DIY: Adding the 12V Power Outlet Option in the Bed

[VAMike]

Please advise.. What are the pros/cons of Wolfhaus over the $65 oem approach that began this thread?

The downside to the wolfhaus is the pigtail adapter vs plugging cig lighter in directly. Dictated, I assume, by the depth of the hole and maybe the width. The upside is the much simpler install with no complex hole cutting/drilling. (I wish Ford had gone with a lockring and a simple circle; I guess the complex hole is easier/cheaper from a labor perspective at the factory if you have a $100k custom hole cutting machine to do the hard part.) I actually like the placement better on the wolfhaus, ford's seems too easy to bust up sitting in the lower rear of the bed. That might even be why they only offer it with the drop-in bedliner.

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[EJH]

18 pages here...

Please advise.. What are the pros/cons of Wolfhaus over the $65 oem approach that began this thread?

The pro of the Wolfhaus option is the ease of install, specifically no need to drill or cut into our beds. This option is also higher up in the bed, in case you have the swing tool boxes, or want to reach it easier from the side.

The main pro of the OEM Ford option is there is no 'dongle' needed for the 12V plug.

 

[micl9]

The main pro of the OEM Ford option is there is no 'dongle' needed for the 12V plug.

Thats both a pro and a con. The cig lighter approach can be accidentally pulled out. Wolfhaus offers a plug in pig tail that you can direct wire and cannot be pulled out accidentally from the bed wall connector. Not sure where that would be useful, but its gotta be for someone! I like haveing more than I need now for future unknown needs. Wait does that make me a hoarder! ?

Anybody on the fence just support the fellow RANGER5Ger

 

[SVTPaul]

Thats both a pro and a con. The cig lighter approach can be accidentally pulled out. Wolfhaus offers a plug in pig tail that you can direct wire and cannot be pulled out accidentally from the bed wall connector. Not sure where that would be useful, but its gotta be for someone! I like haveing more than I need now for future unknown needs. Wait does that make me a hoarder! ?

Anybody on the fence just support the fellow RANGER5Ger

Yeah I place it on the pro side of the scales. There's also the pigtail option so you can wire whatever type lead or directly if you want. Considering the cigarette lighter socket can come undone simply over rough terrain it's not like it's great anyways. The wolfhaus kit is quality and provides options so a win-win scenario in my mind.

 

[RangerMunkey]

Should be no conflicts. The outlet is rated to 20amps and the max draw of the fridge is 6. The outlet is only live when the truck is running and it's never recommended to run these fridges off your stock battery. In my case, I'll be using a Goal Zero Yeti 400 Lithium to power the fridge when camped and their 100W solar briefcase to keep the battery charged if camped for more than a day.

If you're saying there's a conflict based on what MTRanger19 posted above, his screen shot references the 12v power point INSIDE the truck, not the auxiliary power point in the bed of the truck.

Thanks a lot for posting this stuff! I've got a 4Wheel Camper Project M cap, am getting a battery/solar pack and eventually a fridge. So very much like your set up. I like it's only active while under power so while driving it will charge/top off batter pack ,but I don't have to worry about disconnecting it when I stop. Should work out well!

 

[RangerMunkey]

I used the Wolfhaus plug and a cheap USB port ordered from the big river site, works great!

Do those have some extra electronics in them to step down from 12V? Gotta... Right? Or you will prob. be buying a lot of phones!

 

[WLFPIR8]

Do those have some extra electronics in them to step down from 12V? Gotta... Right? Or you will prob. be buying a lot of phones!

Most of those convert to USB charging rates. Yes.

 

[RangerMunkey]

18 pages here...

Please advise.. What are the pros/cons of Wolfhaus over the $65 oem approach that began this thread?

Wolfhaus is cool because he's here and rigged up something useful. Ford doesn't even care if you exist. Buy from Wolfhaus so he can crank out more cool 3d printed shit for our trucks!!!

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Wolfhaus is cool because he's here and rigged up something useful. Ford doesn't even care if you exist. Buy from Wolfhaus so he can crank out more cool 3d printed shit for our trucks!!!

