2021 Toyota Highlander with tow package 7 pin installation Chicago/NWI

[Schemy182]

We have a 16' scamp that will be ready in August of 2022. We bought a 2021 Highlander with a tow package last year. It comes with a 4 pin and was looking to have a 7 pin installed versus using an adapter Looking for any recommendations of places to have it installed in the Chicagoland or Northwest Indiana area. Talking to the Toyota dealership where we bought the Highlander did not instill confidence having them install it. Thanks in advance.



Ryan

[Wayne Collins]

Originally Posted by Schemy182

We have a 16' scamp that will be ready in August of 2022. We bought a 2021 Highlander with a tow package last year. It comes with a 4 pin and was looking to have a 7 pin installed versus using an adapter Looking for any recommendations of places to have it installed in the Chicagoland or Northwest Indiana area. Talking to the Toyota dealership where we bought the Highlander did not instill confidence having them install it. Thanks in advance.



Ryan

We have a 2017 Highlander w/ dealer installed Toyota hitch. The 7 pin connector is an add on, that, sadly, hangs low under the hitch cross bar. Ours has both the 7 and a 4 pin socket.
Any trailer sales/service shop should be able to fix you up.

[Shocksll]

Agreed, i had to get mine done aftermarket. I did get it installed so it doesn’t hang down and I’ve been real happy with it.

I had the installer trim away some of the plastic bumper piece that comes with the factory hitch.

[Iowa Dave]

That’s what we did on our 2012 when we picked it up in Arizona. Cut the plastic cover away with a die grinder. On our 2018, the dealer. Installed it as high as he could and I wouldn’t have minded if it was higher. It got banged up when I backed out of a steep driveway a while back and I’ll probably replace it when it gets warmer. Gotta get under there and see what there is to tie to. On the 2012 the owner welded a piece of 1X1 angle off the receiver that worked great.
As far as your job, run number 10 wire as your hot wire off the battery. We protected ours with a fuse and a breaker. My guy fished the brake controller wire under the inside carpet to protect it. Been flawless.
Iowa Dave

[War Eagle]

We had a local U-Haul dealership (with a good reputation) install a 7-pin on our 2002 Highlander when we bought our EggCamper in 2014. The U-Haul shop did a good installation job, but it turned out the plastic receptacle housing (new) had a manufacturing defect that let an electrical terminal slide around and a turn signal wire connect sometimes, but not other times. Drove me crazy because wiring and everything looked fine from the exterior. I finally took it to a local shop that manufactured/services utility trailers, and the gentleman who installed their trailer wiring harnesses quickly diagnosed the problem and replaced the defective housing with a new one. Problem solved, and they didn't even charge me labor. When it comes to electrical wiring, there is no substitute for experience.