Adding 12V and USB power ports to the bed - installed photo

[MakinDoForNow]

Just thinking about having my power port I installed in the bed cubby stay live. It has its own power switch that controls the both the 12 volt and USB ports. I also installed an dedicated inline 10 amp blade fuse. There are times you just don’t want to keep putting the key in.

Yes I understand. Just be aware of warning to not use the negative post to not interfere with battery management reading of parameters. I am not sure but expect at least in hybrid that the 30 minute timeout of power ports occurs only when truck is not in ready state. If truck is in ready state then the truck is capable to restart ice and keep both batteries in proper SOS. There could be a timeout for ready state but I am unaware of exactly how all this is programmed or could possibly be changed. I know on my lariat with the push button if I push it twice (or 3 times maybe?) I get a dash message something like "extended power active" do not remember what exactly). If that's the case I may try turning key to start twice on my XLT LUX to see if I get the same message. I expect if it does, perhaps the truck is programmed to extend time that power points are active without the cab climate control and other things remaining active. Also it may keep bms system active to recharge 12v from HVB within permissable HVB SOS range. Ideally ice could be restarted to recharge HVB as needed. Ford has spent a lot in setting the hybrid (at least) up and I am going to try to use it first. If you tie in to the positive battery be sure to have a jump starter or have an auto low voltage alarm or cutoff set up on your accessory tap on the positive post. Good luck, I am also considering something like a Massimo remote power supply with a pure sine inverter with 30-60 amp (if possible) fast charge circuit in truck. But that setup with large enough battery to supply 10-12 amp sustained draw would be in $2k range so I'll most likely downsize it.

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[Dad]

I went a different direction and put this in the cubby so nothing in the bed could damage them. The plate was installed so I could see the plugs from the tailgate, much easier this way to plug into, especially USB ports. I replaced the glass fuse with an inline blade fuse. I made sure that the fuse had enough wire added so I could access the fuse from the DIY power cover.

Neatly done. Clearly you put some thought into this "BEFORE" you started drilling. Thanks for posting. I'm sure many others will copy your install.

 

[Dad]

Yes I understand. Just be aware of warning to not use the negative post to not interfere with battery management reading of parameters. I am not sure but expect at least in hybrid that the 30 minute timeout of power ports occurs only when truck is not in ready state. If truck is in ready state then the truck is capable to restart ice and keep both batteries in proper SOS. There could be a timeout for ready state but I am unaware of exactly how all this is programmed or could possibly be changed. I know on my lariat with the push button if I push it twice (or 3 times maybe?) I get a dash message something like "extended power active" do not remember what exactly). If that's the case I may try turning key to start twice on my XLT LUX to see if I get the same message. I expect if it does, perhaps the truck is programmed to extend time that power points are active without the cab climate control and other things remaining active. Also it may keep bms system active to recharge 12v from HVB within permissable HVB SOS range. Ideally ice could be restarted to recharge HVB as needed. Ford has spent a lot in setting the hybrid (at least) up and I am going to try to use it first. If you tie in to the positive battery be sure to have a jump starter or have an auto low voltage alarm or cutoff set up on your accessory tap on the positive post. Good luck, I am also considering something like a Massimo remote power supply with a pure sine inverter with 30-60 amp (if possible) fast charge circuit in truck. But that setup with large enough battery to supply 10-12 amp sustained draw would be in $2k range so I'll most likely downsize it.

Lots of information here. I need one thing clarified. You state that on your Lariat with the push button you get extended power. I'm assuming you mean the Push to Start the engine button, but your profile has no mention of a Maverick Lariat in your corral. So, either I'm wrong about which push button to which you're referring, you didn't list the Mav Lariat, or you're referring to an F-150 Lariat trim. Please help me understand.

 

[MakinDoForNow]

Lots of information here. I need one thing clarified. You state that on your Lariat with the push button you get extended power. I'm assuming you mean the Push to Start the engine button, but your profile has no mention of a Maverick Lariat in your corral. So, either I'm wrong about which push button to which you're referring, you didn't list the Mav Lariat, or you're referring to an F-150 Lariat trim. Please help me understand.

Sorry the mav lariat first edition was one I had not ordered but last March sales person called and said it was available as an option if I wanted it and I said "of course I want it". So that's where I got it. Wife loves it a bunch. Tuesday 10/18 I took delivery of the XLT LUX that was ordered for my wife and only has 105 miles on it so far and I am in the learning curve of how the key works. I actually at 59 miles got into it and had to learn the key went into slot 90° off of how I expected it to go and then I turned it past the accessory position three times and got check engine light before I figured out I had to turn it to the spring loaded "START" position to get the ready status an have the selector knob turn. So I haven't tried it yet but am wondering if turning key twice to start position was equal to pushing the lariat start button twice. It's raining so I am not game to checking it out now. Do you have key option hybrid or fob version. I plan on driving the wife's ordered XLT LUX and selling my XLT w4pin hitch scheduled 11/28 production to my son if and when it comes in. Yesterday put 255 miles on lariat with at least 90 miles in 40-50 mph plus gusts at 70-75 mph requiring 8-10° steering into wind. Have not checked yet but probably used up .5-.9/32" tread. Don't have reading for Saturday so would be hard to nail down anyway.

