Why is trailer connector so far away from hitch ball?

[boyfester]

Just received our 3040-P Tekonsha brake controller wiring harness and moved the trailer brake controller from our Honda Pilot to the new 5th Gen. We're a little less than a week away from our camping trip and I just found out that the 7-way trailer connector is really far away from the hitch ball. What's up with that Toyota? I've never seen a connector so far away from the ball. Very strange design. My tent trailer's wiring barely makes it over to the connector. I had my wife make a slow right turn while I walked along and watched the wiring. You guessed it, it became too tight and would have pulled away from the car if I wasn't standing there. Now I have to buy a 2-foot long 7-way to 7-way RV extension cord to make the connection. Anyone else have this problem with their trailers? I'm going to buy the extension so if I ever go back to towing with the Pilot I can just disconnect the extension cord portion.

 

[1engineer]

Because this truck is built to take off road. The spare is in the middle so to get a secure protected mount it had to go there.

 

[Carolina Roscoe]

Just received our 3040-P Tekonsha brake controller wiring harness and moved the trailer brake controller from our Honda Pilot to the new 5th Gen. We're a little less than a week away from our camping trip and I just found out that the 7-way trailer connector is really far away from the hitch ball. What's up with that Toyota? I've never seen a connector so far away from the ball. Very strange design. My tent trailer's wiring barely makes it over to the connector. I had my wife make a slow right turn while I walked along and watched the wiring. You guessed it, it became too tight and would have pulled away from the car if I wasn't standing there. Now I have to buy a 2-foot long 7-way to 7-way RV extension cord to make the connection. Anyone else have this problem with their trailers? I'm going to buy the extension so if I ever go back to towing with the Pilot I can just disconnect the extension cord portion.

Just wondering where and how you mounted the brake controller in the 4Runner? I'm planning on using Velcro.

If you have a pic you could share, I would greatly appreciate. :thanks::thumb:

 

[cleveland48]

I hardly every pull anything, maybe my brothers Polaris ranger. Where do u get this extensions? Everyone of our trailers wiring harness is too short to reach.

 

[Bimmer-Bob]

If you're handy at splicing, you can make your own extension, I'm told. The advantage of this, besides saving money, is that you can make the extension any length you wish. A lot of the extensions I found were in the 2-3 foor range, which is too long for my application, and I would've risked dragging the cable when towing.

I finally found an 18" extension from ProPride (a hitch manufacturer). It's sort of expensive for what it is ($35 + shipping) and took about a week before it even shipped (I think they make them to order), but it ended up being just about the perfect length for me. YMMV.

 

[Raven]

I had exactly the same problem - I guess that is why they sell those extensions.
I think, although pricey, they are worth it. I have made my own in the past, and, depending on the bits you purchase to complete the task, you end up with 7 or 14 exposed connections, which will corrode and give you trouble down the road.
Of course, having the extra connection point of the extension isn't ideal either.

 

[boyfester]

I'm making my own too. Mine will be 2 feet. I did find one on eBay that is 4 feet and many from 8-10 feet long. If I got one of these I'd wrap the excess around the propane tank.

As for the attachment of the controller, I just used two self tapping screws and mounted it on the left side.

 

[Simonpk]

same issue with me as well, I have been towing my pop up camper for 10+ years now on various vehicles - I made up a 2ft extension as well

 

[bluebullet]

Good technique to shorten safety chains by twisting them. I also cross mine so they might serve as a cradle in a breakaway situation.

 

[Titanpat57]

Good technique to shorten safety chains by twisting them. I also cross mine so they might serve as a cradle in a breakaway situation.

and lock your latch down, either with a padlock (best), removable pin (ok) or a a cable tie (better than than nothing)

I actually moved mine closer to the receiver and facing out, got tired of fiddlefuking around upside down to plug it in. When and if you wheel, you have to be extra careful not to damage it...that's the down side.

 

[Apex Overland]

I just spliced my trailer harness about two foot longer and when I did I secured a small D-ring on the loom so I can clip it on the left safety loop.

took 15 min. :bluejump:

 

[Semi-Hex]

I just got a longer lead and replaced the entire unit on my trailer. Now the wire goes straight to my pivot point, then to the junction. No cable hanging down to get caught on rocks, sticks or anything to rip the wire out.

 

[boyfester]

I just got a longer lead and replaced the entire unit on my trailer. Now the wire goes straight to my pivot point, then to the junction. No cable hanging down to get caught on rocks, sticks or anything to rip the wire out.

Can you take a picture of your set-up? I'm having a difficult time picturing what you stated. Thanks!

 

[boyfester]

and lock your latch down, either with a padlock (best), removable pin (ok) or a a cable tie (better than than nothing)

I actually moved mine closer to the receiver and facing out, got tired of fiddlefuking around upside down to plug it in. When and if you wheel, you have to be extra careful not to damage it...that's the down side.

Definitely agree with your last sentence. I went wheeling today on Cleghorn Trail and my buddy was turning his Jeep Cherokee around in a tight spot and crunched his trailer connector (which was near his hitch). I had to turn around too so I'm happy mine is out of the way.

Funny that you mentioned using a padlock at the latch. I used a padlock at Thanksgiving while camping but then forgot to bring the key to unlock it from the truck. We had to drive to a hardware store and purchase a bolt cutter to get it off. I now make sure the key is on the same key chain.

 

[boyfester]

Good technique to shorten safety chains by twisting them. I also cross mine so they might serve as a cradle in a breakaway situation.

The guy I bought the tent trailer said the same thing about twisting the chains. Does it cause any binding at all or undo stress on the links? Just wondering. I never thought about crossing them either. That sounds like a good idea. Thanks for the tips.

 

[Jeremy556]

The guy I bought the tent trailer said the same thing about twisting the chains. Does it cause any binding at all or undo stress on the links? Just wondering. I never thought about crossing them either. That sounds like a good idea. Thanks for the tips.

No, that is the proper way to adjust the chain length. They should still hang down far enough that they do not bind on turns. Absolutely cross the chains, that is the correct way to do it. If the tongue comes off the ball, the crossed chains will catch the tongue, instead of it digging into the pavement and making a really bad situation, even worse.

 

[Auntie Soshul]

This 12 inch trailer wire extension from Amazon worked great for me: Hopkins 48145

 

[Raven]

In Ontario, it is a legal requirement that both safety chains be connected, and strongly recommended that they be crossed. It is a sensible thing to do in any case.

 

[bluebullet]

The guy I bought the tent trailer said the same thing about twisting the chains. Does it cause any binding at all or undo stress on the links? Just wondering. I never thought about crossing them either. That sounds like a good idea. Thanks for the tips.

Twisting shouldn't stress them. Just make it short enough that the cradle prevents the tongue from gouging the pavement if a breakaway occurs.

If 2 or 3 twists does not do it, your chain is too long. Cut some links out. I use heavy duty spring clips instead of hooks to attach chains to the towbar.

"Well I started out to be a towboat man But I never got the hang of a ratchet bar I was a ..." Lyrics for Steamboat Whistle Blues by the late, great John Hartford :bash:

 

[boyfester]

Just wondering where and how you mounted the brake controller in the 4Runner? I'm planning on using Velcro.

If you have a pic you could share, I would greatly appreciate. :thanks::thumb:

Here are some pictures I took this morning. I never thought of using velcro. That's a good idea especially since the surface of my controller is pretty flat. I had previously drilled two screws into my Pilot's panel so really didn't think too much about it. As for the excess wiring from the harness, I removed the kick plate on the left side and positioned all of it inside making sure there were no kinks.