2006 Sienna Trailer Hitch Wiring

[nate1500]

Hey,

I own a 2006 Sienna XLE and want to install a trailer hitch. Does anyone know if the van is prewired for a trailer and if so, where would I find the wiring harness?

Any suggestions where to find out would also be appreciated.

Thanks.

[toyotaneil]

tow prep package is standerd on all sienna's, just needs the hitch and and plug wiring, go see your local Toyota service shop, but other manufacturers also make hitches for sienna, sometimes a wee bit cheaper.

Regards

[dameyn]

[QUOTE=toyotaneil]tow prep package is standerd on all sienna's, just needs the hitch and and plug wiring, go see your local Toyota service shop, but other manufacturers also make hitches for sienna, sometimes a wee bit cheaper.

The only tow prep that comes standard with a 2006 Sienna is the transmission fluid cooler, which is built in to the radiator. All the wiring harness, including battery charge line, brake controller line, turn indicator, marker and stop lights, must be installed along with the hitch receiver by the dealer or a hitch/RV shop such as Truckin Thunder, etc. The battery charge and brake controller lines must come from the dash all the way back to the hitch electric receptacle. The complete tow prep kit can be ordered with the van as an accessory, otherwise it's an after-market job. Dale.

[jeffc]

I'm sort of in the same boat, I have multiple trailers and tow vehicles so I want to have them all be compatible. I am used to a trailer wiring set-up that has a ground, a running light and left brake/turn and right brake/turn (4 connectors). It seems like the Sienna has separate brake - running light - right turn - left turn - ground (5 connectors?!?!?), so if I figure anything out, I'll post it. I wired the trailer up by taking off the rear lights and soldering in new wires to the wires feeding the rear lights, I plugged in my trailer and then realized that I only had turn signals, no brake lights. I have a 2005 Sienna.

- jeff

[jeffc]

Well, after some searching on the web I could find nothing of use so I called my dealer. Don't get me going on the dealer, I have 3 Toyotas, this is the first new one I've bought and the dealer is rapidly making me think twice about this purchase.

Anyway, after some round-about talk, I figured out that I need a special-order trailer wiring adaptor for $150. This reportedly has 5 wires "in" and 4 wires "out".

HA!

I guess I can get an after-market one for $25 or so but that may affect my warrantee. Anyway, this answers the question on how pre-wired for a trailer a 2005 Sienna is, I don't know if an '06 is the same or not.

- jeff

[zonie66]

My 2006 LTD AWD is not prewired. I installed a hidden hitch purchased locally and ordered the wiring harness here for $35. Both were simple installs with no issues.

[kapplegate]

I have just called a couple of dealers and there is a harness available for my 2005 Sienna for about $55.

[dhanrahan]

I've heard that aftermarket trailer hitches will scrape on the ground when entering driveways. Have any of you had this problem? If not, what kind of hitch are you using?

Thx

[crang]

I recommend the plug in wiring. I didn't have this available for the 04 sienna, so I used an OEM version and spliced the wires. The brake booster and 12 volt accessrory wires run from the battery down the driver side of the van in a wire raceway beneath the doors. Quite easy to install. I keep the 7 wire plug in with the jack and remove teh cover when I use the trailer.

YES the 2" non-Toyota hitches do often scrape the ground, especially on sloped driveways. Annoying but never been too much of an issue.

[mike_payne]

[quote=dameyn;481823]

tow prep package is standerd on all sienna's, just needs the hitch and and plug wiring, go see your local Toyota service shop, but other manufacturers also make hitches for sienna, sometimes a wee bit cheaper.

The only tow prep that comes standard with a 2006 Sienna is the transmission fluid cooler, which is built in to the radiator. All the wiring harness, including battery charge line, brake controller line, turn indicator, marker and stop lights, must be installed along with the hitch receiver by the dealer or a hitch/RV shop such as Truckin Thunder, etc. The battery charge and brake controller lines must come from the dash all the way back to the hitch electric receptacle. The complete tow prep kit can be ordered with the van as an accessory, otherwise it's an after-market job. Dale.

Yelp, and as a far as I can see when we are making them. The only harness that comes down and only gets used some of the time is the one in the bottom of the rear left side of the van. Thats the harness for rear laser cruise sensors that go in the bumper. The trailer option isnt installed by Toyota Motor Manufacturing, its installed by TLS (Toyota Logisitc Service) also thats where all the TRD stuff is donw too. Either there or at the dealer...

[geneowens]

My dealer installed a trailer hitch and 4 wire harness and plug as part of the deal. The hitch is only a 1.25 inch receiver versus the more common 2 inch. This is a real problem since many uses including the accessory "Dual Port System" are made for the 2 inch receiver. I'll need to get a 1.25 inch "Main Support" for the system. There was no main support "mysteriously" with my system. I asked two dealers about the hitch and they both said the 1.25 inch would have to be installed due to their "liability" issues. I wish now that I had gone to a hitch dealer to get the a 2 inch hitch which I have now seen on other Siennas!

Anyone else have the Dual Port System???
Thanks,
Gene

[geneowens]

Correction - Now that I have been provided the correct installation instructions from Cequent Towing Products, my dual port Cargo System works fine! "It was really a challenge when I had the instructions for the 2 inch receiver"!!!!!! System seems very useful also.

[JKrajovan]

Is there a hitch out there that fits the 2006 Sienna without the hitch hitting the ground?
Also, if I have an extended warranty, will I void it if I install the a wiring kit myself?
One more thing, anybody install an air lift kit in the rear shocks? Want to start racing motorcross again. Worried about the weight of the bike on the van, you know?
JK

[Act162This]

most people that opted for the 2" hitch seem to have heavier towing requirements than the OEM dual port system and need the 2" hitch.

that being said, they are often experiencing bottoming out with the 2" hitch both loaded and unloaded - many have installed an aftermarket airbag system or load levelling system to lift up the rear under load or when going up/down steep driveways, and are happy with the airbags.

[Brilliant_Polack]

athough low to the ground my 2" hitch on my 05 sienna does not bottom out. It has only bottomed a wheel on a Stowaway carrier wheel that extends out the back. Got my bolt on hitch from the Hitchman as well as the wire harness adapter that wires into the brake lights. ---> perfect fit, and very easy DIY, only had to disconnect one rubber muffler donut to gain working room. -saved good money on installing on my own. If i knew more about an easy airbags install, i would put those on.