OEM trailer brake

Why doesn’t Toyota offer a trailer brake?
They offer a towing package but no trailer brake.
I notice the American truck makers offer them as options.

 

Only on the Tundra I believe.
One would think that if they provide the wiring for a trailer brake controller and a factory towing package, a trailer brake controller would be a natural option.
Perhaps they (Toyota) feels that it's up to the owner to determine which controller best suits their needs.
I don't know, other than I'm installing a Redarc controller on my TRD OR AC. It'll be a real PITA to put the control knob where I want it (center panel right above the Qi charger).

 

I just find it strange that Toyota doesn’t want to make money off of an obvious option.

 

Dashboard space would be my guess. Every OEM module I've seen is to the right of the wheel. It took some learning for me to reach left whenever I wanted to adjust it on the fly.

 

Maybe they feel that not enough of the people that tow with a tacoma really need a break controller, but provide the wiring for those that do. I installed mine and other than trying to find the pigtail it was a pretty easy install.

 

This was my first thought. Most people who need to tow something with electric brakes would likely gravitate towards a Tundra. I understand some will have a camper or other trailer under 6400# that has electric brakes, but it’s not really common use for a mid size truck.

I’m planning on pushing the boundaries of good taste towing my boat with the Tacoma, I checked the tongue weight and came up with 580# and the trailer total weight should be somewhere under 6000#. Fortunately the boat ramp is only 3.5 miles from the house and it only happens a couple times per year. A brake controller wouldn’t help, trailer has surge brakes. I wouldn’t consider my setup safe for the highway, although the truck could probably do it. My Touareg TDI was an awesome tow rig for the same boat, but those are heavy SUV’s with the torque of the diesel. I towed the boat from Cape Cod to Connecticut a few times with that rig.

 

My only real need for towing involves my Kubota BX on a single axle trailer equipped with brakes. Maybe a tad under 4K lbs.
Got no intention of losing my rig cuz I can't stop quick enough. I know that don't cover every possibility, but I'll do what can.

 

I think you'll be fine towing. I probably wouldn't do highway driving with that kind of weight either although some on here would probably say you're fine. We're looking at travel trailers and I"m trying to stay under 2500# dry weight.