Toyota Trailer lights harness

yellowseca · #1 (**permalink**) 02-21-2002, 08:36 AM

Hey folks!! Long time reader, first time poster. Picked up my 2002 Tundra 4WD Ltd. and would like to do some light towing (max. 1000 lbs.) I figured I could use the step bumper for the hitch ball. The hole's already there and has a capacity of 5000 lbs. stamped on the bumper. I picked up the trailer light harness from my local Toyota dealer, but alas, no instructions. I figure the one cable goes from the socket under the rear to the trailer, but there's other cables and a "black box." Does anybody know where this goes? I think it has something to do with a fuse or maybe a converter so the signals and brake lights work on the trailer. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

userw5 · #2 (**permalink**) 02-21-2002, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by yellowseca
Hey folks!! Long time reader, first time poster. Picked up my 2002 Tundra 4WD Ltd. and would like to do some light towing (max. 1000 lbs.) I figured I could use the step bumper for the hitch ball. The hole's already there and has a capacity of 5000 lbs. stamped on the bumper. I picked up the trailer light harness from my local Toyota dealer, but alas, no instructions. I figure the one cable goes from the socket under the rear to the trailer, but there's other cables and a "black box." Does anybody know where this goes? I think it has something to do with a fuse or maybe a converter so the signals and brake lights work on the trailer. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

That black box goes behind the left rear (drivers side) tail light assembly. I got mine about two week ago, but have not had time to do the install yet. I'll try to post the instructions here later. But someone who has installed one may know them off the top of their head. I know it all just plugs in. Did you install the piece that goes up by the battery?

Jeff

nhparrot · #3 (**permalink**) 02-21-2002, 09:05 AM

The Tundra is prewired for a trailer harness. However the power connection for the harness and the converter kit are not part of the base vehicle. The trailer wiring option adds a connection from the O3 connector in the engine compartment to the battery with an in-line fuseable link, and a Hitch Converter Kit that plugs into the T9 connector which is under the bed on the driver's side rear.

I am not sure where the converter box mounts, but I would guess it is behind the taillight on the drivers side.

alexcue · #4 (**permalink**) 02-21-2002, 10:05 AM

If you don't mind me asking, how much was the "kit"? I'm interested in it. Does it come with any instructions?
Also, does it include the wiring harness for a hitch receiver? I was looking for the fuse on mine but i guess, as you pointed out, it doesn't come "stock" unless you have the towing package.

Tundra88 · #5 (**permalink**) 02-21-2002, 06:11 PM

All - I just went through this whole ordeal with my local dealer. My 2002 Tundra didn't have the factory harness but the owners book leads you to believe you can just plug your trailer into the existing electrical connection just in front of the rear bumper. Long story short is you need a 3-piece kit from Toyota with a retail price of $280. The service manager agreed that was a ridiculous price and handed me the parts for nothing.

Install is a breeze. The three parts install as follows.

1. The fuse block installs on the positive battery terminal and plugs into the receptacle that is hiding on the driver’s side of the battery (between the battery and the fender). You will need to remove the battery clamp and slide the battery away from the fender a few inches.
2. The flat black box with the 9 pin receptacle installs behind the drivers side taillight using the predrilled hole in the metal. Plug that 9 pin receptacle into the existing 9 pin wire harness at the base if the taillight.
3. Part three plugs into that 6 pin receptacle that hangs down between your spare tire and rear bumper. It converts Toyota’s crazy 6 pin receptacle to a standard flat 4 pin.

No wires to cut and no holes to drill overall a very easy install. Hope that helps.

Doug

KLS · #6 (**permalink**) 02-21-2002, 06:17 PM

You can also get the DrawTite #18378 kit. It costs less and has instructions. Napa probably has the same kit under their name.

Ken

alexcue · #7 (**permalink**) 02-22-2002, 07:51 AM

Great, thanks for the info. I probably will still end up getting the "kit". Hopefully i can find it for a better price. Time to do a search! I don't like to just tap into the wires like U-Haul seems to do.

userw5 · #8 (**permalink**) 02-22-2002, 08:00 AM

My wiring harness kit was around $140 (if my memory is correct) from my local dealer.

yellowseca · #9 (**permalink**) 02-22-2002, 06:09 PM

Thanks all!! The kit cost me $140 from the dealer, came without any instructions. The dealer did offer to install it for me, at a premium hourly labor charge, of course. I'll try Doug's (Tundra88) directions and see what happens.

cwoodthorpe · #10 (**permalink**) 02-23-2002, 04:41 PM

Does anyone have the wiring details for the 6 pin and 9 pin connectors. I'm looking to wire in a 7pin Trailer connector.

Thanks,

- Chris

nhparrot · #11 (**permalink**) 02-23-2002, 04:46 PM

That is on my To-Do List for the next update to the Electronics FAQ. I expect to have it updated within the next 2 weeks.

MCoupe · #12 (**permalink**) 02-25-2002, 05:30 AM

If you're towing a small trailer, then it will probably have a flat 4 wire connector. You can pick up a wiring harness for that pretty cheap. I got mine on ebay (keep looking, the guy keeps popping up) for $30 plus $6 shipping. Drop shipped from the manufacturer, with full instructions.

Takes about 5 minutes to install, easy, 2 snap ins to connectors and one small bolt on the battery loosened and tightened.

One issue that I found was always having voltage to the 3 hot wires. This is normal, they're just not pumping any amperage. They work great on the trailer (Curt Manufacturing, guy in Atlanta selling them).

I pulled a 3,000 pound car on a 1,000 pound trailer to south Florida and back from Atlanta with no trouble whatever this last weekend.

02tundra · #13 (**permalink**) 02-25-2002, 05:44 AM

got mine from toyotaguys.com and for around 140.00 everything was there and easy to install in my 2002. With being factory toyota stuff if anything did go wrong toyota couldnt complain about wrong equipment being installed.

Jharkins · #14 (**permalink**) 02-25-2002, 05:59 AM

I purchased my trailer package, which included my draw-tite classIII hitch, drop ball, and light pacakage for $200 from DaLan enterprise out of Boston ma. Full instructions from draw tite were easy to follow and I had it all installed in about 45 minutes.

alexcue · #15 (**permalink**) 02-25-2002, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jharkins
I purchased my trailer package, which included my draw-tite classIII hitch, drop ball, and light pacakage for $200 from DaLan enterprise out of Boston ma. Full instructions from draw tite were easy to follow and I had it all installed in about 45 minutes.

Would like to ask you a question. Does the Draw Tite, plug into the existing lighting or does it use the harness that is in the truck. (I hope i made sense. The new Tundra's seem to have wiring from near the battery to the frame, but you still need to plug in a connector from the battery to the front wiring, then another harness from the back that would connect to the trailer.)
Thanks for the help, I have a Tacoma that U-Haul just tapped into the existing wiring, something that i'm not to fond of (already had to take it back once to re-ground). I've seen some that plug in between the lighting in the rear, (T-connectors?) but i would like to use the extra wiring that Toyota has provided on the Tundra to ensure i don't short something out.