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Trailer Wiring

Discussion in 'Prius v Accessories and Modifications' started by Grunthos, Oct 21, 2012.

  1. Grunthos

    Grunthos Senior Azgoth Poetmaster

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    We recently purchased a new 2012 Prius V for my wife, and I was looking to add a trailer hitch and wiring, as I did on my '08 Prius. Everything I found online indicated that the same wiring kits that work on earlier models would work on this car, but I found that this isn't the case, after purchasing a kit that doesn't fit. The wire harnesses on each of the tail lights on my '08 has six wires in two rows of three--the same configuration that is being sold right now for wire harnesses. However, the new Prius V has more wires (I can't remember exactly how many, but I think it was at least eight). My recollection is that the new Prius V also has lighter gauge wires. Has anyone else encountered this? Does anyone actually sell a kit that will fit this car? I can't seem to find one anywhere. Thanks!
     
    #1 Grunthos, Oct 21, 2012
  2. sfv41901

    sfv41901 Masta S

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    Are u referring to the Prius V Wagon or the Prius V lift back?

    I believe the wiring is the same for the gen2 & gen3 Prius. The V wagon might be different.
     
    #2 sfv41901, Oct 21, 2012
  3. Grunthos

    Grunthos Senior Azgoth Poetmaster

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    It's the Prius V Wagon. I took another look at the connector on the tail lights, and it's actually still a six-wire configuration, but it's one row of four pins and one row of two. (But the wires are significantly smaller gauge--presumably because this vehicle has low-power LEDs, as compared to the incandescent bulbs in my '08.)
     
    #3 Grunthos, Oct 21, 2012
  4. sfv41901

    sfv41901 Masta S

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    So maybe it's just a matter of changing some of the locations of the wires on the trailer wiring harness
     
    #4 sfv41901, Oct 21, 2012
  5. Grunthos

    Grunthos Senior Azgoth Poetmaster

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    Unfortunately, the wiring harness does not fit the car, as the pin configuration is completely different.
     
    #5 Grunthos, Oct 21, 2012
  6. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    #6 rjparker, Oct 21, 2012
  7. Grunthos

    Grunthos Senior Azgoth Poetmaster

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    Yeah, that's what I'm hoping to avoid. I'll probably wait until next summer to see if someone is selling a product by then, as I don't really need it right now.
     
    #7 Grunthos, Oct 21, 2012
  8. Parker

    Parker New Member

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    I confirm what the Original Poster reported. I bought a Draw-Tite/Hidden Hitch/Reese Tow-Ready T-Connector wiring kit 118505 for my Prius v (the "wagon"). The kit says it fits "2004-Current Toyota Prius". I believe this is the same kit I had previously used successfully with a 2006 Prius. However, the connectors on the 2012 Prius v are different--the T-connectors on this kit won't plug into the Prius v tail light connectors.

    It looks like the options for trailer wiring the Prius v are:
    1. Wait to see if a plug and play kit specific to the wagon comes out in the future.
    2. Splice/tap into the tail light wiring (I hate to cut into the car's existing wiring:sick:)
    3. Find male & female connectors that fit the Prius v tail wiring & mod the 118505 to fit.
    Options 2 & 3 assume that you're working with a wiring kit that is electrically compatible with the car. There are some wrinkles that could make that assumption false (Pulse Width Modulation and/or Ground switched circuitry.) I think the 118505 kit I have in hand is electrically compatible with the Prius v's wiring, but that assumption could be mistaken, if the new car's tail light wiring scheme is somehow more "advanced" than other Prieaux.
     
    #8 Parker, Nov 15, 2012
  9. Grunthos

    Grunthos Senior Azgoth Poetmaster

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    Curt has finally created trailer wiring for the Prius V (part number 56156) and I just bought one on Amazon for around $46. It arrived yesterday, and while I haven't had a chance to install it yet, it certainly looks like the right connector this time.
     
    #9 Grunthos, Mar 19, 2013
  10. xPETEx

    xPETEx Junior Member

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    Does anyone know whether this same wiring kit will work on the 2013 Pris v? Curt's website only lists the 2012.
     
    #10 xPETEx, Jul 4, 2013
  11. Grunthos

    Grunthos Senior Azgoth Poetmaster

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    The product page on etrailer.com has photos that contain the wire harness that I described in the original post. If you're able to look at the harness in your car, you should be able to compare them and determine if it's the same connection. I actually just got back from a camping trip yesterday where we brought the trailer along, and the wire harness worked great!
     
    #11 Grunthos, Jul 7, 2013
    xPETEx likes this.
  12. xPETEx

    xPETEx Junior Member

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    I thought I should post back. I took a chance and ordered the curt wiring harness for my 2013 v even though Curt told me they hadn't tested it to be working. It installed exactly as instructed for the 2012 and works perfectly. Been towing loads of landscaping materials for the last few weeks. The car handles a couple thousand pounds of dirt better than my old 2007 F150.
     
    #12 xPETEx, Aug 15, 2013
    kim.mpls likes this.
  13. kim.mpls

    kim.mpls Junior Member

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    Thanks for the update! I ordered one with the Torklift hitch but have not installed either yet.
     
    #13 kim.mpls, Aug 19, 2013
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