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

[Kl0ck]

So for sanity: Doing this on an Ecoboost XLT FWD.

I've gotten conflicting information on the 12v runs being hot or not when the engine is off. Are they hot all the time? All the videos I've seen reference the hybrid, which has an extra battery to pull from. My XLT does have the USB / AC outlet combo on the back of the center console.

I've got another bed cubby on order and plan on putting a switched USB / cigarette plug combo on both sides against the interior cubby wall. I fish / camp / do radio stuff so the more power connection options the better.

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[bravesfan10c]

So for sanity: Doing this on an Ecoboost XLT FWD.

I've gotten conflicting information on the 12v runs being hot or not when the engine is off. Are they hot all the time? All the videos I've seen reference the hybrid, which has an extra battery to pull from. My XLT does have the USB / AC outlet combo on the back of the center console.

I've got another bed cubby on order and plan on putting a switched USB / cigarette plug combo on both sides against the interior cubby wall. I fish / camp / do radio stuff so the more power connection options the better.

I am trying to get a straight forward answer to this question as well. I have read that the truck bed 12V ports are live for only some amount of time after the truck is turned off, I haveread they are only live while the truck is running, and I have read that they are hot all the time. I am not sure which is correct.

I have a Eccoboost XLT with the Lux package coming but I want to put some switched LED light strips in the bed and DC plug/USB ports in the cubby for electronics charging.

 

[potatosalad]

I have read that the truck bed 12V ports are live for only some amount of time after the truck is turned off, I haveread they are only live while the truck is running

I've read the same multiple times- i've never read that they are constant 12v. Would be nice though.

 

[MakinDoForNow]

Just a heads up. I believe the two 12V lines in the bed are run from the same 20amp fuse circuit.

I believe you are correct both thru same 20amp fuze.

 

[Hizzy8122]

Perfect! Just what I want to do. Where did you get the marine plugs?

Amazon!

 

[thin_crimson]

I grabbed an extra 12v adapter on eBay and put a plug on each side. Takes a bit of cutting on the cover, but it fits about as clean as it possibly could. The USB port turned out great; the cover on the 12v side got marked up a bit when I was modifying it.

 

[VetteNZMan]

I put in USB and 12V power ports in the bed with a switch. I also added LED bed lights that come on when the gate goes down. Yes, single 20A fuse (don't ask how I know) and on for only a limited time after the switch is off is what I've experienced.

 

[Greg_in_GA]

It would be good to be cautious about overloading things like this.

The factory installed 120v plug is rated at 400 watts.

The formula for amps is

watts/volts=amps

so

400/120=3.3 amps.

The power rating of a tool is often printed using amps instead of watts so this is important to know.

A typical home outlet is rated at 15 or 20 amps so it would be easy to overload it.

Be careful.

 

[Deleted member 6544]

I put in USB and 12V power ports in the bed with a switch. I also added LED bed lights that come on when the gate goes down. Yes, single 20A fuse (don't ask how I know) and on for only a limited time after the switch is off is what I've experienced.

That's awesome. How did you get the bed lights to come on when the bed goes down?

 

[VetteNZMan]

That's awesome. How did you get the bed lights to come on when the bed goes down?

https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/forum/threads/bed-lights-with-gate-open.18329/#post-349089

 

[Deleted member 6544]

Thank you ZMan

 

[Pappy]

starting to plan install of a small air inflator in the bed of my XL Hybrid; have all the supplies i need, but Ford recommends disconnecting the battery first...any videos out there clearly showing that step or safe work-around?

 

[Dad]

I grabbed an extra 12v adapter on eBay and put a plug on each side. Takes a bit of cutting on the cover, but it fits about as clean as it possibly could. The USB port turned out great; the cover on the 12v side got marked up a bit when I was modifying it.

Looks great! I'm doing the same thing on my Lariat; cig lighter on one side, USB on the other. I'm hoping you remember the size of the drill bit (forstner bit I'm guessing). Someone somewhere posted the drill bit size, but your post came up in my search, so I'm hoping you can help. Thanks for posting.

 

[thin_crimson]

Looks great! I'm doing the same thing on my Lariat; cig lighter on one side, USB on the other. I'm hoping you remember the size of the drill bit (forstner bit I'm guessing). Someone somewhere posted the drill bit size, but your post came up in my search, so I'm hoping you can help. Thanks for posting.

I used a 1-1/8 woodboring bit since it was all I had on hand at the moment. Best I recall it was a little more snug than I would’ve liked. A step bit would be more ideal. Had to shave the backside flush as well to make room for the nut.

 

[thin_crimson]

Thank you! One more question. As you probably know, the 12v pigtail adapter for the bed wires was kept in the glove box (since the truck has two portals in the bed for 12v why Ford didn't give up two pigtails is beyond my understanding). Anyway, I called my local Ford dealer to see if I could get another one. There's a number label on the packaging . . . reads: "Part Number" then the number 901-0828-000. Ford dealer said that is not a Ford part number and had no idea what I was talking about. Any leads on getting a second one. I guess I'll start a thread on where to find one.

I ran into the same problem and finally found one on eBay that worked great. This is the link.

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