Question Towing A Trailer With Electric Brakes - Toyota Tundra Forums : Tundra Solutions Forum

black magik · #1 (**permalink**) 06-25-2008, 01:49 PM

I got a "little plug" (the one that you get in the glove compartment) and what do I do with it? I'm getting a airstream camper with electric brakes....
so I'm supposed to plug this under the dashboard, into the "utility plug" of the truck....but what do I do with the loose wires of this "TRAILER BRAKE JUMPER HARNESS"?.......thats how they call it

rachunter · #2 (**permalink**) 06-26-2008, 08:03 AM

You will wire your trailer brake into the plug that came in the glove box.

I have the Prodigy brake controller by Tekonsha and it works great. I mounted it to the fuse panel cover/ change holder. The plug allows you to easily remove the brake controller when not in use.

What size is the camper you are getting. Post some pics.

Marazzito · #3 (**permalink**) 06-26-2008, 12:12 PM

What kind of brake controller do you have? You can by a harness that is made for Toyota to Tekonsha (Prodigy, P3, ect.) so you dont have to splice any wires and it only cost like $15.00 and it may save you a headache.

Post some pics of your trailer hooked up to your Tacoma!

dgjohnson · #4 (**permalink**) 06-26-2008, 12:24 PM

I am going to be renting a 23 foot trailer for holidays later this year. I am going to install a brake controller before I pick it up , I have the wire "dongle"in the glove box but I'll damned if I can find the connection for it under the dash. Can anybody tell me how to locate the connector, I asked the dealer and their reply was "somewhere under the dash",gee thanks for the help guys. Hopefully one of you fellas are more helpful than the dealer, once I find it I think I will probably go with the P3 controller.
Thanks in advance guys.

sr5mike · #5 (**permalink**) 06-26-2008, 01:28 PM

IMO a 23ft trailer is to big for a tacoma. You don't have the wheelbase to support it or the brakes.

L R H · #6 (**permalink**) 06-26-2008, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sr5mike

IMO a 23ft trailer is to big for a tacoma. You don't have the wheelbase to support it or the brakes.

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I agree, and Airstream's even with all the aluminum in the inner structure are VERY heavy, and also the tougue is heavy enough to make a sway control and weight distribution bars mandatory; I bet your truck is not set up for the sway control. It may not matter if you are renting this trailer, as once they see the tow vehicle, they will probably refuse.

sr5mike · #7 (**permalink**) 06-26-2008, 04:00 PM

I have no doubt the truck has the power to pull it. Even with electric brakes you are a hazard on the road. If you were to get into a accident you could and probably will face civil and criminal charges. Folks be smart and get the right tool for the job.

Marazzito · #8 (**permalink**) 06-26-2008, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sr5mike

I have no doubt the truck has the power to pull it. Even with electric brakes you are a hazard on the road. If you were to get into a accident you could and probably will face civil and criminal charges. Folks be smart and get the right tool for the job.

Wait what? Civil and Criminal charges? Assuming they are towing over the wight limits! If they are, you are absolutely correct they very well could have law suite on their hands. If they are not over weight they will not have any legal issue's. As a general rule of thumb a 100" wheelbase is good for a 20' trailer and for every 4" inches over 100" you get another foot in trailer length. So with the AC/DC SB at 128" it would be safe to tow a 27" trailer and with the long bed, a 30" trailer. This is a general rule of thumb and only applies if using a properly set op WDH w/ sway control. As far as braking goes, the Tacoma's breaks are surprisingly affective while towing. Before I purchased my trailer I was using a uhaul car trailer to pull my FJ40 and that had crappy hydraulic brakes and even in a panic stop the truck safely slowed down the trailer. Now that I have a Prodigy that I have dialed in perfectly (or at least as perfect as it gets) braking isn't an issue at all. The trailer stops 90% of the trailer and the Tacoma is left to stop only it's self and the remaining 10%. Granted, if I had a time-delayed controller, I would probably be reporting much differently regarding braking. I can't speak for pulling a travel trailer because I tow a car trailer, but I do tow on the upper limits regarding weight and I am very impressed with how well it pulls. Of course it isn't a Tundra, and doesn't pull near as good as one, but it will safely get you where your are going with out any complaint and leave you rather impressed.

