Brake Control

Question. I have a 2017 Tacoma with the towing package. I am getting a new camping trailer tomorrow. They want to put a break controller on the inside and sway control. I amwondering if I need that? Doesn't the tow package control the breaks on the trailer? And sway control as well? Please give me your input.

 

The taco has sway control in built in the traction control.
You will have to buy a brake controller which you can buy and install...
I really do recomend that you buy a brake controller. My rule of thumb is anything above the tongue weight rating(Taco has 500#s I think) has to have a brake controller.

 

Thank you so very much for the information.

 

It has a plug under the left corner of the dash for plugging in a brake controller. Just need to buy a controller and adaptor for that plug.

 

Buy the controller. Your truck will thank you later as well as other drivers. The harness also fits a 2015 tundra if you have trouble finding it. Amazon has it for about $12-14

 

That many misspellings of brake definitely breaks my OCD...

 

<< Actual picture of me after reading that, lol

 

Misspellings are contagious...
Fixed my post for ya.

Enginers don't know how to spell. Sorry.

 

I'm an engineer too, believe me I have my share of them.

What's even funnier is that the subject is spelled right, but in the post it wasn't.

 

You might find this helpful as well.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/brake-control-install-write-up.428999/

 

If you haven't done it already, get a Tekonsha P2- it fits nicely in the left dash change cubby with the manual brake lever exposed beneath it. You just have to carefully cut a hole in the rear of the cubby for the 3017-P cable (careful cutting though, there's a wire harness behind the cubby). It looks nice mounted that way, is out of the way of the airbag, and the hole, as out of sight as it is already, could be easoly covered if desired in the future.

 

I second this, I did the exact same setup and it looks/works great.

 

How does the traction control control trailer sway? Trailer sway control is usually either built into a weight distributing hitch or is a friction type that connects between the side of the tongue and the hitch.

 

Trailer sway is a part of the VSC system, physical sway control built into the hitch/trailer is still a better primary system.

 

I agree with forty2. Also from a mechanic at our local Toyota shop: the VSC system redistributes power to each of the brakes, counteracting sway, but a heavy trailer needs additional control.

 

Tekonsha P3 is a really nice brake controller, easy to install (I had mine put in the coin area to the left of the steering wheel).

Sway control already built into Taco's with tow package.

Taco tow package tongue weight max is I believe around 1000 pounds, it's a Class 4 hitch. I'd double check that though.

 

I would not depend on the built in trailer sway control.
https://www.etrailer.com/faq-weightdistribution.aspx