Towing without brake controller

Wire4Money · Mar 22, 2025

babylon5 said: ↑

I know this is the 4th gen area. Just mentioning that my 2015 2nd gen had the tow package. It didn't come with a brake controller but was pre-wired for one (had connector under the dash and the already wired 7 pin connector out next to the hitch. What does the 4th gen come with if equipped with the tow package???
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There is no trailer brake controller wiring in the 4th gen.

OpeCity · Mar 22, 2025

Mulepadre[OP] said: ↑

Ouch!
You need more facts before rash judging and shaming Sprig.
For example, what "local state regulations" am I not too concerned about?
Only five states require trailer brakes for trailer weights above 1500 lbs: California, Idaho, Nevada, New Hampshire, and Oregon.
And just two states require trailer brakes on trailer weights above 2000 lbs: Kansas and Ohio.
Did I say I was headed to any of these?
And if you read my post above you would see that I stand corrected regarding disconnecting the ABS.
Perhaps your avatar is worth noting: "The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog."
Can I say a little prayer for you and your relationships?
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Every Tacoma manual requires brakes on trailers over 1000lbs.

and insurance companies know this

Booman · Mar 22, 2025

I have a 24 TRD Sport double cab and it has one?

ColoradoTJ · Mar 22, 2025

Mulepadre[OP] initial post: ↑

Like many my 2024 Off Road does not have a brake controller.
I am considering a 2060 lb (dry weight) camper to travel the East Coast and not too concerned about local state regulations.
I would be towing in "sport mode" at best with a manual transmission.
I plan to disconnect the ABS and am not interested in a wireless controller nor hard wiring an aftermarket at this point.
I've looked at all the posts and want to conclude that this is a bad idea, but has anyone had positive experience with this weight or more?
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To be honest, I have never towed a trailer without brakes so I wouldn't know what that is like. Well, that's not true. I had an electric brake magnet fail and took out my brakes going down Vail Pass in a snow storm heading to Moab Utah once. I got my truck stopped and figured out what brake was the bad one and disconnected that axle. At least I had one braking axle with 8k lbs. from that day forth I had spare parts for a full brake rebuild.

Anyway, I don't know how much the brakes are to replace on your new Tacoma, but I'm willing to bet it is a whole lot more cost than a brake controller (assuming the trailer axle is braking). To replace the brake rotors and pads on my truck are 1900.00 doing it myself.

This is a lot cheaper..

Wire4Money · Mar 22, 2025

Booman said: ↑

I have a 24 TRD Sport double cab and it has one?
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Is it there just to the right of the steering wheel?

Schlappesepple · Mar 22, 2025

Mulepadre[OP] said: ↑

I hate not being in ultimate control of my braking.
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It actually sounds like you don't want control of your brakes.

Colton58D · Mar 22, 2025

ColoradoTJ said: ↑

To be honest, I have never towed a trailer without brakes so I wouldn't know what that is like. Well, that's not true. I had an electric brake magnet fail and took out my brakes going down Vail Pass in a snow storm heading to Moab Utah once. I got my truck stopped and figured out what brake was the bad one and disconnected that axle. At least I had one braking axle with 8k lbs. from that day forth I had spare parts for a full brake rebuild.

Anyway, I don't know how much the brakes are to replace on your new Tacoma, but I'm willing to bet it is a whole lot more cost than a brake controller (assuming the trailer axle is braking). To replace the brake rotors and pads on my truck are 1900.00 doing it myself.

This is a lot cheaper..
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Funny. I have never towed a trailer with brakes. Though I only have a boat I would guarantee it is right around 2k lbs. I don’t tow it with my Tacoma. I also have a Sierra 1500. But out of principle I am going to take it to the ramp tomorrow with the taco. According to my friend “travel trailers and boats are way different” we shall see.

