Installation of a 7-Way and Brake Controller on 2009 Toyota RAV4 To Tow Travel Trailer

Updated 01/16/2013 | Published 01/14/2013

Products Featured in This Question

Universal Installation Kit for Trailer Brake Controller - 7-Way RV and 4-Way Flat - 10 Gauge Wires

(3469)

$118.67

Question:

Our young family would like to rent or purchase a travel trailer for camping this season which requires a 7 pin plug and electric brakes. Our v6 RAV4 3500lb max towing currently has a class 3 hitch with a 4 pin plug setup with a separate fuse hooked up directly to the battery. Im not wanting to have a permanent brake controller setup and would like the option to tow my utility trailer which uses the 4 pin setup. This is the reason why Im interested in the wireless controller. Just a few questions and forgive me if I sound ignorant, Im new to towing: 1. Would this model of brake controller work on our 2009 RAV v6? 2. Do we have straight adapters available to go from 4 to 7 pin without have to re-wire anything? 3. Any other suggestions?

asked by: Ray

Expert Reply:

A trailer with electric brakes will require a brake controller and a 7-Way connector on your vehicle. A 4-Way will only supply the lighting on a trailer. The 7-Way is needed to power the brake controller along with the lighting. There is no straight adapter that will allow you to go from a 4-Way on your vehicle to a 7-Way on the trailer.

The Tekonsha Prodigy RF Brake Controller, part # TK94FR, can be installed on your 2009 Toyota RAV4. It will still require that you have a 7-way connector on your vehicle for the brake controller to plug into.

The Prodigy RF brake controller is designed for use on one trailer that will be towed by different vehicles, like fleet owners with multiple towing vehicles. If you want to use it on your RAV4 for towing multiple trailers it would be the same as installing a brake controller in the cab of your vehicle. I am sending a link to the instructions on the Prodigy RF brake controller.

To use either the Prodigy RF brake controller or an in-cab brake controller like the Tekonsha Prodigy P3 Brake Controller, part # 90195, on your vehicle I would recommend to use the Brake Controller 7 and 4 Way Installation Kit, part # ETBC7. This kit will give you a combination 7-Way and 4-Way connector on the rear of your RAV4. That will allow you to tow a trailer with electric brakes (7-Way) or your utility trailer with the 4-Way connector.

I am including links to a FAQ page on installation instructions for the #ETBC7 and a couple of videos that demonstrate how to install the # ETBC7 and the kit being installed on a Toyota Highlander, The vehicle is different, but the installation is similar.

If you decide to use the in-cab Prodigy P3 brake controller # 90195 in your vehicle, you can install it so it is not permanent by using the included plug-in wiring harness and wire the harness to the RAV4 and just plug in the harness to the brake controller when you need it and unplug it to remove it from the vehicle.