Not seeing your point. I bet they'd work well.

 

Since the back of those will be inside the fender where you SHOULDN'T have any water, they should be fine.

 

Weatherproof and Waterproof are two different things. One means it can be rained on, the other means it can be submerged. I don't know of anyone who would be submerging their truck, so they should work just fine.

 

Get a somewhat waterproof plug, put it in a watertight project box with the plug facing downwards. Water shouldn't get in.


That 12v constant is actually for travel trailers. On my trailer it's wired into the 12v system and trickle charges the trailer battery while I'm towing.

 

The sport tracs had them in the bed. Wonder if you can use that part number to had one.

 

The front side of these things is fine, Weatherproof or waterproof really doesn't matter and unless you are talking about Ingress Protection (IP) ratings, its all moot anyway.

The issue is that they all have two 1/4" spade terminals on the backside without any boot. Even though they are "inside the fender" you are really exposed to the elements from below. I'd be concerned about shorting those terminals in rain or snow unless you potted them with RTV or something. They certainly don't have the same level of protection afforded other under truck connections.

If I were to use them, I'd want an inside the cab power switch as a minimum (fused, of course).

 

some of those sockets - with the side wires and the threaded body for the panel mounting and a washer and nut

those are waterproof and work pretty well in boats - note the front covers are remarkably tight fitting rubbers on the USB ports themselves.

and that one with the 12V cigarette adapter is similar - should have an inline fuse in the harness.

and I'd put even money that the back of the body is potted with silicone - or has a rubber plug in there.

If it doesn't easy enough to fill it with RTV.

 

The back side typically looks like the pic below. Not potted or otherwise protected, thus my comments. Sorry for the big picture, its all I could find quickly. I don't consider this very weather proof. Certainly adequate in the dashboard of a boat or other semi-protected location. I don't consider the bed side to be well protected.

 

I consider inside the fender of the bedside to be at least as well protected as the dashboard of a boat.

 

how are those connections made

slip on spade, or is it covered in a rubber shell after install?

you know if you wanted to do something serious you could use any of the SAE based weatherpack connectors used for underhood. There are some specificed for 12V and 30 amp even - more than enough power. you'd have to then pigtail something to be your USB adapter or the like

I've thought about it once or twice. run battery lines down frame up bed - place weatherpack male on the ends - with a fuse block someone accessable - maybe even a switch.

Then pig tail a weatherpack female to a cigarette adapter and keep it in the glove box.

bam - power point in the bed.