 

[BDennis]

Neatly done. Clearly you put some thought into this "BEFORE" you started drilling. Thanks for posting. I'm sure many others will copy your install.

The angle doesn’t look great, but seeing the ports from the tailgate is. Nice thing about a cubby install, when the door is on it is a no show and it is even more protected from the weather and loose items in the bed.

 

[Dad]

Sorry the mav lariat first edition was one I had not ordered but last March sales person called and said it was available as an option if I wanted it and I said "of course I want it". So that's where I got it. Wife loves it a bunch. Tuesday 10/18 I took delivery of the XLT LUX that was ordered for my wife and only has 105 miles on it so far and I am in the learning curve of how the key works. I actually at 59 miles got into it and had to learn the key went into slot 90° off of how I expected it to go and then I turned it past the accessory position three times and got check engine light before I figured out I had to turn it to the spring loaded "START" position to get the ready status an have the selector knob turn. So I haven't tried it yet but am wondering if turning key twice to start position was equal to pushing the lariat start button twice. It's raining so I am not game to checking it out now. Do you have key option hybrid or fob version. I plan on driving the wife's ordered XLT LUX and selling my XLT w4pin hitch scheduled 11/28 production to my son if and when it comes in. Yesterday put 255 miles on lariat with at least 90 miles in 40-50 mph plus gusts at 70-75 mph requiring 8-10° steering into wind. Have not checked yet but probably used up .5-.9/32" tread. Don't have reading for Saturday so would be hard to nail down anyway.

So, you have a Lariat and an XLT?
Only trim I know of that has the push button start is the Lariat regardless of power plant.

 

[MakinDoForNow]

So, you have a Lariat and an XLT?
Only trim I know of that has the push button start is the Lariat regardless of power plant.

Correct. I did get out and turned the key to start twice to see if that set the extended time on PowerPoints but it didn't give message on dash. My XLT LUX is not 360 so that may affect it but I doubt it. I will read manual to see if it's available and how to select it. On LARIAT and XLT both is kinda embarrassing and it gets even worse as the XLT without LUX to increase chance of being built that I Ordered on 10/22/21 was scheduled for production on 11/28/22 but who knows how that will turn out. I never made any change in my XLT LUX and it finally got made before the one I cut the LUX package off of.

 

[Dad]

Correct. I did get out and turned the key to start twice to see if that set the extended time on PowerPoints but it didn't give message on dash. My XLT LUX is not 360 so that may affect it but I doubt it. I will read manual to see if it's available and how to select it. On LARIAT and XLT both is kinda embarrassing and it gets even worse as the XLT without LUX to increase chance of being built that I Ordered on 10/22/21 was scheduled for production on 11/28/22 but who knows how that will turn out. I never made any change in my XLT LUX and it finally got made before the one I cut the LUX package off of.

Thank you for helping me understand your situation

 

[Barracuda340]

Can anybody on here give me what this width is in inches. I dont have my truck yet, but am interested in a power panel.

 

[BAScott62]

The inset is 6 7/8" across per my crappy eyes

 

[tom_tucker]

I went a different direction and put this in the cubby so nothing in the bed could damage them. The plate was installed so I could see the plugs from the tailgate, much easier this way to plug into, especially USB ports. I replaced the glass fuse with an inline blade fuse. I made sure that the fuse had enough wire added so I could access the fuse from the DIY power cover.

Here is a bump for the Blue Sea systems 4363 12v outlet and dual USB. Fits nicely in the storage cubby for us XLT/Lariat owners (or XL buy the cubby). All cubby functionality maintained. You can see it just barely fits and is mounted all the way left so it can stay flush with the cubby wall. I wanted it to be level, not angled. This is on the front, wheel well side (wet?), so I taped it well with electrical tape on the backside.

I had to return the first China made one, similar design but was an enclosed case. It did not work and blew the 20 amp fuse like 3 times. Go higher end if you get one.

This 12v is keyed "accessory" power and the 120v outlet is "ready to drive" only. Somebody said the 12v times out in 30 minutes, that's probably true. The 12v stayed on after turning off ACC and locking up.

 

[minesweep]

Thanks for input Tom....did not buy yet and this looks better.

 

[Jrplaw]

So, this may sound dense, but what do you use the 12v outlet in the truck bed for? My ford maverick is my first truck, so I'm curious what you would use the 12v outlet in the truck bed

 

[bgn]

So, this may sound dense, but what do you use the 12v outlet in the truck bed for? My ford maverick is my first truck, so I'm curious what you would use the 12v outlet in the truck bed

Phone chargers, portable fridges, charging portable batteries (Jackery, Ecoflow, etc.)

 

[Dad]

So, this may sound dense, but what do you use the 12v outlet in the truck bed for? My ford maverick is my first truck, so I'm curious what you would use the 12v outlet in the truck bed

Not at all. You can use it for just about anything that needs 12v to operate. A fan, phone charger, portable cooler, are some things that come to mind. No end of its uses and mostly relevant to your lifestyle. Also, super easy to install.

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