Why no native 7pin harness and integrated trailer brake controller ?

I just ordered a Maverick for my dad and was able to get a 7 pin harness and integrated brake controller that uses the screen as part of tow option package

Am I missing it or do I need to do this myself on the OR Tacoma I will soon be ordering ?

 

Trucks with the Tow Package come with a 7 pin and are pre wired for a brake controller. They also include the adapter harness for the brake controller.

a brake controller is not actually included, though.

 

Sucks. The unibody Mav has one.

 

You will be a test case to answer the Ford vs Toyota question. The last Ford I owned I sold to my nephew (after 6 years) for trade in.

 

I have f250 work truck and Tacoma gen 2 and have for years. Both are great.

the maverick is for my dad. Find it odd I can get the brake controller on a “truck” like that and not my new Tacoma.

 

Toyota has never been known to throw in goodies like a brake controller, heck, my 84 didn’t even come with a tachometer! It seems to me that they take a minimalist approach to adding goodies where companies like Ford and GM throw in the goodies to gain market share.

 

Go with an @REDARC_Ryan one. I love the product and the customer service was top notch.

https://redarcelectronics.com/products/tow-pro-elite-electric-brake-controller

 

You consider a brake controller a “goodie” as part of a tow package ?

yes aftermarket. The ford one on the Mav I like cause it works on the screen

 

Toyota will add a brake controller one day. Of course that will be the day after the government mandates all trailers be outfitted with brakes run by a self-contained AI. But they'll definitely add it.

That may or may not be before the switch to rear disc brakes.

 

Tundra has it ?

 

If you're gonna let a $150 easy driveway add-on dissuade you from buying a $40k truck, get yourself a Maverick too!

Toyota integrated everything else, as others have said, and the answer to the "why" is that not everyone needs one. In fact most do not, so they save the panel space and money for other things. Tacomas, contrary to popular opinion, are low-volume vehicles for Toyota. They don't add things that only a handful out of a hundred buyers want. I installed a Tow Pro in about 30min working on my driveway. It's not on the infotainment screen but it looks OEM enough to sit next to my VSC button etc. on the left side on the steering wheel.

I'd be complaining more about why the media USB port is not located inside the center console, but rather on the dashboard, that one makes zero effing sense to me hahaha.

 

I think so. That falls in line with Toyota knowing you better than you do. They know that if you're really gonna be doing a lot of towing, you'll be inclined to shop for a Tundra instead of a Tacoma. They do a ton of research on this stuff, they're the biggest car company in the world after all.

 

Sure but OEM are more accurate and convenient if they use the screen. Aftermarket use an accelerometer while OEM relies on data from the trucks computer.

regardless it’s not a deal killer. Just annoying it’s not part of a tow package.

 

I installed a brake controller on mine, and it was super easy. Might have taken 30 minutes.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000P17NXQ?ie=UTF8

$17 Tekonsha Trailer Brake Controller Harness, Compatible with Select Toyota Tacoma, Tundra

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0781KTCPT?ie=UTF8

 

Yea. Like I said I will go that route. I just prefer OEM as they are more accurate, respond better to adjustments, look better and utilize the screen.

 

I agree it's neither ideal nor a deal killer, and annoying. Assuming an OEM brake controller would have the manual override pulse button "stuck" to the screen, it would be more convenient. If not, as soon as your passenger wants to change the climate or media settings, you're multiple taps away from pulsing your trailer brakes alone. That would suck. With the knob on the dash it's always there and ready.

Accelerometers are simple devices, and the controller doesn't have anything else to do but monitor them, unlike the truck's computer. That aspect is the last of my worries while towing with a mid-sized pickup.

 

Hell, I'm not even sure how the truck's computer could do it differently. An accelerometer is the ideal device for that control scheme.

 

The data from the truck's computer is very likely an accelerometer and possibly a wheel speed monitor. I know that on the 2nd gen's that using the brake controller with the factory wiring that there is some communication between the controller and the truck but I don't know how much. I do know that if I'm on the throttle and hit the lever on the controller that it will cut the throttle, so the systems aren't completely independent.

As for Maverick vs Tacoma... How's that locking rear dif on the Maverick? The low range transfer case?

 

Not comparing Mav to Taco just pointing out a “truck” with 4K rating has integrated
Call me crazy but a truck rated to tow 6k plus should have an integrated brake controller as part of the tow package.

Integrated work with ECM, transmission, ABS, and brake pressure sensors. The difference is not that noticeable but I have aftermarket on my gen 2 Tacoma and it’s not as precise as integrated.

not a deal killer. Just annoying.

 

I just installed a Tow Pro Elite - write up is here. Included is the part numbers for the Redarc harness for the Taco (no splicing needed) and narrow switch insert. Before you get them to include an integrated brake controller, when Toyota calls you to approve all of their design decisions can you please get them to offer an I-4 or I-6 diesel motor? Thanks.