Trailer wiring?

[Super-G]

I have an 02 4 Runner Sport Edition.

I purchased it used and it has what appears to be a factory tow hitch. I have a small bass fishing boat at my home in the Pocono Mts and I will be wanting to tow it around to different lakes this summer.

I don't see a trailer wiring harness. Where should I look to see if my 4Runner came factory with a trailer wiring harness?

If it didn't come with one what's involved in hooking one up? I seem to remember that there are companies out there that sell a plug and go harness.

 

[Kung]

I could be wrong but I'd think the OEM trailer wiring harness would be attached somewhere right next to the hitch receiver; that's where mine was (2000 Toyota 4Runner SR5 Highlander).

As far as installing one if it didn't have one, you'll need to remove the side paneling in the back of the 4Runner, as well as the carpeting and such; the OEM location for the trailer wiring converter is on the driver's side behind the plastic panel in the back. It plugs in-line with the wiring controlling the rear brake/turn lights.

If you end up having to install your own, it's a bit time-consuming but not that hard. You essentially:

- remove the rear plastic strip at the back of the 4Runner (just inside where the hatch closes)
- as well as the carpeting and both plastic sides (though you MAY be able to get away with just loosening them, as I did) - in order to plug in the trailer wiring kit (in parallel with the turn/brake lights).
- You also have to route part of the wiring to the passenger side to plug into the brake/turn lights on that side
- You then route the external 4-pin wiring harness from inside the cab through the floor (via a pre-cut, plugged penetration) to attach it to the outside of the 4Runner near the hitch

Of course, if you already HAVE a trailer wiring kit installed and it works fine, then you're golden. However, be aware that if you have a kit and it does NOT work, you may want to buy a kit like the one below, as I did, because the OEM trailer wiring converter is a hell of a lot more expensive than it should be. LOL

In my case, I did have the OEM trailer wiring kit; but somehow the ground for the system broke. They wanted $150 (!!) for just that box whereas the entire wiring kit from Hopkins was $40 or so.

Toyota

 

[Harleydoc]

I have an oem wiring harness if you need it pm me your addy and when I find it I will drop it in the mail in the next few days

 

[Super-G]

OK so I looked underneath my truck and on the driver's side behind the rear 1/4 panel I found what appears to be a factory connector for the trailer wiring. It's a white square type connector with 4 female holes. It appears that all I need is the OEM style harness/connector that plugs into it to convert it to the flat 4 plug connector that is on my boat trailer.

Does that sound right?

 

[having fun]

That is the right location area. It sould have a plug in box for your pig tail, if not and it sounds like you have the plug in adapter to put one on. Most newer 4runners are in stalled with a 7 pin plug in w/ a bracket.

If you can't find a setup to plug into it on 4 pin, you could get a factory 7 pin if your vehicle is applable and get a plug in that goes to the 7 pin to 4 pin.

 

[having fun]

After looking on mine, there is a 4 pin plugin and a 2nd- 3 pin plug in. Your vehicle might only be setup on a 4 wire system. You might go to a wrecking yard, junk yard and find a year like yours with the ,4 pin only setup.

It is always easier to plug something in to factory plugs than tap into the wireing harness.

 

[Wasatch Rebel]

I'm re-dredging up an old thread, but, I have a 2000 4runner and I need to put a four pin connector for a trailer on it. The vehicle used to have a connector, but it wasn't functioning when I bought the vehicle and I got tired of it dangling so I snipped the wires a few years ago. Now I need to use those wires again to get my trailer lights working. There are four wires that I can see: brown, white, green and yellow. Can anyone tell me if this sounds like a standard setup for a wiring harness? Using one of those testers that have an alligator clip you hook to ground, and a pointed tip on the other end that lights up when there is current, I have found that the brown wire is the tail lights, and the green and yellow wires both light up when the brakes are pressed. But I cannot find any kind of flashing from the tester when the blinkers are turned on--no wires seem to be lighting up the tester for the blinkers. My thought was that if the old hook up was correct, I would just need to figure out the wiring and reattach a connector--but is something wrong if I can't find anything blinking? And if so, any ideas exactly what I need to do?

