Guys need your help here....just got a trailer and installed a curt hitch.

1) Do I need the towing controller which some owners have mentioned? What does a towing controller do? Since Im in India this would not be easily available from the dealership...Is it ok to tow without it?

2) Also I dont have the wiring harness...so if I just splice into the tail light wires would that be ok?

Thanks

 

The 'towing controller' is actually a brake controller. It is not strictly necessary, particularly if you are using a relatively light weight trailer. Once you start getting a couple thousand lbs +/-, you will want to be sure that your trailer has brakes. The controller allows the brakes to be operated at varying levels as opposed to strictly on/off.

I believe that there are a couple of threads on how to wire in a brake controller. They aren't terribly difficult, but I seem to recall some discussion that some units (Prodigy) dont play nicely with the Cayenne. Not sure if that is correct, or if it has been remedied though.

 

towing about 1700 lbs including trailer weight.

 

If the trailer isn't outfitted with brakes, then no controller needed anyway.

A 1,700 pound trailers should be fine without brakes, unless its being towed by something small, like a SmartCar. Most SUV/Trucks will be totally fine without brakes on such a small trailer. And probably most sedans/wagons, too.

What will you be using as a tow vehicle? If a Cayenne (I'm guessing yes) then you will be fine. But do need to splice in trailer lamps. There should be available a harness adapter that plugs into your vehicles harness and provides a typical 4-pin trailer light connector.

 

I have a 2006 Cayenne 3.2L
No we dont get a harness adaptor here cos towing is not big in the country.

 

It may vary by country. But the manual for the current US-spec Cayenne manual says trailer brakes are required when towing over 1650 pounds gross weight (trailer + load = gross). In the metric system, that's 750 kilograms or 0.75 tonne

//greg//

 

You are incorrect.
Please see me after class


The 1D6 or 1D8 factory towbar control unit is in no way a brake controller
It is a lighting controller that interfaces to the vehicle CAN bus
The brake controller is a non Porsche item that connects to a 4 pin harness under the dash
The connection details were posted in this forum almost 9 years ago

 

My wording could have been better, "I believe the OP was referring to a brake controller" would be more correct.

I am aware of the lighting controller that comes with the factory tow package.

Is it required when installing an aftermarket tow hitch? I could have sworn that I've seen 4 pin connectors spliced into the lighting wiring.

https://rennlist.com/forums/porsche-...er-wiring.html

I agree, the lighting controller is ideal, but is it required?

 

The installation of an aftermarket hitch is purely mechanical. Just stay under the hitch capacity, P!g tongue and towing capacity...

If you chose to attach and tow something that does not require an electrical connection (brake/directional/reverse/running lights), you're on your own.

If you try and "hot wire" a parallel connection to the tail lights, you run the risk of the Cayenne's in vehicle bulb diagnostics "!" detecting the modification and responding in an appropriate (Squealing P!g) manner.

If you use the factory tow bar control unit, you run the risk of a similar result, I.e. LED trailer lighting, as the electrical load does not match the expected load for the detection circuit....result: "!"

Of course, this is nothing but a semi coherent string of characters typed by an anonymous Internet web forum contributor who knows absolutely nothing about 1D6, trailer lighting and Cayenne electrical system design. The guy who actually did understand those things died and I simply took over his account when I found his RL password.

Your request for review based on "rewording your original answer" is rejected.
However, I will change your grade from an "F" to a "C", solely based on the fact that you did use the Search function correctly.

 

Whats the part number for the lighting connector?
Easily available?

 

When you say "lighting connector", I assume you are referring to the 7 pin Pollak connector at/under the rear bumper of the P!g?

If so, it is a standard connector that can be purchased at any Porsche, VW, Amazon.com or trailer parts vendor.
http://www.amazon.com/Pollak-11-893P...ews/B000B6NQHW
http://www.etrailer.com/Custom-Fit-V...k/PK11893.html

It has been detailed multiple times in this forum.

Yes, it's easily available.

 

Nope, not okay. The simple splicing in will change the resistance on the lines and cause the Cayenne to think the brake & signal lights aren't operating correctly. The type of light controller you need is one that monitors the brake lights via a tap, but powers the trailer lights with power drawn directly from the electrical system.

Here in the States, you can pick them up for around $50 anywhere. I'm sure one can be delivered to you.

Here's a good thread on this: https://rennlist.com/forums/porsche-...-wiring-2.html

Here's the part I used: http://www.google.com/products/catal...d=0CCIQ8wIwAg#

Good luck!

 

Ok also my trailer has 3 light system...seperate brake and turn lights and the majority of the converters I am looking at are 3 wire to 2 wire converters.....

 

Let's start over.
1. What type of trailer do you plan to tow?
2. What would you anticipate being be the maximum gross weight you'd ever tow (load+trailer)?

//greg//

 

The description for the part I used says the following: