Brake controller mounting on a 2001 Tacoma

[Esteban]

Thanks for this helpful discussion. I'm bringing my 2015 Forester to a car stereo shop tomorrow to have them wire the charge and ground wires from the battery and also to mount and wire my P3 brake controller to a 7-way connector on my new trailer hitch.

[bdosborn]

Here's where I mounted mine. The little cup holder was pretty useless so I didn't mind using the space for the P3.



I just replaced the sticky Velcro strip so we'll see how long this one lasts before it falls off again.

Bruce

[capnTelescope]

The Hopkins Flex-Mount controller came, and I got to work installing it.

Here's the package:



There's a Black Box (2x4x1-1/4), a display module (1-1/2 cube) and a control head (1x1x2) inside. Dimensions are approximate.


The Black Box can be mounted anywhere, but Hopkins recommends either the kick panel or the center console, not on the dash like other brake controllers. They don't really describe the mounting criteria explicitly, but the pictures strongly imply a vertical mounting surface, with the 4" length of the box pointing front-to-back and the 2" width goes up/down.

They don't call it a kick panel for nothing, so I ruled that out. The driver side of the center console looked like it might worry my knee. I settled on the passenger side of the console:

Since I hardly ever have a passenger, this should be OK. I did have to add about 6" to the brake switch wire so it could reach. I also made a small wooden wedge to get things vertical and give me a place to screw the top holes into.

The control head fit nicely on the lower dash panel, left of the steering column:


Looking out the windshield, you can see the display module in the lower left corner of the windshield. It's tiny, so look hard.


I haven't finished the wiring yet. The blue 12ga wire doesn't get here until Friday. Sometimes it really pays to buy locally. When I finish up, I'll post in more detail on my build thread.

[bdosborn]

I would have tucked the black box under the drivers seat but I like the rest of the install. The heads up display is pretty cool.

Bruce

[capnTelescope]

I would have tucked the black box under the drivers seat...

I'm not totally pleased with the location of the black box. I might just turn it around and go forward into the passenger foot well with a wedge to get it vertical.

I'm not sure that it will work properly if it's flat on the floor. You could make a right angle bracket to get it up on edge.

Here's all the instructions have to say on the subject:

... but I like the rest of the install.

Thank you, Bruce. It's really an easy install. The worst part was connecting to the brake switch. Reminded me of why I retired from being a mechanic.

[nrody]

I mounted mine in my 06 Tacoma on the left, outside edge of my center console, vertical rather than horizontal it lines up with my right leg at the calf. I can reach it easy when needed and it is has never gotten in the way.

[capnTelescope]

Thanks Nancy. More than one way to skin a cat.