Adding Trailer Brake Controller to SR

Thanks

 

@Ketterus

I am helping a friend get his truck set up for towing an airstream. He just bought a 23’ SR with the tow package and is needing a brake controller. I’m not much of a truck nor trailer guy so I could use some guidance. Assuming none of the companies have made a unit for the 3rd Gen Tundra (I’ve checked and I don’t believe they have). I would be interested in buying one of those printed mounts and ask you a couple questions if that would be possible!

 

Just discovered this second page. I see they are selling a new mount and I’m very glad! Is there a specific type of controller to buy or is any “Tow Pro Elite” compatible with the right connector?

 

The Redarc Tow Pro Elite is the one I installed and therefore I can only speak about it. I am so happy with this controller. I have had many other brands and the Redarc has been the best of all. They now have a square plate for the new generation tundra that installs in one of the blanks to the left of the steering wheel. When you buy the wire adaptor and the brake controller from redarc they will just plug together. You will only have to attach the ground wire to a metal brace under the drivers side dash. The rest is plug and play.

I hope this is helpful. Let me know if you have any more questions or need any pictures or advice. I will watch for a response on this form and get back to you as quickly as I can.

 

@Merc06 the TPH-021 worked with my wiring harness on my ‘22 Tundra. If it’s the same, it should be good. If not, if you get some good pix of it and send to Redarc, they were VERY receptive and assisted with finding the right one.

 

Hi all, I got a 2023 Tundra SR dbl cab 8' bed... with the Tow package, but I didn't realize it doesn't come with a ITBC... I purchased an OEM controller and i can confirm that it DOES NOT plug into that white connector below the steering wheel... not sure how to get this TBC working. Help!

 

You absolutely have to go aftermarket for the brake controller. There’s more to the brake controller than just the component in the dashboard. If you check through this post, you’ll find everyone is quite satisfied with the redarc brake controllers. Me included besides my 22 tundra, I also bought a 22 RAV four and the RAV OEM brake controller requires disassembling an enormous amount of the back part of the car to install. So in respect to that, the tundra is a dream if you use the aftermarket brake controller.

 

Thanks. This is a government Fleet truck, and they would prefer to have it OEM. is there any way to do that? even if its a little bit more work

 

Just to clarify, on my RAV four I actually was installing the brake light converter not a brake controller like in the tundra. My point was you would think all the wiring is there an all you’d have to do is plug in maybe a pigtail, but in the case of the Toyota RAV4, it is a nightmare adding the converter

 

So my research led me to believe there is a module missing that would have been in a truck with the OEM brake controller. From that module, there’s likely a pigtail that connects to the white connector you find under the dash. I cannot confirm this because I have not been under the dash of a new tundra with the OEM brake controller. This post is pretty active so hopefully another will chime in and surprise us both. You’re gonna love driving that tundra I promise you that much.

 

In response to your post about it, being a government vehicle, I think the fact that everything is plug and play with the redarc brake controllers. It’s pretty safe and equal, if not better than the OEM brake controller. Several others on the forum have expressed a lot of satisfaction with the aftermarket red arc brake controller.

 

okay, I have an SR and an SR5 here in front of me. I will post some comparison pictures...

 

Here are some pics of the SR model. It has the "TBC connector" sitting below the steering wheel, but that DOES NOT hook up directly to a Toyota OEM trailer brake controller (part# 84391-0C020). Looks like we'll have to purchase an aftermarket controller that hooks up to the white connector below the steering wheel. It appears that Redarc is the go-to for these 3rd gen Tundras.

 

Here are some pics of the SR5 model. It DOES NOT have the "TBC connector" sitting below the steering wheel, as it is integrated and wired in separately, but has a black connector on the backside of the ITBC.

 

After some research, it looks like the SR model is not set up to accept a Toyota OEM controller, as it would have to connect to the truck's computer system and be controlled by the dash (and steering wheel controls) and everything, so even jimmy-wiring it to the lower white connector won't work, either. I have landed with everybody else in that an aftermarket TBC is the only way to go. At least Toyota has generously placed the white connector there for us to plug in to, and it looks like the REDARC unit is the favorite of 3rd-Gen Tundra SR owners, so I will give that a try.

 

Were you able to preserve the LED light on the redarc switch? I’m following the same thing as you are doing, and normally it comes with a little plastic piece that channels the LED light from the mother board of the switch to the front where the spinning wheel is to adjust the sensitivity

 

Absolutely.

 

I’m talking about this setup as shown in the pictures. The square is so small there’s no room for LED filament

 

I looks like you got it to fit but that could just be my vantage point… the good news is the RedArc logo also glows when a trailer is plugged in and changes colors when braking is applied. As for the numbered ring it’s not really that important as nobody likely uses the numbers and most would go by how the trailer is reacting to the changes of rotating the knob. I did not use the small square button, I churned out a cover on my cnc to convert the tiny change pocket into a mount for the brake controller.

 

Is anyone else getting errors when pushing the redarc button with the truck on? I'm getting a whole bunch of safety assist warnings. Goes away if I shut off the truck and restart. Otherwise, as long as I don't manually activate the brakes, it works fantastic.

 

I used to get the same errors on my Highlander. Haven’t had a chance to try it yet with trailer connected on the Tundra. But I’ll let you know soon as I’ll be towing, I expect the errors to light up as well. I think it’s with their Toyota safety sense system

 

I have not experienced any errors whatsoever on my tundra. How is yours wired? Did you use the supplied connector under the dash or did you have to tie into wires during installation?

 

so I am thinking about adding this to my '18 Sequoia (which came with pre-wired "towing" button). Does that mean I just plug Redarc into that wire?

 

You will still need to perform a full install. The towing button only siginals the computer to change settings within the drivetrain to better suit towing.

Your Sequioa will still have the connector where you will connect the brake controller via a dongle. I do believe your already wired to the rear with a 7-Pin connector. So the only thing you will be installing is the controller and the button which allows you to adjust the brakes and manually apply them as well.

 

Yup. With the right adapter. Should work just fine

 

is that something I buy from Redarc or how do I source that adapter?

 

@Woocawachie I got this one https://www.redarcelectronics.com/us/tundra-tacoma-brake-controller-kit (which specifically states Tundra/Sequoia/Tacoma). I would presume it will already have correct adapter?

 

You will just have to locate the matching connector which will either be under the dash in the drivers side or just behind the kick panel on the same side. The dongle that comes in the mentioned kit will plug into brake controller and Toyota without the need to cut any wires. In some instances (not all) you may have to connect a ground wire to a bolt under the dash but this varies by model.

 

Does your Sequoia have the Factory Installed Receiver Hitch? If so, all the wiring is there to connect... otherwise your in for a small treat. I have attached a photo showing the location of the connector under the drivers side of the dash right in the corner above the Parking Brake.