Question about adding outlet to bed

[Mark Doiron]

I know many wanted the factory set-up, but honestly it's a shared 400w inverted and you could jump the existing plug to another in the bed. However, I don't even see the point in that, I would put a higher wattage plug out there. 400w doesn't run much. Plus all this is running off your starter battery, not good.

I suspect the concern about having power in the bed unless turned on by the driver is when wet out. Or the bed is filled with melting snow. Etc. Maybe good idea to keep the power off (even though it does have a "weather resistant" outlet).

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[Mark Doiron]

You can. Wouldn't be hard to wire in a larger inverter and use a factory plug so it all looks OEM. I happen to think AC outlets are a bad idea off starter batteries. I just know someone is going to run their starter battery down using that outlet. Starter batteries are not meant to be run down beyond a certain point or it affects the longevity of them. A second AGM/deep cell/lithium would be a better option. Now we're talking money though, might be best just to go with a solar generator/inverter as mentioned.

The biggest problem (at least in the overlanding community) for batteries isn't running them down in camp. It's the harsh vibration of washboard roads. A solar generator, gas/diesel generator, wind generator, etc, won't get your vehicle started. You can carry a lithium jump start battery, but it won't keep your vehicle running if the main battery has shorted out (which is the damage caused by those washboard roads). Second battery is the right answer for those who regularly travel washboard to remote locations.

As for power, I've never needed more that the 400 watts that my el cheapo Radio Shack inverter provides running off the second battery in my JK. And that's with travel all over North America, 276,000 miles over the past 13 years. Literally U.S.-Mexican border to the Arctic Ocean, with several hours of use of that battery each evening as I'm working on the images and videos shot during that day's travel, and recharging the batteries used for 6, 8, 10 cameras and drones and so on.

 

[mcolbyb]

Put in one of these. All kind of 12v options

What do your three switches operate?

 

[Shultz01]

If you already have the cab 110 outlet then you have the 400-watt invertor too. All the parts to add the 110 in the bed are available. Someone on the Forum bought them all and installed them. When they went to the dealer to flash the ECM they said they couldn't because they can only flash what each individual VIN came with from the factory. So the issue is that the ECM has to be programmed to get the dash switch and outlet to work. I contacted ZAutomotive that makes the Tazer programmer. They said they might be able to help. See my thread: https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...-bed-outlet-need-your-help.36218/#post-586933

 

[Cowboy43]

If you already have the cab 110 outlet then you have the 400-watt invertor too. All the parts to add the 110 in the bed are available. Someone on the Forum bought them all and installed them. When they went to the dealer to flash the ECM they said they couldn't because they can only flash what each individual VIN came with from the factory. So the issue is that the ECM has to be programmed to get the dash switch and outlet to work. I contacted ZAutomotive that makes the Tazer programmer. They said they might be able to help. See my thread: https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...-bed-outlet-need-your-help.36218/#post-586933

I'm the one who bought all the parts and installed them. Very frustrating
I hope someone can help tazer out. I'd love it if my outlet worked.

 

[Shultz01]

I'm the one who bought all the parts and installed them. Very frustrating
I hope someone can help tazer out. I'd love it if my outlet worked.

Same here. I want the clean factory setup. So I'm hoping we'll get some help as well.

 

[Cowboy43]

Same here. I want the clean factory setup. So I'm hoping we'll get some help as well.

Have you posted on any of the Facebook gladiator pages?

 

[Shultz01]

Have you posted on any of the Facebook gladiator pages?

No. I can do that now.

 

[Shultz01]

No. I can do that now.

 

[Shultz01]

Ok. I got the Tazer and was able to enable the bed outlet with the help of ZAutomotive. New issue is it’s fused, which the dealer didn’t mention, and there’s no connectors in F43 and F45 for the fuse unless you have it from the factory! ZAutomotive is going to look at the schematics and see if there is a work around. Can someone with a bed outlet verify they have a fuse on this location?

 

[Cowboy43]

Update! ZAutomotive figured out how to activate the outlet with the Tazer.

 

[ACAD_Cowboy]

Weeee!

 

[Shultz01]

There’s a new firmware version that includes this capability available for download from their website.
For the record, I screwed up when saying there was a missing fuse. I forgot that my fuse box lid was from my JL!! Duh. I have the breaking system for towing behind my motorhome mounted to the lid. The fuse location I was looking at was for the JL rear 12volt outlet.

 

[@Glad1agator]

How was the installation? Were you able to make it work with no issues?

Ok with a lot of help from Benny with all Mopar parts I ordered the stuff. Since I already have the inverter I figured that it had to be possible. The harness for the dash switch was there and the wires to the rear harness on the passenger side were there. So I swapped out the dash panel, the wiring harness and installed the plug. The switch comes on when pushed, so I'm hoping the outlet will work once I take it to the dealer to have them flash it. Here's the parts and a few pics.

View attachment 67828

View attachment 67832

 

[Scratch]

There’s a new firmware version that includes this capability available for download from their website.
For the record, I screwed up when saying there was a missing fuse. I forgot that my fuse box lid was from my JL!! Duh. I have the breaking system for towing behind my motorhome mounted to the lid. The fuse location I was looking at was for the JL rear 12volt outlet.

So does it all work as it should?

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