2024 Tacoma adding trailer brake controller OEM or aftermarket ??

RedArc!

 

Update ..... Sorry for long delay with info (busy with work and camp). Its looking like Toyota might have screwed us on a plug and play for these trucks. I now know that there are 4 different main dashboard vehicle harnesses for these trucks. It is looking like the trucks without a brake controller have a harness without provisions to plug the factory toyota controller in to it. I know where in the harness the branch or section is that should have the plug. My next step is to remove the radio and see if it is hidden in that area. The plug the factory brake controller should be in that area or close to the start button if the the harness has it . I have my doubts and think the only option will be unfortunately to do a manual install with cut and splice like some others have already done. But please someone proof me wrong !!!! LOL. Ill post again once i remove radio and look around some more.

 

If I were in this pickle, I'd look at Curt's Bluetooth controller. It just plugs into your trailer connector.

CURT 51180 Echo Mobile Electric Trailer Brake Controller with Bluetooth-Enabled Smartphone Connection, Proportional, Black PLastic, 9 x 9 x 3"es, BLACK PLASTIC

https://www.amazon.com/CURT-51180-C...93e3366d59013298a8558a14c347caca&gad_source=1

 

Downside of Bluetooth is the lack of dash button to activate only the trailer brakes in case of emergency like trailer swaying. I went the hard wired route, dealer did it

 

There are lots of problems with the bluetooth one FYI. Multiple threads on popup portal. Something about the app

https://www.popupportal.com/threads...reless-controller-onecontrol-auto-app.144005/

 

I get the downside. Good news on the dealer. I don't wanna know what it cost.

 

Yeah, I can barely keep a bluetooth speaker working without problems. How do the RF units work compared to Bluetooth? Any better?

 

Dunno. Someone has probably done a YouTube review.

 

300$ installed, a cheap 100$ Tekonsha.

Edit to add: sorry, you didn't want to know.

 

More than reasonable.

 

Yes I have seen the bluetooth options that are available on the market. For some people this option suits them well and they are comfortable with it. For me at the end of the day I am not comfortable trusting my towing needs to a wireless connection. I will manual hard wire in a controller like a Redarc or similar if I can not find the plug and play option hidden in the factory harness. Hopefully I can get some time in the next week or so to pull radio and snoop around again before I admit defeat !! LOL.

 

There’s a wire under the rear seat that goes to the rear bumper, but missing the pin in the 7 pin connector.

 

In a real emergency, who has time to manually activate the trailer brakes anyway!

 

Trailer sway starts slow, there’s time. Here’s 3 examples:

1. https://youtu.be/cT0Ga3pJe6k?si=zqj8D_5aZl_aWGdd
2. https://youtu.be/miE3MOcqn7E?si=ERieaFBKv1b4SZS_
3. https://youtu.be/D46hZzBzBlk?si=MrtkBNhDpJ4zknjI

 

Those are great!!! I don't miss pulling my 33ft at all. People think it is easy but there is so much going into it. The first one is a prime example of not having the sway set up or not having it at all as well as in my opinion too much trailer for the tow vehicle.

 

Is j54 the plug for the brake control wiring harness?

 

Brake control switch on dash.

 

so the plug that's found under the kick panel is a AUX plug that you can attach a pigtail to for whatever you want. the aux1 through three buttons on the bottom row on the left of steering wheel. the AUX harness is in all trucks and provides user option accessories to 3 locations drivers side kick panel, drivers side under the hood near wiper fill tube and under the tail bed. aux1 is 15amp, aux2 is 10amp and aux3 is 5amp. well my truck doesn't have the buttons but relays, fuses and all plugs are present and pinned....EXCEPT- the connectors behind the dash to add the buttons. the harness has missing wires from that harness line, only the wires for the bed lights is present. i mention all this because 1. the aux plug you found under the kick panel and yes Toyota is absolutely stupid enough to remove parts of the Harness to disable adding things after construction/purchase. I have a overland trailer and wanted the brake controller too but i want a clean oem style build. so 2 options- 1. order the Trailhunter with everything on it ($74,000) or 2. return the
Iforce-Max sport and demand my 3rd gen Back. the amount of Money toyota could have made and not wasted is just amazing to me since all that wiring is there. and no dealership I talked to wants to touch that with a 10' pole. even Toyota corporate has not responded to my questions yet. and with the hybrid i still have no clue how I'm going to wire in a Winch since the battery is in my backseat and no "battery terminal" under the hood.
please if anyone has found a good fix to all this, let me know.

 

I went from an 18 foot Travel Trailer to a Winnebago Minnie Winnie. When a big semi or bus hauls past me on the freeway I definitely know it!