Added 12v outlet and USB to the bed of my 2021 Tundra

I go camping/fishing enough that we wanted to have 12v in the bed of the truck when traveling with our DC fridge. I've had the fridge for years, but with the Tundra newish to the fleet, it was time to make bringing it on longer trips better. It's really nice to bring the fridge even if staying within civilization over having to deal with the cooler ice.

I'll explain with some of the photos I took. A full list of items used is here. https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2UBZGLS86AC35

I pulled the drivers side tail light and ran the 8awg down and then up and along the frame rail into the engine bay. It's wrapped and zipped every few feet or so, this took the longest of all the 'steps'.




Once I determined exactly where I needed to drill the 3 holes for the pre-wired panel I cut those out with the 1 and 1/8th inch hole saw,



I filed down the rough edges of the holes and hit them with a small paint brush and dipped that into some black rustoleum spray paint I shot into a disposable cup to hopefully curb any rust that could form. I wasn't particularly worried about this being in the south.


Wiring the pre-wired panel to the 8awg took some time, but wasn't too bad.

The panel has one fused positive, and one negative output so those paired with some crimp caps zipped behind the tail light for ease of adjustment if ever needed. I need to open this up and put some more tape and/or wire sleeve on this bend. I bought these two caps at my local ace but linked something comparable in the list. This step could be handled a few different ways, but because the panel is fused and I'm running the breaker I went with a hardwired approach over a fuse block.




Up in the engine bay I pulled the cable up and routed it behind the brake booster, zipped as needed to keep things tucked and out of the way.

I used this whole project (as I do with most) as an excuse to buy another tool.

The hydraulic crimp tool let me make my own terminations for the ground, and 3 I needed for the positive.



I went with a 40a breaker that will serve as a full time cut off so that I'm not powering the panel unless I'm planning on using it. This is mounted using a rivnut/nutsert into an open hole in the body. Another tool I bought for a previous project on the wheeler that's coming in handy again.

It's off in this view. Easy enough to pop the hood and switch on.



Putting the panel in at this point took a little care because of how it jumps the switch and the ports and the fact that I drilled 3 different holes, but just take some good before photos and you'll be able to reassemble it easy enough.

Here's the finished product.




I took this opportunity to upgrade to an AGM, and installed the needed GM Diode (part 12135037) to give it the appropriate charge from the alternator.







There are a few threads detailing the AGM benefits on here already, and a lot of what I did here was inspired by other threads.

 

I'm digging it. Nice work!

 

Clean work!

 

how is that X2 battery holding up? im considering adding it myself.

 

Glad to see someone else do this! I did the same thing a few years ago and still use it daily. In my application, I have a switch that heats up the volt meter and a dual USB outlet. A 12V socket and a dual Anderson plug outlet are hot all the time.

After breaking the plug on my Dometic fridge cord a couple times, I changed it to an Anderson for the smaller footprint and improved flexibility. It’s been fine since.

 

great for me, but it's still fresh. I've put the truck on the trickle charger about 6 weeks ago, I need to do that again.

 

You did such a nice job with the 13v system, wish you were in NJ or a close by state. I’d pay you to put one in my Tundra. Awesome work!

 

Thanks! It's not too hard, you may be able to tackle it too.

 

I wasn't happy with the cigarette outlet as it was never as secure as I wanted it. So I bought a dual Anderson output plug and swapped it. I took my DC fridge cable and made it modular for this and cig outlets when necessary. Now to make more of my DC charging stuff modular like this.

 

Great minds think alike. I did the exact same thing with mine.

 

Nicely done, and great write up.

I did something similar in my '19, my initial plan was to flush mount it just like yours, but I chickened out of drilling holes in my nice purty truck and opted to go at it another way.

I dunno why they didn't put power in the bed from the factory. I use mine every time I surf, SUP, etc. to plug in my little portable shower and rinse me and my stuff. Very handy.

After I had power back there then I added some LED strip lights... also very handy.

 

Do you have parts list handy? i have a plastic bed liner, i think that box set up you have will work the best. i plan on adding a portable fridge set up. ill need i for this years travel soccer season

 

Somewhere there's a little write up I did after someone else asked, I'll see if I can find it.

12V/USB receptacle was Amazon, the rest of it is just Home Depot electrical aisle stuff, but there some way nicer boxes that I'd probably use if I were doing it over again. I'd also go with a little larger than the single gang box I used, when I did the strip lights it was getting a little tight stuffing the wires back in there.

 

Here https://www.tundras.com/threads/12v-outlet-install-in-bed.126515/#post-3266348 is a thread with mine (post #14 & #17) plus some other very cool set-ups.

Check out the boxes that some of the others used. Lots of different sizes available.

$27 LeMotech Project Box ABS Plastic IP65 Waterproof Dustproof Electrical Junction Box Outdoor Enclosure for Electronics Black 11.41" x 8.26" x 3.93" (290 x 210 x 100mm)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08394K2LZ?th=1

The box allowed me not to drill any holes in my truck, plus I would think leaves less opportunities for water intrusion.

 

By the way, one of the best things I've done to my truck was to ditch the plastic bed liner and put in the full bedrug.

The plastic one, if I so much as LOOKED at the brake pedal everything in the bed would slide up against the cab.

With the Bedrug, I put stuff in there and when I get home it's all still eight where I put it, but then it's easy to slide if I want stuff when I WANT TO.

Plus it's nice and cushy on my old skater knees.