My Only Complaint..

I just had my 5000 mile service done on the 2024 SR5 Premium that my wife and I bought in April. I am very happy with this vehicle, and hope to run it for a long time.
My only complaint is the trailer electrical connector. I have a Tundra for heavier towing, but I like to use the 4 Runner for my 14 foot boat, and small utility trailer. I am guessing that the connector is underneath the vehicle to protect it from damage whilst offroading? I tow light trailers as mentioned, thus I need the flat four connector, which is toward the front of the vehicle, so to access it, the spring loaded protective cover needs to be pulled toward me, obscuring the view of the terminals. Pretty near impossible for the fat man to connect without laying on the ground. I try to avoid that to attempt to keep a new vehicle clean. Even rotating the connector 90 degrees would have been helpful.That is all. My wife and I both love this vehicle.

 

I use that connector to run some auxiliary brake and turn signals mounted inside the vehicle behind the rear glass. I added an extension that plugs into that very four-pin connector you're talking about, and ran it inside the vehicle through the driver's side rear door.

One solution that comes to mind might be to permanently install a short extension that would run from the four-pin flat connector over to the hitch. Attach it somewhere with black zip ties (which is what I did) or some string. That way when you attach the trailer you would have the four-pin connector right there by the hitch. I got mine on Amazon.

Nice 14-foot boat by the way!

 

Thanks. I think I will buy a seven way adapter to use on the flat four connectors on the small trailers. That way the cover on the 4 Runner's connector will flip down, away from me, and I should be able to see to plug in by just getting down on one knee. Thanks for the boat compliment. My Grandfather built it from a Sears Roebuck kit 70 years ago

 

I fount that my trailer wiring was a bit too short to reach the connector on the 4R. I don't tow m uh so I got on of these and keep it in the back of the Runner.

$9 MECMO 4-Pin Flat Trailer Extension Cable 12", Heavy Duty 18AWG Copper 4 Way Trailer Wiring Connector Harness Vehicle-Side Trailer-Side 4 Prong Trailer Light Plug Trailer Hitch Wire Extension 1ft

https://www.amazon.com/MECMO-Extens...&pd_rd_r=0ceabde8-131c-48b7-ad05-4fea1667ecd7

 

I saved pics of this when I bought mine. I agree the placement is rough. This is someone else’s idea from the forum from four years back approximately

 

That's nice. I will see how my 7 way Adapter solution works before I do anything else. Thanks. Am I correct in assuming it is hidden under there to protect it from damage?

 

Btw love that you have you Grandfathers old boat especially that he built. I have my Grandfathers Crestliner that was left to my Dad and I and that’s what I bought this vehicle for is fishing. If I could just get him a bit healthy again to go it would be great. The 4R was the right size, fit in the garage great and plenty of capacity for my aluminum boat.

The fish won’t realize the boat is 34 years old

 

That's very cool. Hope you are able to get him out. My boat is 70 years old this year. I have been maintaining it for forty years now.
I did a major refinish three years ago. Getting a bit off topic, but here are some pictures of that project.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/1DoJqHYjXczx8vay5

 

It’s hidden under there I am not sure how much to protect from damage but more so to have to not crawl down or get in the ground to plug in your lights.

As I am sure you’re like me unplug it before launching boat and then again after retrieve boat plug lights in to go home

I used that piggy extension and it works well also. But I just thought this is a cleaner look. I don’t off road with my 4R so I thought this made a lot of sense.

Also prevent rust I put some fluid film on the o it er hitch and metal areas with a rag to prevent rust

 

Thats a beautiful job OP--love it. My Grandfather was a carpenter and did not build the boat obviously but he helped "customize" it for me and my Dad to walleye fish on Lake Erie and salmon fish on Lake Huron. He also set up for a specific type of fishing called "hand lining" on the Detroit River. I will never sell that boat, maybe I'll need to repower someday or get a new gas tank since i did not use in few years but I have an emotional attachment to it and it still does what I want it to do. I just wished I picked up his skill set as I am not handy at all, unfortunately those genes skipped me.

Kudos to you for putting such TLC in that boat! Hopefully you have someone in your family to pass it on to who will cherish it after you.

 

OP, I did a trailer connector relocate on mine just a couple of weeks ago.
I've got a writeup on it -- I can send it to you this evening if you'd like.

 

Sure, I would appreciate that. I am heading to town now. I am going to purchase a flat four to seven way Adapter. It is possible this will cure it for me.

 

Why not post it here? Others would certainly appreciate it. Like me!

 

Etrailer.com sells this, which has an extension that plugs into the oem 7-way, new 7 & 4-way connectors, and a mounting bracket:

https://www.etrailer.com/Custom-Fit...tml?hhyear=2019&hhmake=Toyota&hhmodel=4Runner

 

That's touching that you have your grandfather's boat that he built 70 years ago. It's a beauty.

 

I'm happy to, but can't right now as I'm at work and the document is at home.

The short of it is this:
- Go to your local truck accessories place and get a 7-way extension, about 18" long. It's a common thing, often used by fellas who replace standard truck beds with aluminum flatbeds. I don't have a part number, but I can post a pic tonight. It was $30, if I recall correctly.
- Buy the Hopkins bracket shown in mac1usa's post above.
- Buy two 70mm long stainless M8x1.25 bolts. I added two flat washers and two split lockwashers (all stainless) as well.
- Unplug the OE connector from the existing wiring. Remove it from the OE bracket.
- Remove the OE bracket and set it aside.
- Plug the extension into the existing wiring.

The new Hopkins bracket will mount as shown in mac1usa's photo, but in order to provide clearance around the wiring harness and the spare you'll need a spacer.
I designed and 3D printed a spacer to do just that. I'm happy to share the design or to even print you one if you don't have the facilities. Use ABS (not PLA) if you print it yourself. I wanted to machine it out of aluminum and have it anodized, but that's a project for later.



- Put the bolts through the lockwashers, the flat washers, the Hopkins bracket, and the spacer. Bolt the spacer in place using existing holes. (I'll provide pics after while.)
- Clip the OE connector into the Hopkins bracket securely and connect the extension cable to it.
- Loop up the slack in the extension and zip-tie it in place.
- Done! Admire your work and have a beverage.

 

This chap is going to cure the problem for me. I can easily see and reach the connector to plug in.