Wiring/cabling Bed to Cab

[KHam]

Ok, I've searched for threads on this and can't find any so I'm posting the question... Has anyone done any wiring or cables from the Gladiator rear cab area into the bed?

I will have a number of cables (power, communication, transmission) cables that I need to run from inside the cab directly to the bed. I'll be mounting ham radio equipment under the rear seat or behind the seat, and from there I need to go out the back and into the bed.

It looks like there are cab vents between the cab and bed (cab side) and in my Raptor I've ran through that but it's probably not ideal. Also see a pop-out in the front corner of the bed I'll use on the passenger side. Trying to figure out if I need to drill a hole in the cab under the seat or if there's a pre-made hole somewhere in the cab that would work. It will need to be fairly good sized as I would have at least 3 coax + several control cables to run through.

Anyone done this yet?

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[Calypso]

Ok, I've searched for threads on this and can't find any so I'm posting the question... Has anyone done any wiring or cables from the Gladiator rear cab area into the bed?

I will have a number of cables (power, communication, transmission) cables that I need to run from inside the cab directly to the bed. I'll be mounting ham radio equipment under the rear seat or behind the seat, and from there I need to go out the back and into the bed.

It looks like there are cab vents between the cab and bed (cab side) and in my Raptor I've ran through that but it's probably not ideal. Also see a pop-out in the front corner of the bed I'll use on the passenger side. Trying to figure out if I need to drill a hole in the cab under the seat or if there's a pre-made hole somewhere in the cab that would work. It will need to be fairly good sized as I would have at least 3 coax + several control cables to run through.

Anyone done this yet?

I’m interested as well.

 

[KHam]

I was able to find some useful information from a thread here about drain plugs, and a video of someone taking apart a wrecked JT. It looks like I could probably use the drain plug directly under the storage box as an exit point from the cab, and thread the wires between the cab and bed back up from the back. I'm not really seeing any other options here.

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/drain-plug-locations.28146/

 

[sarguy1941]

I used a rubber plug under the carpet on the back seat for my antenna's and a power cable. Other power cables follow frame rail to battery and switch connections.

 

[WMWHV]

I am on the same path you guys have been down - installing the radios in my new JT. Here is a link to my idea about where to put the antenna mounts:

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...-mount-on-bed-need-opinions.35879/post-582218

I just need to bring the coax into the cab. I want to avoid drain plugs for fear of water getting in during our Texas floods. I see a black rectangular plastic piece on the back of the cab on the driver’s side. If you fold down the back seat and pop off the access panel behind the seat and look down, it looks like you can see it on the inside. Did you guys see/consider that option? I will have to figure out how to pull the trim off to access it, which might be a pain. Just drilling though the cab and installing a grommet or two might be easier. I would appreciate any links to additional posts that you found helpful.

Edit: I just found this picture in another thread:

I think what I interpreted as a pass through is the square plastic thing o on the back of the tub the between the subwoofer and driver side door. The outer piece appeared rectangular.

 

[KHam]

Those squares on the back of the cab are cabin vents. When you slam your door shut or your vehicle sits in the hot sun, the expanding or sudden air pressure escapes through those. Those flaps pop up quickly with very little pressure.
I have ran wire through these in my Raptor pickup because of the sealed cab. There was literally no other option other than to drill holes and I didn't want to do that. I can tell you that when you're driving in the rain, water splashes up from under the vehicle and will come into the cab area here if these don't stay closed. Ask me how I know that.
I thought the drain plug on the JT was the best idea for me. You can cut just the size of hole you want in that big rubber plug to run the cable up through, and it acts like a grommet. The same way you would seal around any grommet you can seal these. And if you screw one or two up, they're like a dollar or two each on Amazon, and completely reversible when you sell the vehicle to someone else. Cut a hole in the soft rubber, run your wires through, and if it doesn't seal back around the wires, get some of the clay putty weather strip stuff and seal it back yourself. Don't like it, pull it out and replace it with a fresh one. Voila.

 

[WMWHV]

Those squares on the back of the cab are cabin vents. When you slam your door shut or your vehicle sits in the hot sun, the expanding or sudden air pressure escapes through those. Those flaps pop up quickly with very little pressure.
I have ran wire through these in my Raptor pickup because of the sealed cab. There was literally no other option other than to drill holes and I didn't want to do that. I can tell you that when you're driving in the rain, water splashes up from under the vehicle and will come into the cab area here if these don't stay closed. Ask me how I know that.
I thought the drain plug on the JT was the best idea for me. You can cut just the size of hole you want in that big rubber plug to run the cable up through, and it acts like a grommet. The same way you would seal around any grommet you can seal these. And if you screw one or two up, they're like a dollar or two each on Amazon, and completely reversible when you sell the vehicle to someone else. Cut a hole in the soft rubber, run your wires through, and if it doesn't seal back around the wires, get some of the clay putty weather strip stuff and seal it back yourself. Don't like it, pull it out and replace it with a fresh one. Voila.

There is some wonderful stuff called "monkey sh$t" in the Navy that also can be used to seal gaps in openings. I agree that messing with the vents is probably not a good idea. If there was a reasonable pathway higher up, then that was the way I wanted to go. If there is not, and it sounds like that is the case, then plan "B" certainly will be to use the drain plug on the bottom and seal it every way I can think of. I saw a plug piercing tool on one of the threads and will probably order one of those. It is like a pointed tubular screwdriver you can use to punch a wire through. Thanks for responding.

73

 

[M0untainM4n]

Ok, I've searched for threads on this and can't find any so I'm posting the question... Has anyone done any wiring or cables from the Gladiator rear cab area into the bed?

I will have a number of cables (power, communication, transmission) cables that I need to run from inside the cab directly to the bed. I'll be mounting ham radio equipment under the rear seat or behind the seat, and from there I need to go out the back and into the bed.

It looks like there are cab vents between the cab and bed (cab side) and in my Raptor I've ran through that but it's probably not ideal. Also see a pop-out in the front corner of the bed I'll use on the passenger side. Trying to figure out if I need to drill a hole in the cab under the seat or if there's a pre-made hole somewhere in the cab that would work. It will need to be fairly good sized as I would have at least 3 coax + several control cables to run through.

Anyone done this yet?

There are a couple of ways to do it. You can go through the front firewall, drop down below the engine and run the wires up along the frame to the bed. The other way is to get a step bit and drill a small hole on the back of your truck and buy a cheap rubber grommet. Poke a small hole in the grommet and push the wire through. After everything is connected, get some silicon caulk for the grommet where the wire goes through. Its fully water proof then. You can get a cheap kit with lots of different grommets for your needs:

https://www.amazon.com/Ram-Pro-Assortment-different-See-through-Organizer/dp/B01NAN025Y

 

[M0untainM4n]

Actually here is a photo of what I did in my Ford to get a RG58 coax in for my Ham Radio install. It uses the grommet as explained above. Its a clean installation and its water proof.

 

[JohnFinx]

Just remember to prime/paint/seal the edges of any holes you drill, or the rust will begin and out drops your grommet.

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