Trailer Brake controller?

Wish it did, and you think it would since they have a tranny cooler and 7 pin connector as part of the package like they expect you to actually use it for real towing, but they don't.

 

I have my Tekonsha controller installed in the cubby and finding the plug under the dash was the hardest part. I used the ESP Truck decorative face plate. I did discover/remember that if one slides a table knife into the slot on the right side of the cubby about one inch down and pry gently, the panel pops out and all the rest of the install can be done with it loose. No need to remove the whole panel from under steering wheel to get to it.

 

I know this is a super long and old thread but wanted to thank those who had used this method before for posting it. Did the exact same thing with a P3 also and a model specific cable. Truly a plug and play job. Even after going back and forth deciding on an additional grounding point for the lug it was only a 20 minute task and programmed even easier and I was braking like the "big boys".

2016 TRD Sport
Tekonsha P3 controller
Tekonsha 3017P cable

 

I didn't take the dash apart. I used a 5/8" paddle bit. Drilled two holes side by side and filed out the ridge in the middle to form an oval. I then fed the harness in from the back. Super easy

 

Hey bls82261..nice info
.do ya have pic of final job.we can see all done
Thks again to all for the info & part #s

 

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Where did you get the black plastic to which you mounted the Spectrum controller? And did you just glue the plastic plate in place?

 

Where did the black plastic blank come from that you mounted the controller on? Also, did you just glue it into place?

 

A cheap plastic tool box that I wasn’t using.

 

Was it just an epoxy or hot glue installation into the backside of the cubby?

 

Small screws that are slightly longer than the stock screws from the back side, as it’s sandwiched between the cubby and the face plate.

This picture is grainy at the switches as the LEDs are bright, but the switches actually look clean and neat.
Using for area lights. Front blue, rear red.

I’ll find another spot for the brake controller.

 

Hi Bob K, the brake controller and adapter from eTrailer and the cubby panel from Shapeways (shapeways.com).

I’m very happy with the quality, and look. I mounted the controller to the left thinking I could add a switch on the right and it’s easier to see around the steering wheel. I surface attached the brake controller to the panel with the screw. No gluing required.

The details are in the pics.

 

@Inferno! I'm going to do some research to see if I can put a switch on the controller so that it's completely off when not in use rather than having various lit and blinking lights while the trailer isn't plugged in and the controller isn't in use. Looks like an on/off switch would fit quite nicely beside the controller on that panel.

 

Might not be quite the right size for that bigger dial, but works perfectly for RedArc.

https://www.shapeways.com/product/3EALSXSAD/3rd-gen-tacoma-two-switch-panel-w-redarc-towpro

 

That is a great idea. Should work fine I think.

 

Excellent idea. I think I could ream out that RedArc hole to fit the wires for the Curt Spectrum, cover the left switch hole with a blank, and then put the on/off switch in the right-most switch hole.

Now to figure out if I can safely splice into one of the Curt Spectrum wires in the harness to put in an in-line on/off switch.

 

Installed a redarc pro elite put controller in blank switch.

 

Thank you for the inspiration. I installed the Curt Spectrum brake controller (and associated Curt harness adapter #51455) as well and am very pleased with the results.

I cut up a piece of textured plastic off of an old Otterbox cell phone holder. Super glued it to a piece of aluminum. Drilled all the requisite holes. I needed slightly longer screws than the original cubby mount screws because of the added thickness of the aluminum.




Used a flat file to file down the top and bottom of the Curt mounting circle where it interfered with the dash plastic.



I biased toward the left side in order to cover up that circle defect on the plastic and so that I can see it better around the steering wheel. I also wanted to leave room for potentially putting a power switch right next to it sometime in the future. One drawback of the Curt Spectrum brake controller is that it has two bright blue LEDs that come on every time the brake is applied, even when a trailer is not hooked up. I want a way to turn that off for all the times I won't be using the controller.


The control module and wires are zip tied up underneath the dash to a large wire loom.

 

Trying out the Curt Echo bluetooth controller with an Iphone tomorrow. Ill post my opinion later.

 

I have used both a WDH and RideRite Airbags. I tow a travel trailer that weighs about 5,000 lbs fully loaded. I have found that either one works just fine. I was a little apprehensive at first to just use the airbags but I now do it on a regular basis. It is alot easier not to deal with hooking up the WDH. It also allows easy adjustment for different weight. Sometimes I carry a generator and several fuel cans in the bed and sometimes I do not. Ryobi makes an 18v air compressor that is about the size of an impact wrench. It works perfect, I can adjust the airbags in seconds.