What Trailer Brake Controllers do you have fitted.

[hulbyw Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close hulbyw]

Neat solution however not quite sure how you will reach the brake controller lever in an emergency

[briann532 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close briann532]

I'm currently looking at a P3 in my 150 as I had one before and like the progressive braking.
I also found the boost function invaluable. I set the boost levels so on road it braked harder and not so hard off road due to the dirt conditions.
Made for very easy quick adjustment.

After reading this thread, I have been poking around the car and have an idea I'd like to put out there.

I want to mount the P3 under the start button where the cluster of 6 switch panels is. This currently only has 2 switch holes being used.
1 for the light height adjustment and 1 for the idle up button.

Really I don't think I'll ever use the idle up (3 x diesels over last 13 years and never used it once)
The headlight adjustment I would use, so I could move that over to the left side of the steering wheel where there is a spare switch space.

This way the controller doesn't sit between your knee and the airbag, is easy to reach, adjust and see and also very close to the necessary wiring.

Can anyone see a problem with this?
Cheers
Brian

[CarindalePrado Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close CarindalePrado]

Hi Folks,
I have the P3, and wasn't keen on mounting down low, thought it would be hard to reach when in an emergency, worried I wouldn't notice a brake Fault if displayed, near the airbag, near knees....

This was my solution, done a few trips with the new van and couldn't be happier.....
Since taking this photo, I have installed a shorter arm which moves it closer to the windscreen, and trimmed the bracket.

When I am not towing I just unplug and remove it. The suction mount is a RAM Mount, works really well, really grabs hold of the windscreen.

[cjsilk Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close cjsilk]

Hi Folks,
I have the P3, and wasn't keen on mounting down low, thought it would be hard to reach when in an emergency, worried I wouldn't notice a brake Fault if displayed, near the airbag, near knees....

This was my solution, done a few trips with the new van and couldn't be happier.....
Since taking this photo, I have installed a shorter arm which moves it closer to the windscreen, and trimmed the bracket.

When I am not towing I just unplug and remove it. The suction mount is a RAM Mount, works really well, really grabs hold of the windscreen.


[ATTACH=CONFIG]10452[/ATTACH]

Good spot but Where did you run the wiring from and to

[CarindalePrado Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close CarindalePrado]

Hi CJ,
from the right drivers kick panel it goes into the door seal, and jumps out again at the A pillar where it meets the dash. All cables are in black flex conduit, looks pretty neat.
I picked the spot, the Auto Elec installed....
As you no doubt picked up this picture is pre electrical install. I can get a pic of the wiring in a couple days, the Prado is with ARB getting the bar fitted at the moment.

[cjsilk Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close cjsilk]

Hi CJ,
from the right drivers kick panel it goes into the door seal, and jumps out again at the A pillar where it meets the dash. All cables are in black flex conduit, looks pretty neat.
I picked the spot, the Auto Elec installed....
As you no doubt picked up this picture is pre electrical install. I can get a pic of the wiring in a couple days, the Prado is with ARB getting the bar fitted at the moment.

Hi Carindale have you had a chance to do a photo of the wiring yet. That's a really excellent position for the P3, is the windscreen bracket a special one or have you a link to it.
Thanks
Carey

[150D4DNikki Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 150D4DNikki]

Can I bump for a reminder too please. I like this idea.

[psychoaussie Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close psychoaussie]

Hi guys. I am new to the Prado forums.
Just a little input on installation of the Tekonsha Prodigy P3 Brake Controller.
I noticed when I recently installed my P3 that there is no power off option.
After 2 hrs of interior dismantling and wiring of the P3, I re-dismantled the under dash to get back to my P3 power supply and looped the main power wire to a LED switch on my dash next to my spotlight switch.
I can now completely turn the P3 off and on whenever I want. Thought I would add this here if anyone else gets annoyed by the P3 illuminating every time the brake pedal is pressed.

I also removed my ashtray housing and fitted the P3 in place of the ashtray! This idea was courtesy of a previous thread in these forums (thanks to that genius)!
Ok guys sorry if I posted in the wrong spot here.

Regards
Dave.

[briann532 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close briann532]

I started my P3 preparation today.
I moved the headlight adjuster and idle up switches.
I put the idle up switch on the left of the steering wheel with the traction control switch panel.
I moved the headlight adjuster to the switch panel behind the gear shift. I thinks its more user friendly here anyway.


This left me the 6 switch panel under the start button to mount the P3.
Thats my next job............



As far as switching goes, in my last tug, I installed a circuit breaker in the engine bay to isolate it when not in use. Way over the rated current so it didn't act as a C/B. I left the original Cb to do its job.

[matt150 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close matt150]

Hey Brian, we both are surfing two forums at once

[psychoaussie Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close psychoaussie]

Hi briann532. I also have a 30 Amp circuit breaker in my engine bay for the + link on the break controller. I don't understand how the circuit breaker doesn't allow the power to the break control unit! I am not much if at all an auto elec but I found the only way to isolate the power from the break controller was to run it through a physical switch. Maybe I am missing something
Regards
Dave..

[briann532 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close briann532]

Hopefully I'm not missing something........Missus reckons I've lost the plot

Perhaps the circuit breaker you're referring to is the auto reset breaker that's installed (by law) in the system.
The one I mean is an extra (100 amp) breaker I have put in line purposely to isolate the brakes when not in use. Its no resetting ie it stays off.
( I know it sounds petty, but on my patrol the lights coming on and off when driving at night without the trailer was annoying, so that's why I did it.)
Cheers
Brian

[psychoaussie Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close psychoaussie]

Oh ok mate I get what you have done now. I guess the switch I put in will do the job. Just as long as I don't forget to switch it on when I hook up the van!
Dave...

[CarindalePrado Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close CarindalePrado]

Hi Carindale have you had a chance to do a photo of the wiring yet. That's a really excellent position for the P3, is the windscreen bracket a special one or have you a link to it.
Thanks
Carey

Hi Carey,
sorry been OS for work only got back today. I am very happy with the spot, Took a Pic this afternoon showing the cable. Can only show you the cable near the windscreen, it goes in the bottom where I can't take a photo. The photo shows the cable exit, this is with the unit removed. I remove it for day to day driving, so nobody gets any ideas of helping themselves to it. Removes in seconds, Easy to plug back in and stick it back on the windscreen, when needed.


The bracket is a RAM Mount, I got mine from Johnny Appleseed GPS (No Assoc.), here in Bris. But there are many suppliers.
The bits I used are :
RAM Standard Double Clamp B Size
RAM 25mm (1") Small Ball and Base
RAM Locking B Suction Metal Plate

I sit the arm down against the speaker which completely eliminates any vibration of the P3. have used it for a couple bitumen trips and no damage to the speaker cover but doing a big trip to central australia in June july, so will probably stick on one of those soft clear rubber stops under it. Like the ones used on the inside of kitchen cupboard doors.

Hope that helps.
Jason

[briann532 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close briann532]

I started the wiring for the P3 today, but am not sure which way to go about finishing it.

Should I run the 5mm to the 7 pin trailer plug direct thus upgrading the size of the neutral or

Do I take it to the Lumen ECU controller located in the storage area housing the jack?

I would assume it would be best to run direct to the trailer plug, but I'm not 100% sure on how it will affect the lumen module toyota installed.

Any help appreciated,
Brian