Thank you! Your comment has been submitted successfully. You should be able to view your question/comment here within a few days.
Error submitting comment. Please try again momentarily.
If you have only a 4-way flat on your vehicle and want to install a brake controller that pulls power from a 7-way trailer connector instead of wiring directly into your vehicle, this kit will adapt your plug for use with your brake controller.
Features:
Note: If your vehicle does not already have a 4-pole flat trailer connector installed, the etrailer application guide can be used to find the easy-to-install connector made specifically for your vehicle.
California residents: click here
Thanks for the great video on installing the 7 pin adapter (ETBC7L). The video was even on a Toyota Grand Highlander - my exact vehicle. I didn't like how low the video installed the Part# 18136 "no drill long bracket" I also ordered, so I made a few bends to this bracket to integrate it more into the the lower molding. This raised it up another inch or so compared to your video. You can see the height difference in the screen grabs of your install versus mine. Bottom line, you can use this bracket to fabricate for you unique situation. It still shocks me that Toyota did not include a 7pin adapter, but thanks to etrailer for finding me an alternative.
This is a nice kit and I lucked out in that my car was used in an installation video making it pretty easy for me to install it. It works well. I did need to fabricate a mount for it though or would have had to order a extension mount kit that I didn't know I needed when I ordered the kit. It all worked out fine in the end and worked great towing my new trailer about 2500 miles in the few weeks since installing the kit. The reason for only three stars is the price. 4x what some competitor kits cost.
The things that bothered me the most is seen in the picture I've attached. How can you charge $117 for the kit and use screws that are visible to anyone looking that rust after three weeks? After taking this picture I went to the local hardware store and bought some stainless screws and locking nuts. They will look perfect as long as I own the van. A little more thought and a few $s in better hardware and this would be a 4 or 5 star review.
Installed a 4 pin electric hook up and then converted to a 7 prong on my jeep wrangler and I can’t be any more thrilled I could pull this off on my own! Your videos made the task so easy and I can’t be more thankful for the hundreds I saved in labor!! So happy with my purchase and all the helpful information
The wires from the 7-way are too long so the weather protection cover doesn’t reach the 7-way plug. The wires show about an inch. Can I return it?
Attach any photos of the product you would like
I installed the ETBC7L 7 way adapter plug on my new 2022 Santa Cruz to be used with the Curt C51180 wireless brake controller. I was able to bend the 7way mounting bracket flange in vise from 90 degrees to about 45 degrees to match the Hyundai OEM hitch 7way mounting bracket. The wire to battery I encased all the way with protective flexible cover. I mounted the circuit breaker under hood by battery and capped breaker terminals with rubber cover that was cut off 4way plug, it worked perfectly. This is one neat little pickup with its 5000 lb tow rating with a brake controller. It was a fairly easy installation and the best way I think without cutting into vehicles wiring for a brake controller. I have enclosed some pics.
Jack
5/18/2023
Curt wireless Brake Controller still works flawlessly. Excellent product
This part was installed on a 2018 Subaru Outback. I did use a CURT 57204 bracket to help stiffen the mounting area since I'm using an Ecohitch Hidden Hitch. I also had to use a little more 12 gauge wire than was provided in the kit, as suggested in etrailer's installation video. Great product and very useful videos made this installation a breeze. Thanks etrailer!
PS - Use this product if you have already installed etrailer's 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector in your Subaru.
Glen M.
5/26/2023
This installation is working perfectly after a year. It looks and works great.
I installed this 7-way adapter on my 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5 a couple of months ago. The install itself was pretty straightforward and all required equipment (screws, zip ties, etc) were included. I have used both the 4-pin and 7-pin plugs since install and both work great.
Corey
7/8/2024
I have used this 7-way adapter for a year now and it still works just as well as initially. I have continued to use both the 7-pin and 4-pin connectors and both still work great.
This fit ALMOST perfectly on my 2007 Tacoma. I zip tied the four pin trailer connection to the tow vehicle harness. Besides the four pin, I only needed the black power wire because I am using a Curt Echo bluetooth brake controller. I ran the power wire along the frame, into the cab, through the firewall and to the battery via the included breaker. I zip tied the unused wires to the harness and wrapped the whole thing in electrical tape. The included bracket almost fit my OEM four pin mount perfectly. The holes were a bit too narrow but I just had to widen them with a drill bit pressing outward. The setup looks stock and I'm very pleased with it.
Thomas R.
