Recommendation for an electric brake controller?

[Francesca Knowles]

Originally Posted by Joe Z

The extra (7th) center pin is for backup lights or whatever you may want (most don't use it)
Joe

AND...
Since you probably won't have the trailer at the installer's shop (how can you tow it there without a light connection?) they may not know your Casita has backup lights, a valuable safety feature given the blind spots behind a travel trailer. Make sure to tell them that you want that circuit wired since as Joe points out it isn't something that's an automatic part of the procedure. That connection can probably be made at the rear of the tow vehicle.

Francesca

[JaneM.]

Thank you all! I appreciate the information! I'm going to take the TV to the auto place this week and I'm going to take the Casita manual with me and point out what you all have and ask for a battery isolator. I don't know where I'd be without you!
thanks,
Jane

[Francesca Knowles]

Originally Posted by JaneM.

Thank you all! I appreciate the information! I'm going to take the TV to the auto place this week and I'm going to take the Casita manual with me and point out what you all have and ask for a battery isolator. I don't know where I'd be without you!
thanks,
Jane

Jane,

For what it's worth, here's one last bit of advice...
There's a lot of variation among the "factory tow packages" installed on the 1999 Tundra. Check out the article at http://http://www.tundraheadquarters...efore-you-tow/, and then make sure that your particular vehicle has the equipment you think you need to do the job. You should be fine given the size of your rig, but it never hurts to check the "fine print"!

Happy camping

Francesca

[JaneM.]

Originally Posted by Francesca Knowles

Jane,

For what it's worth, here's one last bit of advice...
There's a lot of variation among the "factory tow packages" installed on the 1999 Tundra. Check out the article at http://http://www.tundraheadquarters...efore-you-tow/, and then make sure that your particular vehicle has the equipment you think you need to do the job. You should be fine given the size of your rig, but it never hurts to check the "fine print"!

Happy camping

Francesca

Thank you, Francesca! That article contained some great information. I can't wait to have it all ready to go and then GO!
Jane

[Joe Z]

Jane
When you ask about the isolator make sure it's a "battery isolator" and not a "starter solenoid"...... they look exactly the same but the starter solenoid is not meant to have constant power and would burn out in a short time.
If you decide against an isolator just don't forget to unplug from the tow vehicle when using the camper for extended periods and you will be fine.
Joe

[JaneM.]

Thanks, Joe. I'm writing all of this down!
Jane

[Francesca Knowles]

Originally Posted by Francesca Knowles

Jane,

For what it's worth, here's one last bit of advice...

Francesca

Yeah, right. Will I EVER shut up?

I double-dog promise that this is IT

Here goes:

Consider very carefully exactly where you want the controller itself located in your vehicle.
Many people mount them under the dash, which is where it's located in my husband's truck (about the same size as yours). This is not a good location for me. I don't know how tall you are, but I'm 5'4" (husband:6'0") and I have to lean over and grope for it if I need to manually operate it, which takes my attention away from the road at the very moment that I should be watching most closely-at the beginning or in anticipation of:
THE DREADED TRAILER SWAY
I almost hate to bring it up, as by doing so I'll probably launch a barrage of posts about sway control devices etc., all of which is exhaustively covered elsewhere in the forums.
ATTENTION GROUP: CAN WE HOLD OFF ON THAT FOR NOW? LET'S GET JANE SET UP WITH BRAKES ETC. FIRST, OKAY?
If you haven't already done so, you should read up on sway sometime, but for now, suffice it to say that it's a condition you will almost certainly encounter at some point. When you do, you'll need to be able to find your actuating nob quickly and smoothly without being distracted from what's happening on the road.
You'll also be making periodic adjustments as braking conditions change.
I recommend that you go out and sit in the cab and figure out where such an ideal-for-you location may be, before you take the rig in to have the unit installed. I think the unit you're getting has a thumb slide for manual braking, and that it should be installed within about thirty degrees of level. Bear that in mind when you're picking the place, too.

Francesca

[JaneM.]

No! Don't stop sharing advice! I am reading all advice and taking it to heart. I would never have thought to think about where the brake controller should be installed and now, thanks to you Francesca, I will!

