FJ62 trailer wiring installs - solutions for brake controller and dim trailer lighting issues

[NYFJ62]

Good day fellow cruiser folks.
I want to do a super clean, reliable, sturdy, permanent trailer brake controller and hitch wiring install on my fj62 and would love to see and learn about what some of you may have already done. Where did you splice into what, what gauge wiring did you run on what path, what kind of brake controller are you using, etc. etc.

I've been doing some searching for help with my issues to no avail and am hoping some of you here might be willing to share their experience.


My current problem is that I've got a standard uhaul-installed 4 pronged trailer wiring harness inside my drivers side rear quarter panel already. It looks like a super crappy rats nest of wiring but appears to be installed correctly. When I purchased my trailer and hooked it up I found that it controls the brake and directional lights correctly but they are VERY dim. Too dim to be considered functional at all. I've double checked the ground wire and made sure it is connected securely to the frame and all looks solid but the lights continue to be dim. I even tried out a set of the magnetic tail light kits and they are dim as well. Im at a loss. Anyone have any ideas as to how I can fix this issue?

Because my trailer has electric brakes that my current wiring harness doesn't support, I must set myself up with a brake controller before I can start towing this thing. It weighs about 3000 lbs and the truck brakes obviously cannot support that kind of weight. I've found a few threads on the subject but am still unclear. Maybe I just haven't found the right threads ...

Excited to see what kind of genius installs people have done so I can augment my serious lack of wiring knowledge.

thanks,
Kevin

 

[mep1811]

I had the same problem. I thought replacing 20 plus year old trailer harness to try to solve the problem. I went to U-Haul and found a power module that powers the trailer lights from the vehicle battery. After installation, I had bright trailer lights for the first time in 20 years.

https://www.uhaul.com/MovingSupplie...le-Wiring/Trailer-Light-Power-Module?Id=17482

Trailer Light Power Module

Curt Powered Tail Light Converter with 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector Curt Wiring C59236

I just got a trailer with electric brakes and am looking for a brake controller as well. I'll probably just go to H-haul makes life simple.

The U-Haul site show out of stock but a local store might have one on the shelf like what I found. Good luck.

 

[joebattle1]

Following... going through something similar. Just re wired my 77 hilux pickup/trailer with a 7pin. Also looks like a rats nest of wiring inside my rear driver tail light house from whoever installed hitch wiring in the past. . I have an old e break set up in the truck that I want to have set up for future use as well.

 

[FJACS]

The powered module is the answer. That plus LED trailer lights.

You'll need a +12v source for the brake controller. Continue that wire from the dash/controller to the rear of the truck to also power the light module. That way if you key or switch activate it - they both work together.

 

[60Works]

Hopkinton p/n 46365 is a powered converter designed to work with LED's. It will solve both the amber turn signal conversion and low voltage to the trailer lights.

A few years back someone posted that the trailer light harness for the 4 Runners has the same connectors as the Land Cruisers but the wires were arranged differently. After swapping pin locations on the adapter, it was a plug and play to insert it into the last factory plug prior to the tail lights. Wish I could find the old thread as I'm wiring up trailer lights on one of my 60's now and would like to avoid splicing. Maybe if we beg, @Coolerman will manufacture an insert for us.

 

[NMC_EXP]

I had added trailer light harness on a few older domestic vehicles with no problems.

Then I did a 99 4-Runner. Used the simple 4-wire flat harness Curt Mfg specified and no trailer lights Curt was completely unaware of the problem, even sent me a replacement harness - still no lights. Finally took it to an RV outfit and they R&R'ed the Curt harness with one having a power module.

RV outfit told me any tow vehicle that has separate turn and tail/brakes lamps needs to have a trailer light power module.

 

[Willard]

RV outfit told me any tow vehicle that has separate turn and tail/brakes lamps needs to have a trailer light power module.

It is funny how this seems like a simple solution that so many people do not know.
When I took automotive in high school we actually learned about this and owning so many British and Japanese vehicles it was a standard thing to know.
When I got my first American truck and tried to wire up a trailer . I could not understand why I did not need the converter.
Sometime I take that for granted.

So yes you need either a converter or some sort of power due to the turn signals.