Brake controller mounting on a 2001 Tacoma

[capnTelescope]

After a tire-smoking emergency stop while towing, I'm not going out again until I get my trailer brakes hooked up. I've settled on a Tekonsha P3 controller. My problem is that I can't settle on a place to mount the controller on my 2001 Tacoma that I won't fear banging my knee/shin and it won't get in the way of something else. I don't have the controller in my hot little hands yet, so maybe I'm overthinking this.

Under the steering wheel:

Maybe left of the steering column, above the hood release. Don't wanna block access to the hood release or the fuse block. Under the steering column looks to endanger my knees/shins.

View from the passenger side:

The parking brake gets in the way, period.

Someone here must have faced the same problem. Where did you put yours? On the floor? Under the driver seat? Aft of the center console on the hump? Any thoughts, anyone?

[bdosborn]

I just installed the P3 in my 2015 and I used the little holder to the right of the steering wheel. You know, the place where you have the emergency brake.

I played around with installing it below the fuses but it would have been a knee knocker. I'm not real happy with how I have mine installed as I used sticky tape and it fell off. As much as I like the P3 (great controller!), i think I would look at using a different controller for the Toyota as there just isn't a good place for a regular size brake controller:

http://www.amazon.com/Hopkins-47297-INSIGHT-Brake-Control/dp/B00C5THYIK

Bruce

[wagondude]

Do you need that ash tray? Or maybe that space below the ashtray might have room. Probably a little hard to reach there, but once it is set up, you shouldn't have much reason to reach it while driving. How about the cubby below the radio?

[pchast]

Under the seat...

[capnTelescope]

Hey, guys. Thanks for your responses.

I used the little holder to the right of the steering wheel. You know, the place where you have the emergency brake.

Maybe above the E-brake handle?

i think I would look at using a different controller for the Toyota as there just isn't a good place for a regular size brake controller:

Thanks for pointing out the Hopkins, Bruce. Two smaller pieces may be the answer. I'm pretty sure that any of the accelerometer-based systems will work just fine. The P3 just happened to be the "#1 best seller."

Do you need that ash tray?

Well... yes. That's where I keep my loose change. I don't use as an ashtray. I got a butt cup for that. OK, that's another possibility.

How about the cubby below the radio?

That's where I keep my cigs and other stuff. I saw it as a possibility. I don't really want to give it up, as it relieves the passenger seat from carrying a lot of stuff. I might want to carry a passenger one day, and they'll need a place to put their lipstick or something. OK, still a possible.

Under the seat...

I haven't used a trailer brake controller before. Is this feasible, once the controller is set up? The P3 instructions say you need to access the manual control for setup. I don't have a problem with rug rats sitting in the back seat and kicking the darn thing, so this seems feasible to me. The one drawback might be that you don't see any malfunction warnings.

So far, it's 1) under seat, 2) left of the steering column and above the hood release, 3) above the e-brake, 4) ash tray, 5) cubby, in that order of preference. The Hopkins is a dark horse. I'm gonna read up on it before I make a decision.

Anyone else have an idea?

Thanks for the input. I owe you all a beer.

[capnTelescope]

How about up on the dash? anyone have a thought on that?

[capnTelescope]

And the winner is...
http://www.amazon.com/Hopkins-47297-INSIGHT-Brake-Control/dp/B00C5THYIK

Thanks Bruce, WagonDude and Pete. Dunno how I missed this one. I even get to save $40. You can't beat that.

Here's your beers!

[rockinrobin]

Hey Capn
I mounted mine right under the steering wheel on the bottom of the dash on my 2010 Taco, just to try out the location. I thought it might be in the way getting in and out, but it is still there after two years. I realize yours is I little different. My Taco has a factory installed harness for the trailer brakes, so I was somewhat restricted by the length of the harness on the controller.
Not trying to start an argument, but I have had two teardrops with no brakes, and this current one with brakes. Do not really want to do without them again! Hope this helps! Ronnie

[capnTelescope]

Hey, Ronnie,

Not trying to start an argument

You won't get any argument from me!

Do not really want to do without them again!

I am 100% agreeing with that. Like I said,

I'm not going out again until I get my trailer brakes hooked up.

I mounted mine right under the steering wheel...

I looked at this, and while it looked probably OK, I could see me whacking my knee good one day. Or more than once. So I started the topic before I spent any money.

Are you going to the Texas State Railroad gathering in September? I'm a bit of a train nut, couldn't miss it.

Cheers!

[rockinrobin]

I am taking my "big" vacation starting Sept. 3, and taking a 10 or 11 day teardrop trip up toward Moab Utah. Probably can not pull of another four day weekend until LCG. I like my job, and the people I work with, and the situation, and know I very fortunate, but sometimes it gets in the way of my trailer fun!

[rockinrobin]

Yep, There is a group of Deer in New Mexico that are glad I have trailer Brakes

[bdosborn]

And the winner is...
http://www.amazon.com/Hopkins-47297-INSIGHT-Brake-Control/dp/B00C5THYIK

Post some pictures of how you installed it; I might get the same controller and put the P3 back in the big truck.

Bruce

[capnTelescope]

You got it, Bruce.

[Dale M.]

This is approximately where I have mine in my Chevy Silverado..... IT does NOT interfere with my foot/leg/accelerator and natural place to reach with right hand....

DSCN0834_zpsuospg4hb.jpg (96.52 KiB) Viewed 6462 times

In a tire smoking stop you are not going to be reaching for it either... You are going have death grip on steering wheel ....Once you get it adjusted to assist your stopping where its comfortable for you you will probably ignore it 99.8% percent of the time....

I adjust mine a lot as not only do I tow a small trailer I also tow a 1500lb car carrier, some times empty and some times with up to 4000-5000lb cargo... Oh yeah, weigh change makes adjustment tweaks necessary.... But IF you are pulling same trailer with little weight variation you set it and forget it....

Dale

[bdosborn]

Yup, that's exactly where I had it on my Dodge Ram and it worked great. There just isn't enough room in the Toyota to fit the P3 there without it getting in the way.

Bruce