New guy installs a brake controller...

[gabepari]

It's good to be back on Mud! Sold my 80 series a few years ago after putting over 100k on it exploring all over the western US... The 80 was an amazing rig, but pulling a trailer and long highway miles were not her thing LOL! Got tired of beating up my crew cab long bed diesel truck on the washboard in Death Valley, so I started looking for something a little more dirt friendly, but with better highway manners than the 80.

I was all set to get a 100 series, but couldn't find a nice one within my budget... These damn GX things kept popping up on my Marketplace searches ... So I checked a few out, did some research and ended up with a decent '09 for less than a beat LX470...

Anyways, since towing a teardrop trailer is what I do, I needed to install a brake controller. Picked up a Redarc Tow-Pro Trail and wired it up. Other than all the cussing and bellyaching trying to get my fat ass under the dash, it went pretty smooth. Popped the knob into the supplied Toyota button and snapped it in the dash in place of the 110vac switch (who uses 110vac any more?) Wrapped the 110vac switch in some foam so it wouldn't rattle and smashed it behind the fuse panel cover.

On the way home from the shop my OCD got the better of me and I decided I couldn't leave that switch abandoned back there... So, jumped on Solidworks and in a few hours I had this...

Fit's pretty good, made a few changes and the new one will be out of the printer in about an hour. Once I'm happy with the fit, I'll print it with PET-CF so I don't have to worry about heat deformation.

Next on the list is to fix the PO's botched lift and stuff some helper bags in the rear springs. Upper control arms are on the way and the shake down trip is next weekend. Only had her a week and I'm obsessed LOL!

Thanks for listening,
Gabe

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Looks clean…I should relocate the CDL and rear locker switches to that area…my 2003 has less buttons in that area…but dreading the rewiring

 

[Mike NXP]

Damn looking good, I just went through install of a Redarc controller and switch as well......I really like the tech with these brake controllers and the auto / inertia based braking seems to work well so far.

Where did you mount the main controller?

 

[gabepari]

Damn looking good, I just went through install of a Redarc controller and switch as well......I really like the tech with these brake controllers and the auto / inertia based braking seems to work well so far.

Where did you mount the main controller?

I gave up trying to find some sort of bracketry to bolt it too, and resorted to good old 3M high strength double sided foam sticky tape... I stuck it to a flat metal box up behind the left kick panel. It was very flat and smooth, so I think the sticky tape will hold for quite a while.

I've been using Tekonsha Prodigy controllers for decades, so I was a little hesitant to venture away from what I know works. But so far I am very impressed with the Redarc.

Gabe

 

[Mike NXP]

I gave up trying to find some sort of bracketry to bolt it too, and resorted to good old 3M high strength double sided foam sticky tape... I stuck it to a flat metal box up behind the left kick panel. It was very flat and smooth, so I think the sticky tape will hold for quite a while.

I've been using Tekonsha Prodigy controllers for decades, so I was a little hesitant to venture away from what I know works. But so far I am very impressed with the Redarc.

Gabe

Same here, I just couldn't find a good spot for it with all the wiring connected and did double sided Velcro to the side of the foot rest / near fuse panel....seems to work fine

Yeah man Redarc makes good stuff