The original owner gave us the Casita sway bar and weight distribution parts, but I will read about sway when I get a chance. Thanks again!

Hoping to take the Tundra in on Friday to have the work done.

thanks again!
Jane

[JaneM.]

I need to VENT!!! I went to out local mechanic who can install the brake controller and change the 4 flat to a 7 pin round etc, but they don't 't keep the other parts on hand, and can get them, but then they'd mark them up so suggested that I to get them to save some money and they estimate 2 hours worth of work so a cost of about $200 to $250. Okay, fair enough. So I stopped by the local RV place to see if they had the parts and on a whim I asked them about installing the brake controller. They said it depends on whether our TV (a 2000 Tundra) is pre-wired for a brake controller and brakes and if it is, it's easy, but if it's not, it's 6-9 hours worth of work and will be $600-$900 or more. They told me to call Toyota and ask them if this particular vin is pre-wired or not. I trust my local mechanic, but now am afraid he might not know all the details and I'm not sure if the RV guy is ripping me off. Does anyone know what it should cost (ballpark, of course) if it is and is not pre-wired?
Thanks!!
Jane

[JaneM.]

I just called Toyota and this particular vin does have a wire for the brake controller, but I need to buy their pigtail, and a wiring harness, but they don't make a wiring harness for the 2000 Tundra and suggested I go to an RV place. So, he said I can hook up a brake controller, I just can't use it. Is there an emoco tearing it's hair out somewhere that I can insert here?!!
Jane

[Laura & Rick]

Jane, I can't add too much but hopefully this will help you vent off a little steam. That's good advice about asking Toyota if your Tundra is pre-wired or not. You should be able to give Toyota the VIN and Toyota can say if it was pre-wired. Try calling your local Toyota dealer or call 1-800-331-4331. I had to wire and install a brake controller in my Toyota Highlander. I also helped two other Highlander owners do the same. Based on these experiences and that the Highlander is a SUV and not a pickup truck, I would estimate that it would take a competent no more than 3 hours max to install the brake controller and additional wiring. Outside of the cost of the brake controller, other parts should cost no more than about $50. Good luck. If you have some free time, a large credit limit on a gas credit card and like rain, come on up to the Seattle area and I'll do the job!

[Laura & Rick]

Jane, just remember that you can decode your VIN number by yourself, Try out this site,
Toyota VIN Decoder @ Motoverse.com

[Joe Z]

Originally Posted by JaneM.

I just called Toyota and this particular vin does have a wire for the brake controller, but I need to buy their pigtail, and a wiring harness, but they don't make a wiring harness for the 2000 Tundra and suggested I go to an RV place. So, he said I can hook up a brake controller, I just can't use it. Is there an emoco tearing it's hair out somewhere that I can insert here?!!
Jane

Jane i looked around and you say you have the four pin plug which is good and you stated you have a brake wire as per toyota.....if so that should be a blue wire up under the dash near the brake pedal or off to the left of it....this would be a big help but you still need to run a 10 gauge wire from the brake controller to the rear bumper for charging the camper and a 10 gauge wire run in from the battery to the brake controller in the cab with a 40 amp circuit breaker at the battery connection...... the kit from etrailer is everything that is needed and your prodigy will come with a standard plug for this procedure. The following link will outline the process and with you buying that kit the installation should be around $200 maybe a little more elsewhere but $600 is way out of hand and it looks like they priced it high because they don't want to do it as it is a pain in the butt for someone that doesn't do it all the time.... Read the article so you understand the process. etrailer is a good place to call for info if needed.
Joe
Link to installation process
Brake Controller Installation: Starting from Scratch | etrailer.com

[Carol H]

Jane, Toyota may not make the wriing harnesses themselves as there are a number of big manufactures of such items and probable sell them for a lot less than the car dealer would. A local RV shop should be able to get it for you or try a U Haul dealer most have a parts department and they can do the install as well.