4/13/2021
Like many other on here, my screws have rusted. I would gladly pay the extra $2 for stainless ones to come in the kit. Otherwise everything is still working good.
Easy connection to our Curt T-Connector Vehicle Wiring Harness for Factory Tow Package - 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector from E-trailer. Working seamless with 4-pole and our Brake Controller
easy to install. could use a little better illustration of where the wire for braking is in my harness. As it turns out, my car does not have the wire their video said i did. ended up pulling a wire from the back of the car
Easy install and is still working no co mplaints.
Tim
2/22/2025
Everything is great and I have NO complaints.
Robin H.
2/22/2025
Great product and looks sleek. I installed on my 2020 Subaru Outback Touring XT and attached to my factory installed hitch. With a vice and hammer, I had to bend the supplied bracket straight for the correct mount orientation; it turned out great though! I gave 4 ??'s because of several factors: 1) After taking a bit of time routing the 12 awg wire to the battery, I could have used a foot or two more wire; my car isn't even that long, and I took a pretty direct route. I even measured and preplanned, thinking I'd be fine. Had to use some spare 12 awg wire I had on hand. 2) As another reviewer stated, I was having problems with the 4-pin sliding out of the bracket. But, I fixed the problem by tying one of the supplied zip-ties around the rubber 4-pin edge and two of the bracket screws, which now holds it in place. 3) It would have been nice to have a set of screws and nuts to attach the bracket to the hitch; I just utilized the existing ones from my 4-pin factory installed bracket.
All in all, I'm really happy with this product!
The videos and help were invaluable in connecting all of the wires for the power and brake control. The video was even on the exact model that I was putting the connector on.
There are three difficult procedures in the installation.
1) Getting a connection to the brake light under the dash is very difficult as there is very little room. I would have liked to see how the tech was able to determine which wire was the correct one to use and extend it in order to make a splice. I removed the brake switch from the bracket which allowed me to pull it down enough to test each wire and find the one that went live with the brake pedal being used.
2) Making a hole in the firewall to pass power, ground and the brake control wire. Here the video was spot on. The difficulty is that the firewall is about 12" behind the ducting on the engine side and there is not much room inside to work. I used a 24" 1/4 drill from the engine side to start a hole in a good place. Using a drill from the inside the hole was than enlarged to what was needed.
3) Routing the wire from the engine to the back. Here the video did not go into detail as to how the fish the wire through and over the various components. Having a high lift would definitely help here.
The remaining connection and wiring was straight forward. I used expandable braided shielding on all of the wires to bundle them together and add additional abrasion resistance.
As an added safety measure, inexpensive rubber boots were used to cover the exposed connections on the breakers. Without the boot, the studs would be exposed even with the engine covers in place.
I must have glossed over the part of the install video that described the extra bracket that would be needed in order to mount this anywhere other than onto or through the rear body panel of my Outback. Had to order an additional part from [online] to get the install done in a weekend. Also, I'm almost certain there wasn't enough black 12 ga wire. It said 20 feet but was barely longer than the car, which is just about 16 feet. I used some extra as well as some proper stainless hardware and heat-shrink connectors. Seems like an awful spot to save a few bucks. So my own bracket, my own hardware and additional wiring. However, the harness was spot on.
was definitely a job wiring this up, but worked as advertised.
Today I installed:
- Draw-Tite Max-Frame Trailer Hitch Receiver (Item #76156)
- Curt T-Connector Vehicle Wiring Harness with 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector (Item #C56217)
- 7-Way RV Upgrade Kit for Trailer Brake Controller Installation - 12 Gauge Wires (Item #ETBC7L)
It took about 4 hrs at an amateur pace with manual tools.
This is the second time I put a trailer hitch receiver on a Toyota Highlander. My first installation was a Curt on a 2010 Highlander. This time I got the Draw-Tite for my 2018 Highlander.
Few observations:
- The fact that the car comes pre-wired and with welded nuts for the hitch makes the installation smooth and easy. Nicely done by Toyota.
- The Draw-Tite hitch receiver is NOT designed for use with weight distributing hitch, which may be an issue for some users.
- I like the that the hitch is nicely hidden under the rear bumper and comes with the bracket for trailer electric connector. Keeps things nice and tidy.
- The installation can be done by one person (with the aid of a couple of plastic buckets), but I STRONGLY recommend to have a helper. The hitch receiver is heavy and if you drop it can cause some serious damage to your body.
- There is no need to remove the passenger side plastic mud cover behind the rear wheel.
- There is a good reason why they don't show you the cutting and installation of the driver side mud cover in the etrailer videos. It's the proverbial PITA. :-)
- The receiver ends-up about 16" from the ground (with the car unloaded), so you will need a 2-3" rise ball mount to end around 17-18" once the trailer is hooked up.
- The cables can be routed nicely through an existing hole under the driver side plastic storage bin. It comes with a rubber plug which can be cut just enough to lush the connector through. This is the cable routing for OEM Toyota trailer cables. And because is it hidden under the plastic mud cover, you don't have to worry water getting in when driving on a rainy day.
- Make sure to protect the cables with a plastic hose or by wrapping them with plenty of insulating tape to prevent chaffing in the places where the cables cross hitch members. Some edges can be sharp and sooner or later will cut through the insulation.
- Trailer wiring and the T-connector are power all the time, regardless of if the key is in the ignition or not. So make sure to unplug your trailer when parked for extended period of time to prevent running down the battery. The T-connector itself draws only about 1 mA when idle, so you don't have to worry as long as the trailer is not connected.
- The fact that you can see the hitch with the rear view camera makes hooking up the trailer a breeze by just person.
Overall, I'm happy with the product.
And etrailer customer services and prompt shipping was, as always, 5-stars. (I am a returning customer)
Really easy to install, however, this was a reorder as the last kit I bought and installed failed within 2 years - rusted and blades became loose.
Wire kit came with everything needed to install on my 2020 Subaru Outback. Took some time to make sure the 12v power was ran safely from the battery to the plug but easy to find a good path. I threw away the bracket that came with the kit as my curt hidden receiver didn’t have a mounting place. I used the curt easy wording bracket that goes over the collar of the hitch and supports the 4 way and 7 pin adapter. I also used the curt plug and play wire adapter for the 4 pin harness and cut a hole in the drain plug for it to run out the spare tire area and into the wire harness.
The kit itself is very nice. I wired it on a Rav4 Prime SE. The 4-pin does not really secure very well to the mounting bracket, there is just a slot and rubber ribs that slide in. Mine has not fallen out yet, but it just seems kind of insecure. I would have preferred it be permanently mounted and I did not notice it before I ordered. Also, the four mounting screws that secure the connector to the mounting plate are coated with black oxide that will rust within a week or two. I plan to replace the mounting screws with ones that are coated with a more automotive grade coating.
Pros; pretty much everything you'll need for the upgrade is provided except the electrical tape. Lol. If you are going to be using a bluetooth brake controller and no reverse lights on the trailer, after plugging into your vehicles existing 4 pin you'll need to attach the ground wire and run the hot wire to the breaker and then to the vehicle's battery. Pretty simple. Cons; very poorly designed mounting bracket feature for 4 pin (this is an understatement). I was able to overcome that by mounting the OEM supplied 4 pin bracket onto the one that comes with this kit.
Had to modify for my 2017 Wrangler JKU.
Muffler is too close to bumper frame, so had to mount the bracket to the edge so wires would clear heat of muffler.
Bumper bottom is not flush with frame. Could not open 7-pin connector cover all the way, had to mount it sideways. So I had to drill new holes in mounting bracket.
There is not enough wire to properly route. Had to add 4 feet.
Made it easy to add a 7-pin connector to my SUV. I really like that it also has the 4-pin connector integrated.
I used this kit to convert an OEM 4-way flat connector to a 7-way on a 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser. Easy, straightforward install. Only issue I ran into was that I had to elongate the kit mounting bracket holes to use the existing bracket holes. etrailer provides excellent written and video installation instructions.
Used on 2015 Wrangler JKUL. Based on recommendation from Erik (etrailer) the product was received. Installed without any issues. Only note is this kit has single black wire for 12v not the 12v/brake cable. So make certain you do not need to attach to the brake circuit.
Dealer installation using etrailer kit on 2021 Hyundai Palisade. The hitch sits low @ 13”. I’ll be using a Curt Echo and am excited to tow popups and ultralights.
Do you have a question about this Accessories and Part?
Info for this part was:
At etrailer.com we provide the best information available about the products we sell. We take the quality of our information seriously so that you can get the right part the first time. Let us know if anything is missing or if you have any questions.
Victoria H.
3/20/2025
Yes you should be proud of yourself, Rachel!! I'm so happy to hear the install videos came in handy for you, and helped you saved some money too. Are you hauling anything fun?