DIY: Block heater plug front & rear mod

[bert0168]

I wanted to clean up the stock heater plug and add a rear plug at the same time. Here is what I did... Tools and supplies: [IMG]local://upfiles/52655/23FEDED698834D1FAC959128A3E849AC.jpg[/IMG] Here is the plug receptacle I used for the front http://www.marinco.com/scpt/ProdPage...0Shore%20Power I got mine on E-bay for about $18 The rear plug was a 9-pin trailer plug hook up I had with a removable pin insert. I took out the insert a tossed it. 25' extension cord 14/3 gauge wire Additional 20" piece of 14/3 power cord wire Female cord end with ground First I prepped the plug for the rear, removing the pin insert [IMG]local://upfiles/52655/42FB183F6C254733A1489998EEE1F6A1.jpg[/IMG] Then cut the female end off the extension cord and insert the cut end into the front of the empty housing. I soldered the ends of the cord wire to make a more solid connection with the replacement plug. [IMG]local://upfiles/52655/0D6447CB3DE4477B8E79B80CB3AC07F2.jpg[/IMG] The housing has a screw down hold-fast for the cord so it doesn't move when plugging in or disconnecting. Here is the view in the housing. [IMG]local://upfiles/52655/68BFBF1DE09B4A0E83B7D9F6E60E17F7.jpg[/IMG] I had a spare trailer plug mounting bracket laying around to mount the rear plug to the bumper. I drilled and tapped the underside lip of the bumper and installed the whole assembly. [IMG]local://upfiles/52655/D178B72451784D8F9D5352A829FD93FD.jpg[/IMG]

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[bert0168]

Now route the extension cord along the frame rail to the front of the truck. I decided to install the front plug on the drivers side in the air dam. I didn't want to cut my existing heater plug so I installed a short cord with a new female end on it. This will allow you to also tap in the cord from the rear as shown.
[IMG]local://upfiles/52655/E7CBDE85822E4C6FA672FD1C69186934.jpg[/IMG]

Secure everything with cable ties and get ready to drill your air dam. The Marinco plug uses a 1 7/8" hole.
I located mine under the driver side tow hook.
[IMG]local://upfiles/52655/BA64DAD2F25342CBA35ADFE32C2CAC15.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/52655/6F5F2C87EFE9477BA455891BB1A2F82F.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/52655/0E974FF6D8A14BFDB2A8D71442E32AF9.jpg[/IMG]

It gives a nice, clean, almost stock look to the heater plug and now it doesn't flop around and scratch my bumper any mor. Now I can plug in whether I pull in or back in

Forgot to mention, use an oxidation eliminating paste like OxiBan
http://www.foxelectricsupply.com/con...uctNo=IDE30030
to minimize corrosion

[Mayfair]

That's the first time I've ever seen a front AND rear outlet !! Is everything waterproof?

[bert0168]

The front plug is one used on boats to allow on board battery charging and comes with a rubber type boot that seals the wire and a gasketed door. The rear is the same as the 7-pin on the back of your truck now with the guts removed. I put the molded male end in the rear housing to keep things weather tight.

Mayfair, I thought you installed a place in the back for your plug in a while back?

[gtxpooch]

Pretty slick!!

[DBLR]

Just one thought is if you live where they use road salt in the wintertime your power cord under the truck may have a short life span.

[bert0168]

I put Oxi-Ban on the wires and plug to try to minimize that

[Mayfair]

ORIGINAL: bert0168

Mayfair, I thought you installed a place in the back for your plug in a while back?

Yeah, i did, and i threw a battery charger into the mix as well while doing it

[dirtydodge02]

Very cool. Definitely need to do this. Especially like the onboard charger.