Where did you mount your brake controller?

[Magnus1500]

Just as the title says where did you mount yours? Pics would be awesome!

[brian_bp]

I mounted mine on a removable bracket which attaches to the pop-out cup / coin holder in the centre stack of the dash; the wiring unplugs from the controller when it is not in use.

There was an illustrated discussion of this in the previous Sienna forum, and I thought we had already reproduced it here... but I can't find it. If anyone can find it, please post the link here; if I am mistaken, then we'll need to assemble the examples again, and I will dig up a photo or two.

[Magnus1500]

Thanks that would be awesome!

[homer]

Mounted between my leg , under the steering column , easy to reach and not in my way when entering exiting

[brian_bp]

The usual recommendation is to mount the controller under the dash, in a visible location, within easy reach of the driver... and it seems that's what Homer did. For my wife and myself, there is no such location under the dash... it would be an awkward reach, in the way of my knee in at least some positions, not clearly visible, and certainly not practical to use without looking in a dicey road situation.

The most common approach for second-generation Sienna owners seems to be putting it nearly vertical in the pivot-out bin at the bottom of the dash's centre stack. That's too much of a reach for me, and I don't like the movable mount - won't it swing closed under hard braking?

I took a suggestion from another forum for another vehicle and applied it to our 2004 Sienna, as I mentioned earlier:

I mounted mine on a removable bracket which attaches to the pop-out cup / coin holder in the centre stack of the dash; the wiring unplugs from the controller when it is not in use.

The wiring comes out the same bin in which others mount the controller.

The Prodigy controller's stock U-shaped bracket is riveted to an aluminum bracket, which is just a bit of aluminum angle that I purchased at Home Depot, cut to length, trimmed to fit the curve of the holder at one end and turned up at the other end so it won't slide into the cupholder's hole in the dash. It is stored elsewhere, plopped on the cupholder for use, and temporarily strapped in place for the trip. The stock detachable wiring harness is plugged into the back for use, and coiled up in the bin between uses.

[Magnus1500]

Where are the circuit breakers for the brake controller and the 12volt power located?

[brian_bp]

Where are the circuit breakers for the brake controller and the 12volt power located?

In general?
There aren't any included in the Sienna as factory equipment.

In mine setup, specifically?
There is a relatively open area immediately in front of the battery. In the frame rail under this area there is (or are) one (or two?) holes with unused (in my Sienna, anyway) welded-in nuts. I cut a piece of aluminum angle (just Home Depot stuff) and bolted it to the frame rail at that hole (those holes? it has been a few years...) as a vertical post. I mounted the circuit breakers on that post, along with the relay to control power to the trailer, and a switch to turn everything off between towing trips.

The following photo shows this hardware as taken looking down into the engine compartment from the front, with the battery at the top of the photo. The top device on the post is the toggle switch, below that are the circuit breakers, and at the bottom is the high-capacity continuous-duty solenoid (relay). Yes, I need to clean my Sienna, and no, this is not the tidiest installation you'll ever see. It is what it is...

[DaveR]

I like the cup holder mount, that's pretty cool. I can't displace my iPod Touch though...especially on a trip...it pretty much has a permanent home in that cup holder.

Here's a photo of mine:





If you look at the controller in relation to the mounting bracket, it's crooked. I have it mounted that way due to the curve of the dash. The bracket has two mounting holes on each side, an upper and a lower. I have the controller mounted in the upper hole on the left and the lower hole on the right. The controller itself is oriented in line with the van, as described in the manufacturer's instructions. If you mount the controller as shown, you have to make sure that it (the controller AND the wires) isn't in the way of the hood release.

This location isn't for everyone, but it should work well for me. I can see and reach it easily while driving. My wife and I both drive with the seat all the way back...so far we haven't bumped it getting in or out of the van, and there is plenty of room for our knees.

[tcp]

my prodigy lives in the little two-door compartment. I have a piece of 3M dual-lock velcro on the top part of it and some on my controller shroud and it sits in there perfectly.