Wow! That was prompt! Thank you. I thought I was alone in having a hard time finding this item. Now at least we have given other members some alternative solutions.
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Adding 12V and USB power ports to the bed - installed photo
I used a 1-1/8 wood boring bit and I believe that is the best tool for the job. However, I would strongly recommend using a drill press to get a clean cut into the panel cover rather than a hand held drill. Hand drill wobbles around too much. I was able to complete the circle cut with an razor blade cutter and ended up using a dremel to make the hole as neat as possible. A drill press would have made this less necessary. I also used a multi-tool with a narrow blade to cut out the part where the 12v connector parks itself on the back of the panel. I only did one side, but now I know how to do the other side with a lot less effort and errors.
The other pigtails from Amazon did not work for the bed 12v. They fit the connector, but for some reason, did not power up the usb or cig lighter modules. No idea why. I ended up using the one Ford packaged with the truck. Thank you for your link to an extra pigtail. What was Ford thinking? "Yeah, let's keep the cost down by giving the consumer only one pigtail." They saved $10?
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Not sure if you've already received an acceptable answer to this, but on my truck, the 12v only works when the accessory mode is turned on and then only lasts for 30 minutes. The 400w 3-prong outlet only works with the engine running.
Yes, that's where I got the second one. Oddly enough, when I inquired to my local Ford dealer about the pigtail, they had no idea what I was talking about.
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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.
Note in manual page 312 accessory additions it says to not attach anything to negative post to prevent battery management from being affected. Find your ground elsewhere.
The paragraph in the manual only refers to the negative post. As using it can affect the bms readings on the battery conditions. I personally feel that obtaining positive would be best at one of the fuze panel locations with preference being to one that is turned off after a certain time period in order to help protect the charge in the 12v battery.
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.
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