Do you have 120V AC available where you camp? You're just looking for a way to get that power into the truck without a window open? Are we talking something stupid easy like pull an extension cord in through the cab vents behind the back seat?

 

But then I would have to leave the doors or windows of the vehicle open to run the wiring to the battery. During the day we're out hiking or biking or at the beach so that wouldn't be the greatest. Plus often the site is partial or full shade so to get a spot that you have constant sun almost never happens. Friends that we camp with tried solar panels last year and they didn't have much luck, not enough sun to charge anything up, constant chasing a moving patch of sun and on days with bad weather they don't do anything at all.

If the battery could run the portable fridge/freeze for a few days that would be one thing but even with a 500wh battery you'll only get about a day by my calculations. Plus they are ridiculously expensive so there's that.

 

An advantage of the solar battery is dont run the risk of killing the truck's battery.

 

When I go camping for a week... I just bring a big cooler full of ice. Forget trying to run appliances. You're camping!

 

That is more or less what I'd like to do, or power up the 12v outlets but something a bit more elegant than dragging an extension cord through the truck. I like to keep the truck looking pristine so whatever I do needs to look factory. Stupid, I know, but I take pride in my truck.

 

Been camping for decades, I've had enough of messing with ice and soggy food. Only cooler I want ice in is the beer cooler.

 

mount something like this in the vehicle somewhere...like under the hood. Then run a cable from the back of that into your vehicle through the firewall. When you open the hood, plug in, close the hood.

 

Thank you for all the input folks, I really appreciate it. Still haven't decided which route to take.. Pert of me wants to take the easiest route and just install a batter charger and power the 12v outlets but then I'm worried about cooking the battery. I could put in a battery disconnect but then I'd have to open the hood all the time and I don't see any automatic ones like what you'd use with a generator.

Running an external outlet is an option too but then I don't know how I feel about running a 120v 15A like through the truck but this would be the most cost effective way to get power in there and it wouldn't touch the electrical system.

Decisions decisions.

 

if you went the battery charger route, you would have to leave the key on all the time for the 120V to work. That's kinda a hack install. You already have 120V AC... just find a way to get it into the vehicle for you to use. You could also get a 12V fridge, a secondary deep cycle battery, and a battery isolater. Use the alternator to charge up the second battery, and hook this fridge up to the second battery. It won't kill your starter battery and give you deep cycle juice.

 

If all you want is full time USB or 12v outlets power just put jumpers in the fuse box. Of course then the start battery will be discharged.
A better way is to use a second battery for 12v gadgets. That battery will need wiring to charge it when the truck is turned on.
Lots if threads on hot do to these things.
I do not have a method for having 110v on full time.