Truck Broken into and Brake controller stolen... help ID replacement?

My truck came preinstalled with a Trailer brake controller at the location in the photo. The homeless dude who broke into my truck must have thought it looked expensive and pulled it out, along with the switch that controlled my light system (but not the spotlights themselves?). Can you guys help identify what brake control would fit here, or if its just a type of mounting system, what I need to request through insurance and for repairs to get the functionality back and my truck not looking like ass.

 

That be the parking brake handle cover that's missing, covers where the e-brake handle would be on a manual.

Did you have a brake controller, like, mounted on a bracket cantilevered out from that panel, or something? I assume it wasn't one of the fancy new remote box ones with just a little knob (or it was & you have a dumb, unlucky homeless dude who just jacked nothing worthwhile) so you could mount about any controller in that space.

On that note, I'd get one of the fancy new remote ones that just require a small knob/display, partly for this reason & partly cuz I have a manual and can't mount mine there, and there's not many places to mount a conventional one without being a PITA.

 

Yeah, I had a silver brake controller that used to occupy that space. Always figured it was OEM because it fit in the space so neatly, but the dealership repair shop is saying there was nothing that was standard for that year. So I just need to replace the cover and order a new controller?

 

You need to do the work for your Insurance Company as the the part needed for repair/replacement? Time for a new Insurance Company. (Tell them $1,000!)

 

USAA has been solid. The repair shop I took it to is part of a Toyota dealership, and basically said they have no idea. Really helpful of them, so I’m doing my own research.

 

How do you know that the guy who stole your brake controller is homless? Did you steal his travel trailer when stepped out?

 

The shop who I left this at for a repair ID’d the guy as a local homeless man from footage and forwarded it to police. No, they arent covering repairs or the stuff that is stolen, even though the truck was in their care and they left it in an unsecured area overnight because the bay was full. I’m a little pissed at that part, but it may take an attorney for them to do the right thing.

 

Varies from state to state...but...usually once the vehicle is in their care they assume liability for damage as described. Contact your state DMV says retired state consumer protection agency guy

 

wrong. insurance companies aren’t going to do research on custom parts and equipment. they don’t know what was there.

 

You bought your Tacoma new or used?

 

Go with a Reedark unit. You can usually get (or even make if the opening was destroyed in the break-in) an OOB dash mount for your trucks year. The adaptive Reedark control unit is mounted on the dash panel and the sending unit is mounted under the dash out of knee bashing range.

I understand you may be after a factory unit, but the Reedark Pro is by far and away the best tow controller I've ever used.

 

Used.

 

I have my best luck looking for replacement parts for my Tacoma on Amazon. You can post questions to the Manufacturer/Seller and most often will get a response on a particular unit.
Good luck! Maybe you'll recognize your old stolen unit on the Amazon Automotive site?