Hi Munkey,

Ford for many years has tried to design vehicles such that the aftermarket can produce what we as a manufacturer cannot as the market is limited to a very few compared to our production of hundred of thousand vehicle. So we try to make the vehicles modifiable to the limited numbers of owners. Thus Ford Performance or its predecessor SVO addressed this to a degree... so to slam Ford for not giving you what you want as we call you, right or wrong, the "Lunatic fringe" We do not offer things that appeal to a few at the expense of the many.

So look at the need you have as an opportunity like Wodlhaus to make some bucks.

 

[renewedcaper]

So, here's what I've been up to...

With the help of my brother, we've been working on a 3D printed insert for that hole that will allow you to use a standard 12MM "Anti Vandal" switch without having to deal with anything "behind" the wall of the bed. (E.g. APIELE (Pcs of 2) 12mm Latching Push Button Switch High Round Head Stainless Steel 1 Normally Open with Ring Led (Blue): Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific )

On that note, the 16MM switches MAY fit if you don't have any spray in bedliner, and even then you might need to slightly enlarge the hole. The 12mm is way too small, when used by itself.

Any update to this project? I’m really looking forward to a plug and play solution for bed lights.

 

[RangerMunkey]

Hi Munkey,

Ford for many years has tried to design vehicles such that the aftermarket can produce what we as a manufacturer cannot as the market is limited to a very few compared to our production of hundred of thousand vehicle. So we try to make the vehicles modifiable to the limited numbers of owners. Thus Ford Performance or its predecessor SVO addressed this to a degree... so to slam Ford for not giving you what you want as we call you, right or wrong, the "Lunatic fringe" We do not offer things that appeal to a few at the expense of the many.

So look at the need you have as an opportunity like Wodlhaus to make some bucks.

Sorry man, it was just a joke. I mean that Ford "cares" about us as much as any multinational mega corp... So it was not meant as like a personal slam on Ford, or folks like you that work there... More of a Wolf is a one man shop and ford is a megacorp kinda thing.

I see how what I wrote could seem dickish to someone like you that works there, etc. so sorry about that man.

 

[WLFPIR8]

Any update to this project? I’m really looking forward to a plug and play solution for bed lights.

Slowly. The switch adapter is pretty good now, and takes any "long" 12mm pushbutton style switch (the anti vandal type). Working on the LED adapters, and those should take any 11mm bolt style LED.

But focusing on getting a coffee roaster installed at our farm soon, so that's been the priority … lol

 

[WLFPIR8]

Sorry man, it was just a joke. I mean that Ford "cares" about us as much as any multinational mega corp... So it was not meant as like a personal slam on Ford, or folks like you that work there... More of a Wolf is a one man shop and ford is a megacorp kinda thing.

I see how what I wrote could seem dickish to someone like you that works there, etc. so sorry about that man.

Lol, all in jest. Ford can't think of every possible situation for everything. Though, if I was an manager at Ford, I'd have made them just include bed lights and power... Especially considering what they were trying to compete with.

Oh well. Just like the guy that makes the trim piece for the ignition thingy, ingenuity comes in all forms.

 

[Big Blue]

Lol, all in jest. Ford can't think of every possible situation for everything. Though, if I was an manager at Ford, I'd have made them just include bed lights and power... Especially considering what they were trying to compete with.

Oh well. Just like the guy that makes the trim piece for the ignition thingy, ingenuity comes in all forms.

Just ordered mine today. Great idea, now get the switch worked out my bed lights are waiting.

Keep up the good work, Ethan.

 

[Rinn69]

Once they open the site back up for orders, I'll be ordering the V-5 Split so I can add bed lights with the switch they're working on

Edit....I just discovered the new website....I saved the old website but it wasn't working/taking orders. The link is in @WLFPIR8 's name/info on the L side of his posts.

And I just finished ordering the V5 (Sunday at 4am)
Shipped Monday morning AWESOME !!!!!!!!!

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