Little Lion · Mar 22, 2025

hey man, i just installed the redarc brake controller. it is SUPER easy. there are some great guides on youtube. takes 30 mins.

your truck is $60k or whatever, the brake controller is only like $300. buy it and dont think about it so much. google trailer sway crash videos. theres no escaping a horrible crash except with the simple push of a button.

roalddahl · Mar 22, 2025

Little Lion said: ↑

hey man, i just installed the redarc brake controller. it is SUPER easy. there are some great guides on youtube. takes 30 mins.

your truck is $60k or whatever, the brake controller is only like $300. buy it and dont think about it so much. google trailer sway crash videos. theres no escaping a horrible crash except with the simple push of a button.
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Appears you have 3rd gen? It's easy on a 2nd and 3rd gen. It's not so simple on a 4th gen as there's no plug, unfortunately. That's the core problem.

Little Lion · Mar 22, 2025

okay just saw that 4th gens dont come wired like 3rd gens. thats fucked. but theres other options
here's one that someone reccomended:
https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Brake-Controller/Toyota/Tacoma/2024/TK94FR.html?vehicleid=20245003343
https://www.tacoma4g.com/forum/threads/brake-controller-harness-for-4th-gen-tacoma.2433/page-8

Little Lion · Mar 22, 2025

roalddahl said: ↑

Appears you have 3rd gen? It's easy on a 2nd and 3rd gen. It's not so simple on a 4th gen as there's no plug, unfortunately. That's the core problem.
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yeah sorry that blows me away. definitely think its worth getting one of these aftermarket wireless solutions though. trailer sway is super deadly. its not just your safety but others as well. please do the right thing!

roalddahl · Mar 22, 2025

Little Lion said: ↑

yeah sorry that blows me away. definitely think its worth getting one of these aftermarket wireless solutions though. trailer sway is super deadly. its not just your safety but others as well. please do the right thing!
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I share your and the general sentiment on a brake controller being a requirement for towing anything of any significant mass. It can be done wired if not factory installed, but it's DIY wiring. The wireless solutions risk intermittent disconnection and would make me worry.

2024 Tacoma adding trailer brake controller OEM or aftermarket ?? | Page 3 | Tacoma World

ColoradoTJ · Mar 22, 2025

Colton58D said: ↑

Funny. I have never towed a trailer with brakes. Though I only have a boat I would guarantee it is right around 2k lbs. I don’t tow it with my Tacoma. I also have a Sierra 1500. But out of principle I am going to take it to the ramp tomorrow with the taco. According to my friend “travel trailers and boats are way different” we shall see.
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I can't mess around when it comes to brakes. I even order my trailers with oversized axles and the largest brakes made.

I have 10k lbs in the bed, dump trailer is 5900 lbs, and the truck is 7800 lbs. that is just shy of 24k lbs.

My lowboy is a lot lighter than my dump trailer.

10k for tractor, 4800 lbs for lowboy, 7800 for truck. 22,600 lbs

Never mind killing myself, I surely wouldn't want to smash into anyone with those loads.

I went long once with my Tundra and luckily nobody was injured. My wife refused to go camping again until we went back to a HD truck.

Booman · Mar 22, 2025

Wire4Money said: ↑

Is it there just to the right of the steering wheel?
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Yes. Has + and -

Sagebrush · Mar 22, 2025

Mulepadre[OP] said: ↑

I am not convinced yet that I can hardwire a controller myself or find someone who knows what they are doing to do it for me.
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I get it. Curt makes a Bluetooth controller that plugs in-line with the trailer. Your phone controls the settings. There's at least one other Bluetooth controller out there.

caribe makaira · Mar 22, 2025

Booman said: ↑

Yes. Has + and -
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Booman · Mar 23, 2025

caribe makaira said: ↑

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That is it.

Schlappesepple · Mar 23, 2025

So maybe Toyota stopped making it easy to install an aftermarket brake controller so they could upsell the integrated brake controller on expensive packages?

Goin2drt · Mar 23, 2025

I bought a $60k truck but don’t want to spend $500 for something that could save the life of my family and others. Can’t fix stupid.

JB_TN · Mar 23, 2025

Goin2drt said: ↑

I bought a $60k truck but don’t want to spend $500 for something that could save the life of my family and others. Can’t fix stupid.
Click to expand...

had he spent 60k it would have had a brake controller….

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