trailer wiring on a 2000 tundra ?

[ace57]

ok tundraholics,

can anyone give me the "bottom line" on trailer wiring for the 2000 tundra ? i am officially confused.

i had heard that the wiring needs to go straight to the battery, because of possible damage to the onboard computer system due to, i would figure, surges or spikes whatever.

i also picked up that toyota had a recall on converters back in 2k due to something along these lines......

i know someone on ebay sells wiring for the 2k tundras and claims in his spiel that you have to go to the battery etc...

so i figured, i would go to a toyota dealer and purchase their parts, with the logic that they would sell the 'right stuff'

what the partsguy sold me at toyota was a draw tite converter that is plugand play, basically it looks like it plugs into the taillight wiring system, easy 123................what i don't see is a power wire to the battery??

so did he sell me the wrong part, it does say 2000 tundra on the package????

please any help, i am having the wiring done sat. morning one way or the other..

thanks

ace from MA

[Drhrsh]

Depends on what you are trying to wire. Are you wiring only trailer lights, or are you wiring electric trailer brakes? I have a 2000 tundra I wired for lights and electric trailer brakes. Let me know if I can help'

Dave

[nhparrot]

There should be 2 harness parts. It needs to be specific for the 2000 because the wiring changed for the 2001. I think the 2000 part numbers are 08921-34810 and PT207-34012

[ace57]

thanks for the response Dave,

i am wiring just lights.

the draw-tite website mentions a "module" or as they call it a "modulite" which can be used in conjunction with the t-connector to protect the electrical system and wire directly to the battery.........

however my spiffy toyota dealer only sold me the t-connector, and failed to mention anything about a "protective" module

cheers

ace

[ace57]

....but Glenn,

are these not toyota part numbers?

i was sold a draw-tite product........

[MikeT]

I just rewired my Tundra last week for a trailer. I orignally had a boat with a 4-way flat connector (surge brake trailer).

Last week I installed an electric brake controller and 7 way connector. I used the (Tekonsha Prodigy brake controller)

So to answer your question, it depends on what type of trailer you are pulling just like "Drhrsh" stated.

It also depends on what you have on there already. If you have no wiring at all, you will need to buy a "Tail light converter" You will need this because Toyota uses seperate amber lights for turn signals (where most american cars use a red combo light) so on the Tundra you basically have extra wires. This will also protect your truck's electronics.

If you are just going to use the 4 way flat connector and you bought the part from toyota than it most likely is plug and play no need for any other converter because it's most likely built in.

There won't be a battery wire on a 4 way flat because there is no direct 12v needed in that situation where a 7 way connector has a direct 12v line going in so the trailer can pull juice from the truck when needed (ex: electric tounge )

Hope this helps.

-Mike

[ace57]

just a 4- way flat,

i tow a small stratos bass boat

thanks
mike

geez i wish my toyota was as easy to work with as my e-maxx (r/c)

[ace57]

ps no trailer brakes,

there was no tow package at all on the truck

had u-haul put a hitch on, but all he did for the wiring was put a small u-haul convertor on spliced in on the taillight wires. after reading all the "cautionarys" on the 2000 tundra, i thought, uhoh i better check this cheesy wiring setup


thanks all

[nhparrot]

Yes Ace those are the Toyota Part Numbers. The Drawtite part number is 18367 for Model Year 2000 Tundras

[Don H]

To give you another option, I have a Reese converter with a 4 pin flat plug. It is mounted up behind the rear bumber. The power for the trailer lights comes from a wire that runs up to the battery with a 15 Amp pigtail fuse near the battery. I can't remember exactly but there is a spot near the battery that makes it easy attach the power wire. The converter has relays in it because I can hear one clicking when I check the bulbs for the turn signals. It was basically plugnplay and a few wire ties. Have had no problems in three years. I like this setup because I believe it protects the electronics from voltage spikes.
BTW If it would help I could look at the converter for a part number and also give you more details as to where the power wire goes.

[ace57]

I just want to thank all of you who responded to me:
Drhrsh, Parrot, Mike and Don.............you guys are great!

It is nice to be part of a board that will respond like that and help out a fellow Tundraholic..........

I ended up using the Drawtite item, it was correct, and as some of you said, it has a fuse inline with the system.

The original part that "mr. uhaul" put on was NOT correct. With this Drawtite part, the lighting glitch I had, (turn signals on truck lighting up when brake applied) is rectified.....

also I put in a tranny cooler, so I THINK FINALLY, I am ready for towing my Stratos.

