How do I get constant 12 volt power from trailer wiring?

Hey everyone,

I am noticing that on the 2018 Tacoma, there is no constant 12 volt power in the 7 pin trailer wiring. I am talking about the factory installed wiring package. Can anyone guide me on how to get an idea on how to get constant 12 volt power from the 7 pin trailer wiring when the truck is off?

Thanks,

David

 

I don't believe that connector would be "hot" with the key off......There is no reason that I can think of..!

Run a hot wire from the front..

 

Curious what you hope to accomplish?

Can't recall ever seeing a constant hot in any hitch wiring. That could be pretty risky.

 

I believe the 7 flat round connector has a spot for battery hot. Which I term as full hot. It could be open for interpitation

 

Welcome! Ok, so what’s the amperage and type of item are you using it for? (Assume you know by your name)

 

Amperage. I honestly can’t answer. I have a truck camper that slides in the back. That’s why I need 12v hot all the time.

 

I have a small solar panel wired to a 7 pin vehicle end connector. I use this to power my interior lights for my enclosed trailer when parked or disconnected from the truck. Not sure what you intentions are but this works for me.

As far as I know all vehicles run switched power through the 7 pin connector. I don’t know if any that are constant.

 

If you are wiring up a camper, why not set it up right the first time by going directly to your main battery with heavy guage 30amp fused hot and ground since you might (no, will is more like it if you hangout here) want to put in a fridge, fan, spare battery, inverter, etc., in the future?

 

YES! What he said OP. The wiring for battery hot to the seven way is on the ignition hot bus. I'm doing the same install using a switched circuit breaker and battery isolator in the engine compartment and running a 8 gauge line back to the left bed cubby for a terminal connection to the camper.

What camper are you planning?

 

10ga wire. Battery to 30A HD circuit breaker to red(?) wire on the 7pin pigtail. etrailer should have all of this laid out.

I have the 4 banger, so I had to do everything myself.

There was no brake controller harness in my truck, so I ran duplex cable for the 12V and the controller. One wire was for the 12V, and the other was for the brake controller.

 

Since a few have asked exactly what we are trying to accomplish...We are in development of a Plug-N-Play wire harness that T's off the factory 7 PIN to run the 3rd Brake light for Truck Cap installations. We are also pulling power out of the 7 PIN to power the Dome Light, or other aux lighting, Bed Lighting, etc. Most other OEMs have a HOT wire in the 7 PIN (Don't even need your keys to power your dome light, bed lights in this scenario). It seems Ford and Toyota are the only ones that don't. Just wondering what the best solution is to grab that constant 12 Volt power in the Tacoma...We'd lean toward going right to the battery.

 

Some are always on. My Dodge Dakota was. On the Tacoma the 12v feed ign switched via a relay. Using the proper gauge wire you should be able to bypass the relay. You would need to connect the blue and yellow wires.

 

Bumping this thread. Does anyone have a clean, easy solution and hopefully can save me a lot of time hunting down wires? Thank you!

 

12 gauge jumper wire on the mating connector to the T7, bridge pin 8 (40A) to pin 7.

You can lower the amps to a 20A (low profile JCASE fuse) from the 40A in the engine bay fuse/relay box.

 

Cool! This connector is located near the kick panel, correct?

 

Is the T7 connector in the area of the interior fuse panel? Lower left of the steering wheel?

 

Correct.

 

Super helpful. Thank you!!

 

I'm new to these trucks. I haven't a clue where that connector is.

mean while, dutchcontract knows exactly where it is. I feel so hopeless at times... I'm blaming it on my stiff back, and my birthday...I've had too many ;-)