Hi all, new member buying an FJ shortly. I'm getting the tow hitch with 4-pin wiring up here in Canada (4-pin only up here). But I'll need a 7-pin harness and proper under dash wiring for adding a 'brake controller' needed for controlling the electric brakes on a trailer weighing around 3000lbs fully loaded. So, can anyone out there tell me if the FJ is prepped for the extension to 7-pin towing (via a std bargman connector) including the 5 wires necessary for the under dash brake controller?
Does a 7-pin harness exist in the US?
Keep in mind that class-IV towing (5000lbs) required brakes on the trailer, etc.
Thanks for any help on this......

I'm getting the tow hitch with 4-pin wiring up here in Canada (4-pin only up here). But I'll need a 7-pin harness..........

I had the 4 pin wiring installed for my 3000 lb boat/trailer, but I don't haul it far. My neighbour's FJ has the 7 pin- a different harness is needed- likely costlier. Our Georgetown dealer had asked me which type of harness I needed. Mine was about $420 installed.
PB

Does the FJ come with the wire harness, according to the manual there is one under the rear?? I suspect you need to have it adapted. I pick my recently purchased Silver FJ up in a half hour and will be taking it to a locale trailer shop to have a hitch and harness put on. Russ

Does the FJ come with the wire harness, according to the manual there is one under the rear?? ....

The 'harness' on models in Canada comes only through the firewall and under the dash: you must purchase the real harness and the hitch (hence the $400+ price tag). This seems to be an area that Toyota shows poor planning: there is also a lot of anger and resentment in the Rav4 camp when people purchase a vehicle that says it's 'trailer hitch ready', only to discover that an expensive harness is needed to carry the power from the dash to the rear.

A bonus for me: the first time I backed up the FJ to a trailer, the rear sonar/sensor stopped me 4 inches from the tongue. Once you learn to read the beeps, it's very helpful. Also, with either of my boat trailers, or my friend's hauling trailer, I can still open the rear door when hooked up. :tu:

But the best part :tu: was discovering that if I locked the rear door open, and even partially lowered the passenger rear seatback, I could see the actual ball as I backed it under the tongue hitch- no more jumping in and out to make sure I was close-but-not-too-close etc.. This is a real advantage when hooking up by yourself. First try, and I was in exactly the right position to lower, connect and drive away.

However, compared to my Blazer, the rear view of the trailer when backing is very restricted. I like to look out the back as I back up, and can do so very smoothly. Now I have to learn to use my mirrors much more for backing up.:mad:

Towing a 22' boat or a hauling trailerload of firewood, the FJ is far less influenced by what is behind than the Blazer was. It rode rock steady as though there was nothing being towed for the 135 miles home.:D

My Titanium FJ is so pretty that so far I've left my ball and drawbar in the hitch: if you want to bump my Cruiser from behind at the plaza, you'll have to deal with the 2" ball in your grill first!!
PB

I think I'm that neighbour that has a 7 pin connector on my FJ. I purchased the 4 pin wiring package that comes standard with the towing package. When I purchased the vehicle I was told that Toyota always standardizes its trucks but they were wrong. I had to run a fused #12 wire from the fuse box to the brake controller (I placed it in the upper dash glove box). Then I ran a #12 wire to the rear (There is a spare rubber grommet that runs through the fire wall) of the vehicle from the contoller. The controller also needs to be wired to the brake stop light pedal (Normaly cold) switch. I purchased a 4 wire to 7 pin female socket adapter with mounting hard ware. This was a tidy installation because I used the original mounting holes for the 4 wire adapter. Plus you can remove the adapter any return it to the original configuration if required. You can find these adapters in any Princess auto or Canadian tire store. I chose to mount it just under the bumper area but if you are a serious off roader I would install it up behind the bumper. This way you would not reduce your ground clearance.

Good luck with Your FJ