Again muchas gracias all

Ace from MA

[bob213]

Just wanted to tell everyone who has taken the time to post info on trailer wiring "Thank You". I had decided I could not wire a brake controller into my 4-way equipped 2000 Tundra, but the more I browsed this forum the more convinced I became that I could.
After assembling everything I needed, I ran wire and installed my Prodigy controller today along with a 7 way connector. This is my first post, but I had to say Thanks!!!
Bob213

[zootjeff]

Bob213,

Could you post more details on this? How did you wind up doing the wiring? Could you explain all the components you used? Did you get a 4way to 7way socket, then run the 12v line right to the battery? How did you hook up the brake controller? Did you buffer the running lights?

The brake controller has a 12v in, Gnd, tail-light in, and Brake out. Where did you tap off the tail-light in signal? I couldn't find a harness on my 2000 tundra, and mine doesn't have the factory tow package.

How to Wire your Car or Truck for Trailer Lights

That link has a good overview of what the options are for the trailers, but I can't find any good link to anyone who did this from scratch on their 2000 Tundra.

I did find that after the year 03, they added a break controller harness and 3 dedicated fuses because a large number of customers actually buy a full size pickup to tow rather then just guzzle gas for fun and haul heavy stuff...


If you can give me any insight, I'd really appreciate it!

Thanks,

Jeff

Originally Posted by bob213

Just wanted to tell everyone who has taken the time to post info on trailer wiring "Thank You". I had decided I could not wire a brake controller into my 4-way equipped 2000 Tundra, but the more I browsed this forum the more convinced I became that I could.
After assembling everything I needed, I ran wire and installed my Prodigy controller today along with a 7 way connector. This is my first post, but I had to say Thanks!!!
Bob213

[dangerous curve]

I think I have tapped into the "nerve center" of my problem. This thread is very helpful. lots of great info. from several folks. I'm stuggling and could use some basic help. This is my second post and I think you guys are the right source for info.
My "new" 2000 tundra has a broken (in two pieces) 7 pin connector and what looks like a class 3 or 4 receiver. It has no controller and wires all over the place. Some look like old stereo wires, others old alarm wires etc.......hard to tell. I'd like to reuse as much towing wiring as possible. I need the 7 pin connentor working for the electric brakes and the lights. The truck already has what looks like a factory trans. cooler.

Can someone set me straight on the basics:
Based on this thread, the 2000 wiring seems unique to this year only?
Did Toyota offer a tow package (7 pin and class 3 hitch) from the factory in 2000 (is it possible that my setup is factory in 2000)?
At the dash end, is there a "plug" that I can wire my controller to?
Or, is this all a home grown effort, to the battery, the brake wire etc?

My 7 pin connector has wires going "somewhere"....I guess I can carefully follow each wire and make a diagram and follow the helpful link "how to wire your trailer". I'm just making the assumtion that the current 7 pin connector was used with a controller..............any help would be appreciated......sorry for the long note.

[zootjeff]

Originally Posted by dangerous curve

.any help would be appreciated......sorry for the long note.

Hey,

I put a 7 pin trailer hookup onto my 2000 tundra that didn't have the factory tow package.

The Factory tow package was only a 4 pin.

There is no socket for a brake controller. I wired a dedicated 12 volt line straight to the battery, and clipped on a wire to the actual brake switch of the truck. I went with the P3 with the LCD screen and I love it!

There is a harness under the truck bed near the bumper. It has a hookup for the harness I ordered below. I ran a dedicated black wire to the battery of the truck. So in the end, I have a 30 amp fuse for the brakes that goes to the brake controller and the blue wire of the 7-pin, and a 30 amp fuse to the AUX line (black line of the 7-pin). I didn't hookup the backup lights. (purple wire). The other wires all came from the harness that goes to the factory socket under the bed near the bumper. Works great with my travel trailer.


Tows my 165 Jayco JayFeather 2800lb trailer great!

Below is what I ordered for the 2000 Tundra from etrailer.com

The 33365 plugs right into the wiring of the truck right on the under side of the truck near the center close to the bumper.



37185
rate it Adapter 4 Pole to 7 Pole & 4 Pole 1 $22.95 $22.95 87588
rate it Hidden Hitch Class III Trailer Hitch Receiver 1 $117.95 $117.95 49102
rate it Hot Spot Mirror 2" Round Convex Stick On 2 $1.09 $2.18 49202
rate it Hot Spot Mirror 3" Round Convex Stick On 2 $1.49 $2.98 38630
rate it 30 amp. In-Line Circuit Breaker 2 $3.34 $6.68 9506P
rate it 20 amp. In-Line Circuit Breaker 1 $3.34 $3.34 33365
rate it Plug-N-Tow Vehicle Wiring Harness with 4 Pole Trailer Connector 1 $33.45 $33.45 Referral Code:XBBJ7: ($9.48) Shipping: UPS Ground: $42.30 FreeShipping: ($42.30) Sales Tax: $0.00
Total: $180.05