Added 12v outlet to R1T bed.

[Curtis Novak]

I wanted to have the option to power my cooler with 12v in the truck bed while driving rather than using the inverter to same on mileage on long distance trips.

I took off a couple panels in the bed to see if there is a way to run power from either the trailer hitch or the gear tunnel. The gear tunnel won.

I wanted to use the plug and outlet because I did not want to mess with any of the truck wiring while the truck is still under warranty.

1) Took off the back and side panels, and noticed a hole on the back wall that connected to the gear tunnel.

2) Picked up a plug with a 6' lead, and an outlet.

I

3) Removed the plastic trim in the gear tunnel , fed the wire through to the bed. for a test

4) Searched for a place to put the plug that would work and provide the clearance when put together. I settled on left side next to the air compressor. and drilled a hole for the outlet.

5) after testing it, I zip tied the wire in the cab and wrapped the wire in the bed and zipped them in place.

6) put the side panel back on, sealed up the hole, and taped the round grommet to the truck for safe keeping.

7) Put it all back together at tested it out.

I am really pleased with how it turned out.
Curtis

Sponsored

 

[Stationmaster]

Superb!

 

[Stationmaster]

What brand and size is your cooler?

 

[Curtis Novak]

What brand and size is your cooler?

The iceco apl35. https://icecofreezer.com/products/apl35-aluminum-freezer
Curtis

 

[TahoeTexan]

The iceco apl35. https://icecofreezer.com/products/apl35-aluminum-freezer
Curtis

+1 for the ICECO APL35!

 

[Rivdog]

Very nice work, thanks for the write up and pics.

 

[slillie]

Ummm, why is your truck in the kitchen?

 

[Curtis Novak]

Ummm, why is your truck in the kitchen?

I have a prep pantry in my garage.

 

[Calypso]

Do you have a sense of how much more efficient the 12v DC is vs using 120v AC and the inverter? I just did a 15 day trip with an Iceco VL35ProS. With regular charging stops, no issue. It seemed to use 3-5 kWh per day with the temp set to 1F for frozen items. I have the Iceco insulating jacket, but it's pretty thin. I also laid some foam on the top between the lid and tonneau cover.

 

[Erik+]

You could hardwire the 12V add-on plug to the terminals on the one in the gear tunnel, then you would not have the extra plug hanging there to plug in each time you went to use the one you added in the bed. I like your 12V placement in the bed, looks handy for your cooler, and possibly some other uses as well.

 

[Curtis Novak]

You could hardwire the 12V add-on plug to the terminals on the one in the gear tunnel, then you would not have the extra plug hanging there to plug in each time you went to use the one you added in the bed. I like your 12V placement in the bed, looks handy for your cooler, and possibly some other uses as well.

Yes I could have, but as I stated in my original post I did not want to hard wire, splice or anyting that could potentially void any warranties. The plug is not a problem or me.

 

[SwaziCAR]

Do you have a sense of how much more efficient the 12v DC is vs using 120v AC and the inverter? I just did a 15 day trip with an Iceco VL35ProS. With regular charging stops, no issue. It seemed to use 3-5 kWh per day with the temp set to 1F for frozen items.

Wow, that seems like a lot, at least relative to its published (laboratory) energy consumption of 0.43 KWH per day.

 

[Calypso]

I'll have to monitor next trip more closely. I recall it varied from about 1.8 up to 5, and that was from the trucks charging monitor for outlet usage. With frequent charging stops and the like, it was hard to get definitive 24 hr values. Our weather was warm (often 80F), sunny, and we were using it as a freezer. It was in the bed under a tonneau.

 

[Curtis Novak]

Wow, that seems like a lot, at least relative to its published (laboratory) energy consumption of 0.43 KWH per day.

I'll have to monitor next trip more closely. I recall it varied from about 1.8 up to 5, and that was from the trucks charging monitor for outlet usage. With frequent charging stops and the like, it was hard to get definitive 24 hr values. Our weather was warm (often 80F), sunny, and we were using it as a freezer. It was in the bed under a tonneau.

Here is a recent trip I took from Gallup. NM to the Grand Canyon through the back country in the Navajo Nation without any charging stops. You can see from the gauge I did 284.7 miles driving for 4 hours and 29 min. the Outlet used 17.7miles to power my ICECO cooler. The power inverter uses a fair amount of miles with it on without anything even plugged into it. Hence my goal of powering the cooler from the 12V on long desolate trips to work at extending my miles.

 

[SwaziCAR]

Here is a recent trip I took from Gallup. NM to the Grand Canyon through the back country in the Navajo Nation without any charging stops. You can see from the gauge I did 284.7 miles driving for 4 hours and 29 min. the Outlet used 17.7miles to power my ICECO cooler. The power inverter uses a fair amount of miles with it on without anything even plugged into it. Hence my goal of powering the cooler from the 12V on long desolate trips to work at extending my miles.

"Wow" again. Thank you; that pretty much convinces me to stick with the cooler.

Sponsored