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Trailer Brake Controller Installation on a 2014 Toyota Tacoma Pre Runner Without Tow Package  

Question:

MY 2014 TOYOTA TACOMA DID NOT COME WITH THE TOW PACKAGE, HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER IT IS PREWIRED FOR TOWING. I HAVE INSTALLED A FACTORY HITCH, A 7 WAY ADAPTER, AND ALSO THE T-HARDNESS PURCHASED AT ETRAILER - ALL WORKS WELL. BUT NOW I WANTED TO ADD A TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER. I UNDERSTAND IT HOOKS UP UNDER THE DASH, THE PORT IS THERE, BUT IS THERE SUPOSE TO BE A PORT ALSO IN THE BACK OF THE TRUCK WHERE I WILL HOOK UP THE BLUE BRAKE WIRE FROM THE 7 WAY ADAPTER? HOW ABOUT THE REQUIRED FUSE AND RELAY, UNDERSTAND THIS IS PART OF THE KIT AT THE DEALER?

1

Helpful Expert Reply:

I checked your recent order and I see the components you already have: Curt 4-Pole to 7-Pole Adapter # C57674 and Tow Ready T-One Vehicle Wiring Harness # 118496. Since you have an under-dash brake control port you can use a plug-and-play harness to connect a brake controller such as the Prodigy P2, part # 90885, which is one of the most popular and reliable proportional brake controllers we offer.

First, I suggest you test the under-dash port to ensure it is active. The presence of wiring in a vehicle does not always means that such wiring is active. You can use a circuit tester such as # PTW2993 to test the pins on the brake control port. One should deliver a steady 12V (this is the power for the brake controller); one should carry a signal only when the brake pedal is pressed (this is the brake signal to activate the controller); the other pins are for ground and the controller output if a factory 7-way were installed. If you do not detect power on any pins, then you can check your power distribution box in the engine compartment for any locations that may need fuses to activate the tow package wiring. These you can obtain locally.

We often suggest the Tekonsha P2 proportional brake controller, part # 90885, which we offer along with the necessary plug-and-play harness, # 3040-P. This harness connects between the brake controller and the under-dash port.

You will connect the harness between the brake controller and port, but you will cut the blue wire a few inches from the black connector for the controller and connect a length of 10-gauge wire and run this to the blue wire with yellow butt connector on your Curt 7-way (part # C57674). You can use wiring kit # 5506, which includes 10-gauge duplex wire, butt connectors, and ring terminals. (If you also want to run 12V power to your trailer you can use the second lead in the duplex wire for this, along with a 40-amp breaker, part # 9510).

I have also linked an article that covers the essentials of brake controller installation which may be helpful to you.

expert reply by:
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Adam R

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