Has anybody put a 7 pin trailer wire with a brake controller on a Tacoma?

@frizzman thanks for the tips!

I agree, I saw the tundra upgrade I'll take care of that first.

Can you point me in the direction of any useful write ups for hooking up the 7-pin and/or the brake controller on the 1st gens? I read through the "Towing Bible" on here but that was for 2nd Gens. From my understanding the current 4 pin has wires for trailer/brake lights and turn signals while the 7 pin would have those functions plus electric brakes, 12v power, and reverse lights. So the new 7 pin install would need to be hooked up to the battery or another power supply. Not sure of the process for either.

I've heard a lot of recommendations for the prodigy P3, any recommendations on a brake controller? I'm completely new to towing so this is a steep learning curve for me.

 

https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/etrailer/ETBC7.html

With a prodigy P3 brake controller and you'll be set.

 

@ToyRyd04 you're the man! even comes with a sweet install video! seems simple enough

 

Running the same kit, not a single problem. Had it for 3 years now.

 

I took the Tacoma to a shop and had them install the 7 Pin with brake controller. I pulled a small Airstream cross country from North Carolina to Wyoming a couple of years ago with my 2004 Tacoma. Yes the Tacoma did it but I could tell the old Taco was hating life. It was pretty much 55mph in 4th gear the whole time. As others have said, the Tacoma is not a great tow rig. It would be okay towing that much weight occasionally over a short distance. But from my experience pulling around 4000 lbs fully loaded for 2600 miles, I think a bigger truck is the way to go if you're going to tow over 3000 lbs more than occasionally. I love my Tacoma and still drive it a lot but I realized it was time to upgrade to a bigger truck if I was going to do some full time RVing. So I bought a brand new Tundra.

Tacoma pulling the Airstream


Tundra

 

Hello! Couldn't find a thread specifically for this. First time on here. I'm using the

$79 Tekonsha 90160 Primus IQ, Proportional Brake Controller for Trailers with 1-3 Axles, compatible with Ford, GM, Chevy, Dodge, RAM, Toyota, Jeep. Wiring harness sold separately.

Tekonsha 90160 Primus IQ Proportional brake controller on my 17 Tacoma Off Road with tow package and trailer sway control. I am renting a 27' Travel trailer weighing aprox 5,500lbs and tongue weight at 540lbs. the truck GVCWR is 11,340lbs and tongue weight is 640lbs. I'll be about 10,500lbs total. Would you recommend a weight distribution hitch with sway bars? I'm very familiar with towing trailers and have done so many times with many different size trailers from small utility trailers to 53' trailers. I've never used this hitch before. The rental place highly recommends it but not requiring it. Of course its an extra cost, but don't want to spend the extra money is it isn't necessary. Thanks!

 

I would put your question here: https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/towing.34/

or in the 3rd Gen section: https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/3rd-gen-tacomas-2016.186/

 

The trailer should be slowing itself down, using its *own* brakes. Only reason to consider better brakes (tundra upgrade) is if your trailer doesn't have brakes, in which case you don't need a 7 pin and a brake controller, either. That said, I towed a 2500# popup camper that didn't have brakes (no tundra brakes, either) and I never felt like I was in danger on not stopping. Any more weight and your trailer will have its own brakes.

For the 7 pin on my 2004 Taco, I used one of those plug and play wire harnesses that plugs into the rear brake lights and has both a 4 pin and a 7 pin plug that mounted to my Hidden Hitch, but then you'll need to hard wire the 12v power and the brake control wire separately. 12v supply straight from the battery (fused), and then follow the directions on the brake controller for the brake wire and setup of the box itself. Usually you splice from the low voltage wire from the brake pedal under the dash.

 

I have 7 pin with a 5500 v-5 hitch and have pulled 4000 pounds with no problems. Trailer has dual
axels with electric brakes. The trail brakes do all the braking or most of it. I would be concerned if
the trail had no electric brakes. Electric brakes and a dual axle is the best and safest option.
Your ride will be hard FYI.
I put this setup on 20 years ago 500,000 miles ago and have toed plenty