[ThomasE]

I've researched the 2000 & 2001 Toyota Tundra's quite extensively before buying my 2001 new 10 years ago, and I've never seen a factory pre-wired option for a brake controller. All V8's for those years have factory transmission coolers so you're ahead on that point. I would second the recommendation to get an additional estimate from a u-haul dealer to do the install. The other choice is to order everything off e-trailer and let the mechanic do the job, 2 hours of labor sounds fair. I would not use that RV dealer, it should not take a professional 6-9 hours to do this.

[Francesca Knowles]

Originally Posted by JaneM.

I need to VENT!!! I went to out local mechanic who can install the brake controller and change the 4 flat to a 7 pin round etc, but they don't 't keep the other parts on hand, and can get them, but then they'd mark them up so suggested that I to get them to save some money and they estimate 2 hours worth of work so a cost of about $200 to $250. Okay, fair enough.
Jane

Hello again, Jane,

In your first line, do you mean "our" local mechanic?
If you've used this guy before and trust him, hire him to do the job.
There's no big mystery about the project- nothing that requires the "expertise" you'd be paying a premium for at the RV place.
It sounds like your guy's trying to give you a break by letting you buy the parts- I'd probably let him do it all, and pay his 10% markup. That way he's responsible for 100% of the job.

Soldier on!

Francesca

[JaneM.]

Thank you all!

Laura and Rick - Thanks! Very kind of you to offer - if only you weren't quite so far away! I went to that website and it doesn't mention wiring, but I called Toyota and found out there is a wire under the dash.

Joe Z., Carol H., and Thomas E. - Thanks! I've purchased the wiring kit from etrailer - what fabulous people and will have my mechanic install it. I agree, I was appalled at what the RV place wanted for it. So now the question becomes, who do I have service the trailer (they're the only one in town)?

Francesca - Thanks! Yes, he's the one who services our cars. We have been pleased with their honesty and service and have used them for 10 years, which is why, of course, I went there in the first place. I agree with you - I know him, trust him, and will go there. I really only went to the RV place on a whim.

I'll keep "plugging" away. One of these days we'll have a brake controller and 7 pin round installed and actually be able to move "Tranquila" from her parking spot!

thanks again - you all have been most helpful!
Jane

[Carol H]

Quote: "So now the question becomes, who do I have service the trailer (they're the only one in town)? "

The nice thing about these small trailers is they normally dont need a lot of service and what service they do need many have learned to do it themselves. Most things that go wrong do not take a great deal of skill to fix. Just ask here and a number of folks will normally step forward with words of wisdom as to how to fix. The trailers manual will tell you what all needs to be done to it each year but for most the only yearly service besides cleaning and putting away properly for winter that the trailer needs is the greasing of the wheels and checking of the brakes and tires. I lot of folks have learned to do that themselves as well. But Im not one of them! :-) Check around with other RV owners in the area you may find they use a place hidden away - we do not have any RV places per say in my area either - most are about an hours drive away. But there is a small shop that is not listed in the Yellow Pages that does RV work. If you have a big job that needs doing it is also worth checking around for another place within an hour or two drive - drop it and come back for it later.

[Francesca Knowles]

Well said, Carol!
The only thing I'd add is that it's easier if you think of various components as their separate selves. For example, if your fridge needs repair, take it to a fridge guy, etc.
There's almost nothing on your trailer that's so specialized that you need an RV outfit to service it.

Francesca

[Joe Z]

Originally Posted by JaneM.

Thank you all!
Joe Z., I agree, I was appalled at what the RV place wanted for it. So now the question becomes, who do I have service the trailer (they're the only one in town)?

Jane

Jane..... You should be able to still use the same RV place. I called my friend who owns and RV repair shop and he told me that he would rather work on an RV than go thru wiring up a brake controller on a tow vehicle without the plug and play option so he just prices it high so hopefully they will go somewhere else with that type of work.... but his camper repair prices are still very reasonable as i know him well and this is probably the situation at your RV place.... I'm sure others will chime in with "that's unfair" but when you have lots of work you tend to get rid of the jobs you don't want or make it very profitable.
I used to fabricate boat tops and that's what i did for certain jobs i didn't want.
Joe