Have a little faith in the Tacoma, if you stay under the weight limits it will impress you.

sr5mike · #9 (**permalink**) 06-26-2008, 06:36 PM

The dry weight on the trailer he is talking about is 6000lbs. Add water, propane, batteries, coolers w/ ice, gear and the occupants in the tow rig. You have at that point far exceeded the 6000lbs tow rating of a tacoma. Now get into an accident while being 1500 to 2000lbs over weight. I would never tow that trailer with my tundra. I have clocked well over 5k with a TT behind my tundra.

sr5mike · #10 (**permalink**) 06-26-2008, 06:38 PM

On a side note if he is renting it from a rental company I would be surprised if they let him off the lot.

Marazzito · #11 (**permalink**) 06-26-2008, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sr5mike

The dry weight on the trailer he is talking about is 6000lbs. Add water, propane, batteries, coolers w/ ice, gear and the occupants in the tow rig. You have at that point far exceeded the 6000lbs tow rating of a tacoma. Now get into an accident while being 1500 to 2000lbs over weight. I would never tow that trailer with my tundra. I have clocked well over 5k with a TT behind my tundra.

I am confused? I am not seeing where he/she mentioned what type of trailer he/she is renting... how are you getting the 6,000 lb dry weight for the trailer? The Tacoma's weight rating is 6,500 lbs not 6,000 lbs, GCWR IS 11,100 LBS, the weight of a Tacoma DC 4X4 is 4,090 lbs. Take the 11,100 lbs subtract 6,500 lbs for absolute max trailer weight and then take away another 4,090 lbs for the weight of the Tacoma and you are left with 510 lbs. That leaves enough room for 2 average sized adults and 2 young kids. Granted these are quick calculations and things like tongue weight go back onto the truck, but are then taken off of the trailer so this really doesn't effect the GCWR, but you do have to make sure not to exceed your GVWR. I am not suggesting exceeding the weight limits at all. IMO it is safe to pull a travel trailer with a dry weight under 5,000 lbs (real weight, not published weight), and at 5,000 lbs you would have to be careful not to over load the trailer.

sr5mike · #12 (**permalink**) 06-26-2008, 08:05 PM

I am wrong I confused this post w/ the orginal poster.
I am going to be renting a 23 foot trailer for holidays later this year. I am going to install a brake controller before I pick it up , I have the wire "dongle"in the glove box but I'll damned if I can find the connection for it under the dash. Can anybody tell me how to locate the connector, I asked the dealer and their reply was "somewhere under the dash",gee thanks for the help guys. Hopefully one of you fellas are more helpful than the dealer, once I find it I think I will probably go with the P3 controller.
Thanks in advance guys.

dgjohnson · #13 (**permalink**) 06-27-2008, 01:19 PM

Sorry for the confusion. I am not the guy with the Airsteam, I just wanted to know where to plug the brake controller into the truck. I can't seem to find the connection. By the way the trailer I am renting weighs about 3700 lbs. Cheers.

thorvald · #14 (**permalink**) 06-27-2008, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dgjohnson

I am going to be renting a 23 foot trailer for holidays later this year. I am going to install a brake controller before I pick it up , I have the wire "dongle"in the glove box but I'll damned if I can find the connection for it under the dash. Can anybody tell me how to locate the connector, I asked the dealer and their reply was "somewhere under the dash",gee thanks for the help guys. Hopefully one of you fellas are more helpful than the dealer, once I find it I think I will probably go with the P3 controller.
Thanks in advance guys.

You certainly don't need the P3 unless you know that you will have electronically controlled hydraulic brakes on your rental trailer. The Prodigy or the Primus will work fine for you otherwise. I got the Primus from Southwest Trailer for $89 including the prewired harness and free shipping , second day air!The Primus will brake up to three axles. I think the Prodigy will do four. Just look at the Tekonsha website and figure out what you really need.

Marazzito · #15 (**permalink**) 06-27-2008, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dgjohnson

Sorry for the confusion. I am not the guy with the Airsteam, I just wanted to know where to plug the brake controller into the truck. I can't seem to find the connection. By the way the trailer I am renting weighs about 3700 lbs. Cheers.

To the left of the steering wheel under the dash. You can't miss it, but you do have to stand outside of the truck and sorta bend your head under the dash. I will try to upload a picture later today.