Brake controller question

Just bought a small 17.5' 3500 lb camper trailer so want to do some upgrades to my Truck, 2006 Tacoma PreRunner, TRD. I need to add a brake controller and I verified that I have the factory controller connection under the dash on the drivers side. Will I need to find a special Tacoma pigtail to connect to a controller or is that pretty standard on most controllers?
I have a flat 5 wire trailer connector at the rear bumper. If I get a 7-pin round connector adapter for the flat connector, will that enable the electric brakes without any further wiring?

 

2nd gens never came with a flat 5 wire adapter with a tow package. In fact they never came with 4 pins either. If you have the tow package you have the bigger 7 pin round plug. If you dont have that you do not have the tow package nor probably the necessary wiring to the back of the truck. The connector under the dash is likely there as its simply part of the harness and they didnt make tons of different separate harnesses.

You MIGHT be able to tap into that plug for a brake signal for your controller but will likely have to run power to and from the controller.

 

like nd4spdbh said, double check the back of your truck, you should have a 7 pin round connector.

 

agree with what everyone stated above. I just wired the brake controller to my tacoma last night. I had it on the sequoia ('08) and the connection was the same but they're definitely different across different trucks -- not sure this will make sense, but I had a connector that didn't fit the tacoma but fit the controller. And I found a pigtail for the tacoma, so I just cut / re-connected the 2 good ends and it's great. But as everyone states, you should have the 7 pin which has the wire for the brakes. if you just have the 5 I think you'll need to add/wire the 7 and possibly run more wire to the kick panel but not 100% certain.

 

Welcome to TW!




And yes, the under dash plug is specialized to Toyota. Depending on your brand of brake controller, they do sell adapters for cheap. Amazon usually has most of them.

Ive never seen a 5 flat on a Toyota though...

 

^I agree 100% with everything mentioned. I wonder if the connector the OP found was even the brake controller connector.

@pmeyers look under the hood to see if you have the factory tow package. If you don’t have this, you aren’t prewired for a brake controller.

 

I think OP might mean trailer is the Flat 5 and the one on the bumper is the 7, in that case a 7 to 5 adapter would be needed. I'm not sure if that would get the trailer brakes working.

 

I thought MOST states required brakes if the camper was over 3,000lbs.
There are a few states that have different regulations.

I don’t think it would be very beneficial as a company to sale trailer that were only legal in a minority of states?

https://www.rvia.org/system/files/media/file/Trailer Brake Requirements.pdf

 

OP, show is what plug you have attached to the TRUCK side.
Not the trailer side, so that we can help you better.

 

Colors are: Blue, Green, Yellow, Brown, White
I should have mentioned that I do not have the tow package, I will be adding a trans cooler and oil cooler. I had read and saw on youtube video that the prerunner came with the brake controller plug and it would operate the controller. What I'm not certain of is what is required downstream to actuate the brakes. Is the brake light connection adequate? The flat 4 prong plug was installed after market to enable lights for towing.
The trailer itself does have brakes.

 

If you have a 4 pin now.
Something like this might work.
If you don’t have to factory wire to the rear of the truck, this might be “easier”.

https://www.etrailer.com/p-ETBC7/Brake-Controller-7--4-Way-Installation-Kit---10-Gauge.html

 

Reading over some comments, to clarify. No, do not have tow package. The trailer has a round 7 pin connection. The truck has a flat four pole connecter. Show above. If the under dash plug will activate a controller and I put a flat to round adapter on the flat plug on the truck, and connect that to the round connector on the trailer will it activate the trailer brakes when the brake pedal is depressed? Or is additional wiring required as posted by TnShooter? Thanks for the help guys

 

Do you have an empty connector at the rear of the frame that has 7 wires in it but nothing plugged in? It'll be on the driver's side close to where the frame rail and cross member come together.

If that's there I'd venture a guess that you might find an OEM 7 pin round from a pick n pull or ebay...

I'd suspect there's a couple needed fuses as well.

 

He would also need all the fuses and relays associated with the towing package for the 7 pin to work.

A flat 5 connector is simply the same as a flat 4 with the addition of back up lights (more than likely).

OP might be easier to chop off the flat 5 connector, and add in the necessary wiring for a trailer brake controller (power in, power out, ground and brake light switch) and if needed a switched 12v, those would be the only two missing from the flat 5.

You COULD technically re purpose the reverse light wire (if not needed on the trailer) for brake duty.

 

No, just adding the brake controller to the factory harness under the dash will not allow the brakes to work, if you are using just the 4 pin adapter. There is not a brake control wire on a 4-pin connector.
This wire comes from the brake controller to the 7-pin round.
The wire is the Blue Wire below.

Al this information and the kit is in my post above.

 

The 5 pin flat adds back up lights. That's The blue wire. I rewirred the boat trailer to add back up lights.

That being said, IF the wiring is there for is the 7 pin round, why not use it? The 7 pin trailer plug, brake controller cable to plug in the connector behind the kick panel, a couple of relays and fuses and it's factory rather than cutting and splicing that will be just another troubleshooting point down the road?

if the truck is prewired, I'd go the plug and play route. The $ spent will make it almost mindless to accomplish imo.

 

My understanding is the actual plug, is a plug + short harness.
There was similar post made on this, but the guy wanted to add a 4-pin.

Anyways, this might help where to look, and what you may need.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/7-and-4-pin-light-hook-up.683916/page-2#post-24114603

 

It is the receptacle for the trailer plug with a short harness. Their connection to the frame harness has a nice mechanical lock that pulls the connectors together. Had to remount mine into a new bumper when the old rusted out.

As for that link, the adapter from 7 to 4 pin is the way to go imo.

They also make a 7 to 5 pin flat adapter well. Having back up lights on the trailer is very nice for those late night fishing trips.

Edited to add some info...

 

Show this underdash connector...