Installing a Tow Light Harness

[Jayson Woodruff]

I've replaced harnesses, and done some emergancy hack patch jobs, but never installed one from scratch. Where does one splice into the vehicle? Right at the lamps, somewhere else?

Jay W

[KJ Christopher]

I've replaced harnesses, and done some emergancy hack patch jobs, but never installed one from scratch. Where does one splice into the vehicle? Right at the lamps, somewhere else?

Jay W

What vehicle? Some (like my old ML) had a harness in the rear you could plug into. (That harness was no longer available, but it used the same plug as a VW radio, so I bought a radio install kit and made my own.) Does your vehicle have separate turn signal/brake lights? Those require a special harness to combine into a single brake/turn light. If there is no option but splicing, I would try to find a spot inside the vehicle where the wires come together in the harness out of the weather. I've seen others pull directly from each light. Are you doing a standard 4 plug? Or including brakes/power to trailer?

[George Schilling]

You can purchase a wire harness that adapts to your specific vehicle that tees off your existing connectors. Easy peasy.

[Jayson Woodruff]

It's the '07 Sienna mini van. Even though it came with a "Tow Package", there was no hitch reciever or wire harness. We got the reciever a few years back to mount a wheel chair, but didn't bother with the electrical. Now that it's looking like I'll tow a couple things this year I want to get it done.

I'll put in a flat four. No brakes or anything tricky. The sienna has the amber turn signals, but I can diode that with the brake lights (emergancy hack referanced).

I found something that I think George is talking about for only $40. I'll give that a try.

Jay W

I've replaced harnesses, and done some emergancy hack patch jobs, but never installed one from scratch. Where does one splice into the vehicle? Right at the lamps, somewhere else?

Jay W

What vehicle? Some (like my old ML) had a harness in the rear you could plug into. (That harness was no longer available, but it used the same plug as a VW radio, so I bought a radio install kit and made my own.) Does your vehicle have separate turn signal/brake lights? Those require a special harness to combine into a single brake/turn light. If there is no option but splicing, I would try to find a spot inside the vehicle where the wires come together in the harness out of the weather. I've seen others pull directly from each light. Are you doing a standard 4 plug? Or including brakes/power to trailer?

[Will Kalman]

It's the '07 Sienna mini van.

http://www.etrailer.com/t1-2007_Toyota_Sienna.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Instructions:
http://www.etrailer.com/instructions.aspx?pn=118304" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This was cake on our Odyssey, pull an interior panel, plug it in, run the wire. No modifications to the vehicle needed.

Heck, they even have a video on that first page. I didn't see it at first until I scrolled down the page....

[Jayson Woodruff]

That's exactly the one (PN and website) I've got coming .

Jay W

It's the '07 Sienna mini van.

http://www.etrailer.com/t1-2007_Toyota_Sienna.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Instructions:
http://www.etrailer.com/instructions.aspx?pn=118304" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This was cake on our Odyssey, pull an interior panel, plug it in, run the wire. No modifications to the vehicle needed.

Heck, they even have a video on that first page. I didn't see it at first until I scrolled down the page....