The Elusive Towing Converter

Hey y'all, been trying to get my Tundra ready to consistently haul my tool trailer that I am building out. I have a brake controller and a 7 pin connector for the trailer. Problem is I cant get voltage at the brake light pin. Both signals show 11-12v. I traced it back to the towing converter but can't find much info on the converter.

Question is:
1- Do I need the converter? If so why? Is there a way to fix the converter?
2- Can I use the brake wire to control a relay and just wire the trailer brake lights straight to my battery?


I know this has already been address by many of you but I can't find any good info yet.

Thanks in advanced

 

Can you please update your truck info to give us a year? We don’t need to know it’s a 1st gen, you wouldn’t be here otherwise

There were some fairly significant wiring differences across the years and that info is critical! And if you have an earlier year you need to know about other considerations, like the weak planetary in the earlier years.

 

Oops! I updated my truck year. It's a 2000. I should add that I did not have 12 volts for tail lights at trailer socket T6. I checked the next connector back from there as well. The one where the towing converter connects to the rest of the truck wiring. The converter is mounted behind the driver side tail light. It has a power lead, the 4 wires to the 4 pin trailer harness and, I think 6 green wires with various colored stripes coming from the harness where it connects to rest of the electrical system.

 

2000 AC came with a 4 pin connector. I think 7 pins were added later. Might be an add-on

 

2000 is one of the years with weak/exploding planetary. That’s one of the topics covered in tbe new/prospective owner megathread: https://www.tundras.com/threads/so-you-wanna-buy-just-bought-a-1st-gen-tundra-eh.115928/

 

It had a 4 pin. I am installing a 7 pin.

 

Is your truck 2x or 4x4? Standby for trailer wire pics from my 2000's 7 pin later this evening...

 

Its 2wd. I will add that to my profile.
Looking forward to seeing those pics!
Thanks

 

These are all the parts i bought to convert my 2000 AC from a 4 pin to a 7 pin along with a brake controller. I bought it all at etrailer. It’s definitely not plug n’ play like on the 2002 (or is it 2003) and newer trucks. What all trailer wiring parts do you have so far? Do you need to buy more shtuff?

And if you’re planning on using the truck primarily as a tow rig, i can’t emphasize enough that you should install the little 245/70-16 tires that came on the base model v8…plus you’ll also want to install a lower gear set in the rear axle. With 245/70-16 tires i’d lower the gearing to 4.30. If you have the larger optional 265/70-16, then i’d drop to an even lower 4.56 gears. I have two sets of tire for my 2004 4wd AC v8, 215/80-16 E load, and 265/75-16 D load. Since i tow and haul quite a bit of weight, i swapped in a pair of 4.10 3rd members. I would have loved to go lower, but i got a smoking deal ($26 each) on mine.

https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories_and_Parts/etrailer/ETBC7.html

https://www.etrailer.com/Custom_Fit_Vehicle_Wiring/Tekonsha/118367.html

https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer_Brake_Controller/Tekonsha/90885.html

 

All of your wiring will be for naught if you don't do something to address this.

 

Just don’t tow in OD

 

I have the brake controller and the 4 pin to 4/7 pin plug assembly. I got a harness with the brake controller that said it would work with my truck but it is for a 2nd gen I think. I need to get everything else.

Did you do this yourself or take it to shop? How difficult is it/how much did it cost?

This connects to the same harness as the 4 pin. I think its called T6 in the wiring book. My issues is no brake light signal at this harness. So I am concerned that my brake lights still wont work.

 

What are the chances my planetary gear is fine? I did tow a 12' U haul trailer full of tools across the country once and some horses a few times. Also towed a trailer that was 5-6 tons for a short distance before I knew what the tow capacity was. If I do need to change the gear how difficult is it?

 

If your planetary hasn’t exploded in 24 yrs, chances are it’s fine. They did install a beefier planetary in 2003 on. I’ve towed uhauls and boats with my bone stock 2000 and never had an issue.

 

Again, just don’t tow in OD. I’ve towed heavy a lot with my 2000 without issue in 274k miles. Just don’t tow in OD.

 

This ^^

I'm only bringing it up for sake of awareness, nothing more. It's something '00-'02 owners need to be aware of. I'd be more worried about it if I were towing 3k+ thru the mountains but I don't have a '00-02 so ...

 

I wasn't trying to fear monger you. I should have suggested what others have said about not towing in OD, and maybe doing more frequent fluid swaps. I just think a little more care needs to be taken, especially if you're towing your tool trailer around a lot. I had one years ago that I towed with my '07 and those tool trailers definitely don't get lighter. I had a habit of constantly adding tools and weight to that trailer.

 

I'm guessing you have a bad ground somewhere? Can you post up some pics of what you currently have? Do you have the circuit brakers installed?

My 2000 tundra got wrecked less than a year after i installed all of the trailer wiring, and at some point i need to remove all of it and see if i can't get some of my money back out of it. I'd had kept it, but it doesn't fit my 2004 tundra.

I lucked out big time and found my 4.10 3rd members at my local Pick N Pull yard at their end of the year blow out sale (parts were 75% off everything). My truck is 4wd, so it took a lot more time to remove the front than the rear 3rd. The rear is pretty easy to remove though. But good luck ever finding a used 3rd member that is lower than a 4.10 rato. I'm guessing that if you bought new gears and had them installed at a shop, you'd be looking at around $600ish? And if you're in a wet or muddy climate, and have some extra $$$, then it would be a great time to install a LSD carrier as well. The other bonus with a Truetrack LSD is that it's stronger than the spider gears in the stock carrier. Removing and installing a 3rd member isn't difficult at all. Setting up a new ring and pinion in a 3rd member requires expertise and specialized tools.

 

Thanks for the heads up. I definitely only tow with OD off.

I appreciate the advice. No fear mongering received over here.

 

Ill try and get some shots. Maybe I am testing the voltage wrong. No breakers installed yet. I haven't actually installed anything yet. I just want to make sure I am getting 12v to the brake light pin before I connect anything.