Trailer OEM Harness wiring

[MadeInMaine]

Hey everyone,

I just picked up a REDARC TowPro controller for my ‘16, wiring it up the the OEM harness and I have a question.

The REDARC harness has 4 wires (brake lights, brake output, ground, input power) and the OEM harness has 5 wires (brake controller battery feed, headlamp switch to taillights, vehicle stop lamps, trailer ground, trailer brake feed from controller)

My question is: do I just leave the “headlamp switch to taillights” wire capped off? I would assume the 7 pin connector with trailer has the tail lights controlled.

Thanks for all advice.

 

[rigtec]

Hey everyone,

I just picked up a REDARC TowPro controller for my ‘16, wiring it up the the OEM harness and I have a question.

The REDARC harness has 4 wires (brake lights, brake output, ground, input power) and the OEM harness has 5 wires (brake controller battery feed, headlamp switch to taillights, vehicle stop lamps, trailer ground, trailer brake feed from controller)

My question is: do I just leave the “headlamp switch to taillights” wire capped off? I would assume the 7 pin connector with trailer has the tail lights controlled.

Thanks for all advice.

Hi Owen,

I just looked at the wiring print sheet for your vehicle. The Diagram shows a 7 pin feed to the trailer socket (feeding in), listed as: Brake lights, tail lights, back-up lights, Ground source, Left signal, Right signal, and 12V Power supply.

The other socket (5 PIN) borrows from the 7 PIN, and is only, Stop lights, L & R turn signals, Parking lights, and GND... that's it. You may wanna check and make sure that they sold you the right kit for the 2016 4Runner, cause a 4 PIN (IMHO) is missing something! 'Best to you',

rig, cheers!

 

[greatape]

I installed one of those recently on my 2016 and didn't like the connection I had to make with OEM wiring harness so I went with a Tekonsha 3041P. It's a much better harness, works great and very simple to install. Links for reference

https://www.amazon.com/Tekonsha-304...unner&keywords=tekonsha+wiring+harness+toyota


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VknjhHgbgs4

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/258905-trailer-brake-controller.html

 

[MadeInMaine]

I installed one of those recently on my 2016 and didn't like the connection I had to make with OEM wiring harness so I went with a Tekonsha 3041P. It's a much better harness, works great and very simple to install. Links for reference

https://www.amazon.com/Tekonsha-304...unner&keywords=tekonsha+wiring+harness+toyota


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VknjhHgbgs4

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/258905-trailer-brake-controller.html

[MENTION=139970]greatape[/MENTION] , what is the difference of the stock harness? Seems crazy that toyota gives us a harness that doesn’t work...

Thanks

 

[Glandnut]

I'm not sure what you mean by Toyota not giving us a harness that doesn't work. My 2016 Trail stock harness works flawlessly with my Tekonsha P3 and a plug and play pigtail harness I purchased that goes from the back of the P3 to the factory harness behind the floor pod next to your left foot. It simply plugs into the Toyota harness plug, and the other end into the brake controller and you're done. Stupid easy.

My Aliner Ranger 15 plugged right into the 7 pin trailer connector out back and all lights and trailer brakes work flawlessly.

 

[greatape]

[MENTION=139970]greatape[/MENTION] , what is the difference of the stock harness? Seems crazy that toyota gives us a harness that doesn’t work...

Thanks

MadeinMaine, I am not implying the oem pigtail harness doesn't work. I had an issue with my OEM pigtail harness once I wired it. Specifically, I believed it was an issue with the return signal which led me to believe a ground issue and to be honest; I didn't like that flimsey harness in the first place. Bottom line, I ordered the Tekonsha harness and but spliced in and terminated a proper chassis ground and problem solved.

 

[greatape]

I'm not sure what you mean by Toyota not giving us a harness that doesn't work. My 2016 Trail stock harness works flawlessly with my Tekonsha P3 and a plug and play pigtail harness I purchased that goes from the back of the P3 to the factory harness behind the floor pod next to your left foot. It simply plugs into the Toyota harness plug, and the other end into the brake controller and you're done. Stupid easy.


My Aliner Ranger 15 plugged right into the 7 pin trailer connector out back and all lights and trailer brakes work flawlessly.

He's speaking of the OEM pigtail harness usually found in the glove box not the prewired harness you plug in to near the left foot well

 

[MadeInMaine]

I'm not sure what you mean by Toyota not giving us a harness that doesn't work. My 2016 Trail stock harness works flawlessly with my Tekonsha P3 and a plug and play pigtail harness I purchased that goes from the back of the P3 to the factory harness behind the floor pod next to your left foot. It simply plugs into the Toyota harness plug, and the other end into the brake controller and you're done. Stupid easy.

My Aliner Ranger 15 plugged right into the 7 pin trailer connector out back and all lights and trailer brakes work flawlessly.

The harness that connects by the E-brake has 5 wires coming off it.
The harness that connects to the REDARC TowPro has 4 wires.

I believe I can just leave the “headlamp switch to vehicle tail lamps” wire from the Toyota harness unconnected. That is my question.

Sorry for confusion

Thanks for input

 

[rigtec]

The harness that connects by the E-brake has 5 wires coming off it.
The harness that connects to the REDARC TowPro has 4 wires.

I believe I can just leave the “headlamp switch to vehicle tail lamps” wire from the Toyota harness unconnected. That is my question.

Sorry for confusion

Thanks for input

Hi MadeInMaine,


...if you leave the headlight pin disconnected, your tail lamps won't work! But it just occured to me That the 'brake output pin' and the 'vehicle stop lamps pin' could be wired together to feed both circuits; using a Y jumper with-in the 4 wire harness, thus eliminating the need for one of the listed pins; perhaps that's why there are only 4 pins... just my 0.000002 cents!

rig, cheers!

 

[Glandnut]

The harness that connects by the E-brake has 5 wires coming off it.
The harness that connects to the REDARC TowPro has 4 wires.

I believe I can just leave the “headlamp switch to vehicle tail lamps” wire from the Toyota harness unconnected. That is my question.

Sorry for confusion

Thanks for input

Yes, I did indeed misunderstand what route you were taking. I hadn't remembered the provided loose pigtail in the glovebox as I went directly to the stock plug in the driver foot pod and bought the harness that didn't require splicing. Foot in mouth, sorry.