than this. I don't recall if the screws go in to the fuse panel cover or above it, but I have to reach a finger over the P3 to activate the diff lock. The cord goes in to the hole in the fuse panel cover. My boy's 6-3 and that was the only place his legs didn't occupy. Works well. I like the posted idea about mounting to a spare fuse panel door and removing it. We seldom tow our large trailer.

 

[gm350reratliff]

That's a good idea about mounting to the spare door. I Need to install a brake controller as well but I was wondering where to put it. Glad I found this thread.

 

[emoore924]

I have mine mounted to the *right* of the steering wheel, so sort of by my right shin, close to the center console. Keeps me from kicking it on the way out and I can see it through the steering wheel so I can see the brake force numbers, can be sure it the trailer is connected properly and also so I can see that it isn't having some sort of dysfunction.

 

[mb66]

Just looked again to confirm, the P3 is using the metal mount and it is attached above the fuse panel. It has a little higher profile than a P2 and we needed more room than mounting it to the panel would give. Where we have it, we can tilt it up when not using it and it's really out of the way. The P3 attaches to the lowest hanging holes on the mount.
I have a P2 mounted in my Dad's Tundra. There really is no good place to mount a controller in that truck. My knee always gets it. You'd think a semi-level area under the dash could be engineered into these vehicles for things like this.

 

[Martinjmpr]

That's a good idea about mounting to the spare door. I Need to install a brake controller as well but I was wondering where to put it. Glad I found this thread.

Well, I finally had time and decent enough weather to install it. I went ahead as suggested above and mounted it to the fuse box door, then I ran the wire through the finger-pull opening for the door. Keeps things nice and tucked in and I don't have to worry about hitting the wire when engaging the parking brake.

As you can see I used the plastic "pocket" that comes with the controller unit. I used both the self-tapping screws and also some 3m heavy duty mounting tape.

The wires were stiff enough that I tucked them in underneath the fusebox and above the parking brake. You can barely see the thick black cord for the wiring harness underneath the dash.

I'm hoping it works OK. I doubt that I'll get a second door and take the controller off as it's really not in the way, but it's nice to have that option. Installation took less than 10 minutes. One thing, I noticed the wiring harness included a white wire which I presume is a ground? I don't know, I didn't connect it to anything and I don't seem to be getting any error messages so I'm assuming I don't need it. I just zip-tied it out of the way.

Oh, and just for fun: Here's a picture of the last vehicle I owned that had a brake controller on it:

1967 International Harvester Travelall 4x4. Owned it from 1982 to 1983.

 

[jdw137]

Am I the only one who doesn't see your pictures?

 

[AuSeeker]

Am I the only one who doesn't see your pictures?

This topic is over 4 years old and photo hosting websites have changed, especially if Photo Bucket was used, not uncommon to lose old posted photos, also the original poster hasn't been back on the forum for almost 2 years so you can probaly foeget him updating his photos.