I put together the following write-up on my install of a RedArc Brake controller. The content below is a synopsis of a larger story I was going to have via a blog on another site, but unfortunately that site is having issues with their platforms:
For the install, we removed the under-dash knee panel, then moved to the switch panel to the left of the steering wheel. For the 200 Series Land Cruiser, Toyota placed the brake controller harness into a blank slot “holder” on the upper left side of the internal dash compartment. They did a great job of hiding this, so make sure you target the plug with a brown strip of tape wrapped around the exterior of the holder. RedArc does not supply the plug needed to directly connect to the truck, so we sourced a Tekonsha brake control harness (PN: 3040-P) and easily connected the supplied RedArc wires to the Tekonsha harness. Note: Simply connect the same color wires from the RedArc and Tekonsha connectors and you’re in business. **Of note, after completing the install, I found Toyota supplied Brake Controller Harness in the lift gate storage area, under some gloves that I had previously placed in that area...
Once we had the wires together, we turned our attention to the location placement for the dash controller system. I had purchased the RedArc Universal Switch Insert Panel (PN: TPSI-001) thinking it would slide right into one of the switch blanks on the dash. Try as we might, the insert panel simply was too large for space and after trying to work the plastic with a Dremel tool, it just wouldn’t wofit so we moved our focus on modifying a switch blank from the dash. We again turned to our trusted Dremel to remove the plastic on the back of the switch blank, after some drilling we squeezed the dash controller system into the panel—you need to do this very gingerly as I could tell we were stressing the assembly of the controller. Finishing up the install, we placed the brake controller unit under the dash by finding a flat panel and using some double sided 3M tape to secure the controller in place. It’s important that the controller is secured in a manner that it will not move or it will cause the unit to lose calibration.
To finish up the install, we reassembled the dash components in 5-7 minutes and turned the truck on to check out our work. Upon turning on the Land Cruiser, the remote controller didn’t actually do anything and for a few seconds I was worried that something was amiss. But all was okay, the controller will only activate it’s LED Lights in the event that you push the center button or if the controller senses that a trailer wiring has been plugged into the truck. A few short days later, we pulled our two horse trailer with the Land Cruiser and the Tow Pro Elite worked like a dream. Using auto-calibration, the LED lights were constantly blinking Blue/Green as the system calibrated itself during our short trip. Every time I applied the brakes, the LED would turn Red—just as the instructions indicated.
My overall impressions on RedArc Tow Pro Elite are outstanding! With such a small dash profile and simplistic operation, I couldn’t be more excited about a brake controller. My only negative was the install took a bit longer than I would have liked, much of that was attributed to trying to fit the RedArc Universal Switch Insert Panel into the blank switch slot. RedArc probably should offer some information on their site about what vehicles this component will fit properly.
For the install, we removed the under-dash knee panel, then moved to the switch panel to the left of the steering wheel. For the 200 Series Land Cruiser, Toyota placed the brake controller harness into a blank slot “holder” on the upper left side of the internal dash compartment. They did a great job of hiding this, so make sure you target the plug with a brown strip of tape wrapped around the exterior of the holder. RedArc does not supply the plug needed to directly connect to the truck, so we sourced a Tekonsha brake control harness (PN: 3040-P) and easily connected the supplied RedArc wires to the Tekonsha harness. Note: Simply connect the same color wires from the RedArc and Tekonsha connectors and you’re in business. **Of note, after completing the install, I found Toyota supplied Brake Controller Harness in the lift gate storage area, under some gloves that I had previously placed in that area...
Once we had the wires together, we turned our attention to the location placement for the dash controller system. I had purchased the RedArc Universal Switch Insert Panel (PN: TPSI-001) thinking it would slide right into one of the switch blanks on the dash. Try as we might, the insert panel simply was too large for space and after trying to work the plastic with a Dremel tool, it just wouldn’t wofit so we moved our focus on modifying a switch blank from the dash. We again turned to our trusted Dremel to remove the plastic on the back of the switch blank, after some drilling we squeezed the dash controller system into the panel—you need to do this very gingerly as I could tell we were stressing the assembly of the controller. Finishing up the install, we placed the brake controller unit under the dash by finding a flat panel and using some double sided 3M tape to secure the controller in place. It’s important that the controller is secured in a manner that it will not move or it will cause the unit to lose calibration.
To finish up the install, we reassembled the dash components in 5-7 minutes and turned the truck on to check out our work. Upon turning on the Land Cruiser, the remote controller didn’t actually do anything and for a few seconds I was worried that something was amiss. But all was okay, the controller will only activate it’s LED Lights in the event that you push the center button or if the controller senses that a trailer wiring has been plugged into the truck. A few short days later, we pulled our two horse trailer with the Land Cruiser and the Tow Pro Elite worked like a dream. Using auto-calibration, the LED lights were constantly blinking Blue/Green as the system calibrated itself during our short trip. Every time I applied the brakes, the LED would turn Red—just as the instructions indicated.
My overall impressions on RedArc Tow Pro Elite are outstanding! With such a small dash profile and simplistic operation, I couldn’t be more excited about a brake controller. My only negative was the install took a bit longer than I would have liked, much of that was attributed to trying to fit the RedArc Universal Switch Insert Panel into the blank switch slot. RedArc probably should offer some information on their site about what vehicles this component will fit properly.