trailer brake controllers for gen2....

I'll need a trailer brake controller as we're shopping for ~3500 lb travel trailers in the 16-17' range. I see the brake controller jack on my '08 gen2 taco 4x4 is down under the far left dash, so likely the controller needs to be mounted somewhere reasonably nearby... I was thinking, gee, I'll just remove that little tray/storage cubby right there, but oops, there's fuses behind it. grrr.

where have you guys mounted brake controllers, and what are the pros/cons? also, has anyone found a particularlly compact brake controller thats a better fit? my last tug was a E150 van, and there was tons of room under the dash for a full sized brake controller but the taco is obviously more compact.

 

Tekonsha

 

I put mine in the cubby to the right of the wheel. Pulled out the tray( straight out pull) and installed to the upper left corner. Popped tray back in. I'll go take a pick if you'd like.

 

I put mine in the same place as Ed In Cinci. It's out of the way, but you can reach it for adjustments.

 

k, thanks. I just ordered a cheaper tekonsha as its looking like we'll be ending up with a 2500 GVWR trailer, single axle, so don't need the bigger/fancier one. I've caught the caveats about running an additional ground wire as the taco ground is apparently marginal.

 

Any details on this mounting bracket? The one that came with my P3 makes it hang down quite a bit.

 

It's called a "mounting pocket for tekonsha prodigy" it was an offered accessory from etrailer.com but the design has changed a little from the one I got.

https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Tekonsha/7686.html

It helps very much getting the unit flush against the knee panel so your knees don't hit it getting in and out.

 

Actually...looking here:

https://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Accessories_and_Parts-pt-Mounting_Bracket.aspx

I think they sent me the one for the Hayes controller...but it works

 

I have some industrial velcro snap stuff from 3M, I was thinking of trying that...

discovered I didn't even need to order the OE cable adapter, as Tekonsha has a premade Toyota truck harness for like $12 on Amazon, hah!
http://www.amazon.com/Tekonsha-3040-P-Control-Wiring-Adapter/dp/B001NZQIFM

 

Are you sure that's not the OBDII port? Just checking...

 

No, what I found is a rectangular white plastic jack with 2 larger flat blade slots, and a 2nd row with 3 smaller ones. exactly what this plugs into...



the OBD-II jack was somewhere around there too, I know what they look like.

 

I have a prodigy p2 mounted to that pull down storage cubby on the left. I bought a replacement cubby and swap the one with the controller mounted for the plain one when I'm not towing.

 

Velcro will work temporarily but eventually it'll release from the heat and drop the trailer brake controller (which works on inertia) when you least want or need it to - ask me how I know...


which is why I now have the pocket mount.

 

this 3M stuff is hard snaps on both sides, its very secure.

but I like the idea of modding the little pocket/tray on the left side, and I think the Voyager I ordered may be smaller than the P2 making it even easier

 

I also got the voyager for the size thinking of the left pocket. I decided it might be too tight since the wiring come straight out of the back and the fuse panel is there. I'm pretty sure it will work if you don't want to close it though. Need pics if you get it to work there!

 

yeah, I wanna see pics of the trailer controller installed in that pocket. I just got my Voyager, and I'm not sure I see how it will fit 'in' that pocket, without some major hackery, there isn't really room for it behind there due to all the harnesses around the dashboard fuse/relay panel thats right behind that pocket.