Hitch, Weight Distribution and Brake Controller Recommendations for a 2017 Toyota Sienna XLE  

Question:

Expert Reply:

We can get you everything you need for towing with your 2017 Toyota Sienna XLE. By plastic shield, I believe you are referring to the appearance panel underneath the Sienna, and that will have to trimmed a bit in each of the hitches available for the vehicle. A great Class III hitch would be the Curt # C13105, which is rated for weight distribution and has been given a nearly 5-star review on our site by the over 500 customers that have rated it.

As for a brake controller, the wireless option we have is the Curt Echo Mobile Trailer Brake Controller # C51180, though the exact same parts would be need to install a wireless brake controller as a non-wireless, and neither will involve tearing your Sienna apart to install, I promise it will be fully intact when you are finished putting a brake controller in. To install the RF or another controller, you will need a 4-flat connector # 118648 as well as Universal Installation Kit for Trailer Brake Controllers # ETBC7. This does come with a 7-way, and you will not be able to use the outlet in the back of the Sienna, you would need to run the wires directly to the battery.

If you do decide to take a look at a non-wireless brake controller, I strongly recommend the Prodigy P3 # 90195; it is also the most popular model we carry due to its effectiveness and ease of use. The P3 activates your trailer's brakes immediately in proportion to your Sienna's brakes; it offers three different boost levels so you can adjust your braking power, and has five storable settings for things such as braking power, boost levels, and display settings. The P3 will automatically level, has constant diagnostic checks, contains safeguards which defend your controller against shorts, and features an LCD display which is much easier to read than that of other controllers, as you can see in the attached photo.

When it comes to selecting a weight distribution hitch, you will first need to know your total tongue weight (TW), which is the tongue weight of your fully loaded and ready to go trailer plus the weight of any cargo behind the rear axle of your 2017 Toyota Sienna. To determine TW you can use a scale such as the etrailer # e99044 or by using one of the methods outlined in the help article on determining TW I've linked for you. The ideal system would be one in which your TW would fall somewhere in the middle of the weight distribution system's tongue weight capacity.

The TW of your Sienna will be limited to a maximum of 500 lbs, though you'd need to refer to your owner's manual for the exact number. Due to this, a weight distribution hitch that is rated between 100 lbs and 400 lbs such as the Equal-i-zer # EQ37040ET or between 300 lbs and 600 lbs such as Equal-i-zer # EQ37060ET would be great choices for you.

I've included links to some videos reviews on these products for you to take a look at as well.

expert reply by: Kyle S

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R

10/19/2017

Can you tell me if there is any installation difference between the Item # 75237 and the Item # C13105. Would one be a cleaner install as far as the plastic pan goes? Any thought between them? Also, looking at the wiring diagram for the # ETBC7, I see leads running to the brake controller inside the car. If i use the wireless controller, do I ignore that? And looking at the instructions for both wiring kits, I see each one has a hot lead running to the battery, do I need to run 2 hot leads to the battery?

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Kyle S.

10/19/2017

There is a difference concerning the plastic appearance panel between the Curt # C13105 and Draw-Tite # 75237 hitches for your Sienna. The Draw-Tite will require more trimming of the panel than the Curt, as you can see in the photos I've added for you that display exactly which parts of the panel need to be trimmed for each hitch. As for leads to the wireless Curt Echo # C51180, you are correct that the leads would not need to be run like with a brake controller that would be in the cab of your Sienna. When it comes to the battery, both the 4-way and 7-way will need power from the battery. What you can do is splice them together so it runs on the same circuit, but they each need to be connected to the battery.

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R

10/30/2017

is this what i am to use on my car? Curt TriFlex Trailer Brake Controller - 1 to 4 Axles Proportional Universal Wiring Adapter for Curt Trailer Brake Controllers Part Numbers: C51140,C51515

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Kyle S.

10/30/2017

Yes, the Curt TriFlex Brake Controller # C51140 will work with your 2017 Toyota Sienna; the controller would be plugged into the Wiring Adapter for Curt Trailer Brake Controllers # C51515. I've left video reviews of these products for you to take a look at.

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