12V power distribution for bed

[DAA]

I'm going to run some 12V power back to the bed of my new truck. Thinking 4 or 6 gage battery cable for the main run back.

From there, I'm only looking to power a couple of 12V outlets and a 12V QD for a Puma or Viair portable compressor.

Have not started to look for products yet, but wondering what is out there, or what some of you have used, for power distribution that is compact, weather, dust and vibration proof etc? Favorite 12V QD terminals solution?

The truck is a Ram, with the Ramboxes on the sides, so will house the power distribution and QD pigtail in the driver side box. Probably run one 12V outlet from there to the front and one at the rear of the bed, for powering a fridge or lights or whatever. Just want the install to be bombproof and safe.

Anyhoo... Like I said, have not started to look yet, but wondering what kind of solutions you guys are running or know of.

Thanks!

- DAA

 

[STAG]

I just did mine, I used 4 ga wire and so far all I've needed is a 25 amp fuse (I put it like 6" away from the battery, with an inline fuse holder.)

I got everything at Napa. They have industrial series plug/receptacles which has just a pair of large posts inside the receptacle.

I can take more pictures of everything. I do have one picture on the last page of the "what did you work on today" thread.

 

[mbryson]

I ran a similar sized, fused cable to a supplemental fuse box for my interior accessories on my JK. I'm sure there's some kind of a marine type fuse box kicking around on McMaster Carr or similar?

 

[frieed]

Dave,

Check some of the car audio places. They routinely run multiple high powered amps in the trunk...

 

[DAA]

Yeah, I bet the audio guys have this all packaged up with a bow somewhere, if I look in the right place. Was wondering if there might not be a more offroad/dusty/harsh conditions specific type of product too though - something the Baja guys might use? Or something spec'd for marine use.

I did this for my LJ on the interior as well. But since it's interior, and nothing needed more than a 20A fuse, I just used heavy amplifire wire from the battery - 8 gage if I remember right. Then on one side in the footwell below the dash I just did a competely DIY setup with a Buss brand fuse block that is always hot and on the other used a Painless fuse block that is half keyed (relay).

Definitely want something more robust than what I have in the LJ though, for being exterior and powering something like the Puma, which is a pretty beefy little compressor. Can't remember for sure, but wanting to say it's fused 40A and I've blown that fuse a couple times when it was mounted under the hood of my Jeep.

Choc - I'll for sure see what Napa has on the shelf and check out your pics.

Can't really even say why, but I'm always super paranoid about doing this kind of mod. Willing to spend more time and money than I probably should on something so simple, just to make sure it's really bomproof. Probably just because I've seen a couple vehicle electrical fires and I don't want to do anything that will take me there!

Thanks!

- DAA

 

[neagtea]

I run my arb fridge off of my fifth wheel plug, just made a adapter cord with a trailer plug.

 

[DAA]

That won't work when I have a trailer plugged in to that plug . Wouldn't run the compressor either. And definitely wouldn't run the fridge and the compressor at the same time with a trailer plugged in .

- DAA