 

[KidVermicious]

Those are the standard colors for a four way trailer wiring harness. Green is your right blinker, yellow is left, and brown goes to both sides. White is neutral. Try sticking your tester between the green or yellow wire and the white wire and look for turn signal voltage again.

 

[Wasatch Rebel]

Those are the standard colors for a four way trailer wiring harness. Green is your right blinker, yellow is left, and brown goes to both sides. White is neutral. Try sticking your tester between the green or yellow wire and the white wire and look for turn signal voltage again.

Thanks. I'll give that a shot in a few when it stops raining.

 

[Tmiron]

97 Trailer Wiring?

I can't find the wiring or plug for trailer lights... Did the 97 3rd gen come with this or do I have to install one? I have the factory hitch on there, so one would think they put a plug in for lights as well.... but the manual doesn't mention it at all

 

[rmckee421]

[MENTION=89073]Super-G[/MENTION] Nice truck, I have the exact same one. I am looking to install a trailer wiring kit in mine, thanks to everyone for the useful info!

Also, any advice from anyone on towing with a high mileage truck (@330K kilometers / around 205K Miles) I plan/hope to use this as a crew truck, 2-5 crew members and towing a trailer with less than 3000 lbs total trailer weight. Any advice on how to calculate how much weight I can tow with how much weight in-cabin? Thanks!

 

[poleclimber63]

hello fellow Vernonite

My 4Runner is my primary tow vehicle. I tow a 17' sportboat which weighs 4200lbs. The rated max. is 5000lbs. This truck tows ok, but if you're towing loads over 4000lbs, I'm sorry to say, its under-powered. I just have to be patient and I'm consigned to the fact it just takes longer to get to and from the lake.

As I understand it, you never tow more than GVW, as your vehicle can be unstable towing. I've also don't tow more than 80% of the max. so as to not over stress the vehicle (brakes, drivetrain and frame). So with the 4Runner, I wouldn't tow over 4500lbs. As far as loading, if you're towing 4000lbs, you could comfortably haul 500lbs in the truck.

If you're only hauling 3000lbs or less, you'll be good. You could carry 4 guys and still haul a fair bit of gear---- maybe 900lbs, as long as the load is distributed.

 

[4Runner4Leon]

Sorry to bring up an old thread, but I'm not able to start my own yet.

My '97 4Runner has the trailer wiring harness wrapped around the hitch, and the connector just dangles. I am trying to figure out how it should be attached to the hitch itself.

I saw a twin of my 4Runner today, and here is how their connector was mounted:





Does anyone know if this is the OEM mount, or just some generic mount that someone added? And if it's OEM, what would the part number be (I can't seem to find it anywhere)?

 

[hagnecco]

OEM receiver from junk yard

I picked up an OEM receiver with trailer wiring from a junk yard today. They removed it, so I wasn't able to see where the wiring was routed or where the taillight converter should sit. I was able to figure out the harness connecting the left and right lights, just don't know which side the harness exits the cabin or where the ground cable and converter should mount.

Any pictures would be much appreciated.

 

[AntonioCm1983]

Question

I have an oem wiring harness if you need it pm me your addy and when I find it I will drop it in the mail in the next few days

Hey I know this is ab old post do you still have that harness and does it also have the converter or even a serial number or model number I called toyota that cabt find it they need the model number

 

[AntonioCm1983]

Question

I have an oem wiring harness if you need it pm me your addy and when I find it I will drop it in the mail in the next few days

Hey I know this is an old post do you still have that harness and does it also have the converter or even a serial number or model number I called toyota that cant find it they need the model number

 

[shadow247]

I don't think the OEM kit is available, but there are 2 options for Direct Plug and Play in the aftermarket.

Hopkins 43415 Plug-In Simple Vehicle Wiring Kit

CURT 55341 Vehicle-Side Custom 4-Pin Trailer Wiring Harness for Select Toyota 4Runner

Plug these into Amazon and you'll find them. I'm about to get the Curt one for my 4runner, as the PO just hardwired a kit with quick splice connectors, and they are crapping out.