What to do about bad trailer wiring socket on 5th gen?

[2014 Warthog]

Had a shakedown cruise with the camping trailer this weekend in my '14 runner. I'd hear talk about the poor placement of the wiring socket which is way under the bumper, but I finally realized why. The trailer plug BARELY reaches it. And in the cold that cable shrank to the point where making a right turn was threatening to pull it out! When the cable is warm it barely reaches securely.

So anyway, I want to extend the socket and mount it to my CBI bumper. Has anyone else extended that connector and if so, how did you do it? Is there an extension cable you can buy for the plug? Or did you have to cut and hand solder in extensions for each wire separately or ???

 

[RedSled]

I don't know how many pins you have, but i just googled it and see many.

 

[Gtranch14]

Trailer hookup

I'm also having some problems with my 01 runner and getting the trailer light hookups to work, unfortunately mine is a little bit more complicated but I'm working through it. I would go and Buy some 16-18 gauge wire and splice it to the existing wire in color order and you'll be able to make it as long as u want. Just use the correct connectors and heat shrink it when done for better protection. Easier then re running all new wires to get an extra few inches

 

[2014 Warthog]

I ended up buying a 3 foot 7 pin extension from ebay and that worked well. BUT, a far better solution would be to mount the socket on the back bumper and splice in extension wires which I'll get to one of these days when I'm not feeling too lazy on a weekend

Even without trying to hook up a trailer, the location of the socket is bad and I've dragged it through the dirt off-roading more than once :/

 

[boyfester]

I just made a 2' extension cable. If you do any off-road driving, trust me when I say you will thank Toyota for placing the socket where it is. My trailer and cable are in off-site storage so I'll have to send you a picture later today.


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[boyfester]

BTW - I had a similar question back in 2015 (see below)

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/185016-why-trailer-connector-so-far-away-hitch-ball.html

 

[boyfester]

This is what I made. 2.5 foot length.

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