I bought a 12v power outlet that I am going to install in the bed of the truck. I want to make it a power source that can run with the truck off. Should I just run the hot to the battery direct? Or use a fuse? Or does anyone else have a better solution?

Thanks in advance!

 

If you have an aftermarket battery, most have the option where you can bolt on another terminal. You could run it straight off of there, and just make sure you have a fuse within 12 inches of the battery.
You could run it out of the fuse box, but its not really necessary IMO.
If you run straight from the battery, drill a hole in the engine compartment to the inside of the drivers fender, run it down behind the front splash guard, along the rockers, and in to the bed. Its a straigtht shot.

 

I'd mount a meter somewhere right near the plug, be too easy to drain the battery down to the point it won't start your truck without realizing it...

 

Keep it simple, run a wire straight off the battery to the bed, then put in a simple inline fuse and then to the outlet.

That is what I did, I have a power outlet in the bed for running air compressors, extra lights ect. Even for the camping shell's interior lights when I have it on that is.

If you have the tow package with the 7 pin connector you should have a 12v on one of those, but it may be on with key.

As for a gauge, it would be nice to have but it depends exactly what your using it for and how long it is running. If your running an air compressor or something higher amp for long periods of time then you would want the truck running.

 

It would be tailgating for a radio or other stuff. Also for camping and going to the beach. I wouldn't be running any compressors or anything like that.

 

Or u can do wat me and my buddies did with his one truck he went out and spent money on a 3,000watt inveter also because he does plumbing and might need a quick plug in for tools, but we did it for camping. he bought another batter and hooked it to the inventer then got this on thing i forget wat it is called but u hook up ur main batter to it and ur alternator and the other battery. that way the second battery wont drain ur main one so if it dies u can still start ur truck. all we did was run it to keep a running refrigerator and to charge all of our phones. and lights. next mornign from running all nite the batter had half the charge turned on the truck for 20 mins battery was full. deff worth the 800 dollars he put into it and it has already paid itself off. its nice sitting on the tailgate at a party and plug ur phone into a 110 lol. gd luck tho. maybe i'll take pics next time.

 

Hah.. Thread title "12v power source in bed"

That's what she said? Anyone?

 

When 2 D batteries just wont do... It goes buzz buzz LOL

 

Whatever you do,

PUT THE FUSE NEAR THE BATTERY!!!

The whole purpose of the fuse is to keep the battery from cooking/blowing in case you have a short/ground somewhere in the wire.

Putting the fuse next to the lighter is puting the condom on the day after you had sex.... pointless....