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installing power inverter in bed of truck. anyone did this??

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Old Sep 25, 2012 | 10:08 AM
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From: joplin mo
Default installing power inverter in bed of truck. anyone did this??

I saw a lil toyota tacoma with a power inverter in the bed and thought that was kinda nifty and i kinda want to put one in the bed of my 04 fx4. Has anyone done this to theres?
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Old Sep 25, 2012 | 10:54 AM
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Would you be installing it in a toolbox or do you have a bed cover? I'm assuming it would need to stay dry. If so, all you would need to do is run some 4 gauge wire like I did for my train horn from the battery to the relay, then from the relay to power inverter, and the same for the ground.
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Old Sep 25, 2012 | 10:54 AM
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Originally Posted by brandonjr36
I saw a lil toyota tacoma with a power inverter in the bed and thought that was kinda nifty and i kinda want to put one in the bed of my 04 fx4. Has anyone done this to theres?
I have actually done this to a few truck for people! Best way to do this is run aux battery (Optima Yellow Top preferred!) and have a run over kit to charge battery off regular battery and alternator! I ran a 1200watt inverter and ran 4 gauge wire to the back of the truck and installed it in a water proof case and works great! I have done 3-4 like this! Has enough power to charge tool battery and run a table saw! Did 2 for construction company around my area
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Old Sep 25, 2012 | 06:30 PM
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From: joplin mo
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Originally Posted by strawsb

I have actually done this to a few truck for people! Best way to do this is run aux battery (Optima Yellow Top preferred!) and have a run over kit to charge battery off regular battery and alternator! I ran a 1200watt inverter and ran 4 gauge wire to the back of the truck and installed it in a water proof case and works great! I have done 3-4 like this! Has enough power to charge tool battery and run a table saw! Did 2 for construction company around my area
Yea do you have any pics??
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Old Sep 25, 2012 | 06:43 PM
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From: joplin mo
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I wanted to put on towards the back kinda close to tailgate.
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Old Sep 25, 2012 | 06:45 PM
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Originally Posted by brandonjr36
Yea do you have any pics??
yes here is one I did! Neighbor truck and it is a 2500 watt 2 plug inverter! He has a bed cover on the truck but rolled up now just so you know!
Attached Thumbnails installing power inverter in bed of truck. anyone did this??-inverter.jpg  
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Old Sep 25, 2012 | 06:49 PM
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Originally Posted by strawsb

yes here is one I did! Neighbor truck and it is a 2500 watt 2 plug inverter! He has a bed cover on the truck but rolled up now just so you know!
Thanks man.
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Old Sep 25, 2012 | 07:28 PM
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I instaled a 800 watt cobra on the floor in the cab just in front of the center console cup holder painted it flat black to match the carpet so you hardly notice it there it will run small power tools charge my laptop and other small cordles devices as well as a USB port for cell phones etc. I keep a 25ft. ext cord if i want to run 120vlt power outside This keeps it dry and also keeps the 12 volt cable as short as posible.
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Old Sep 25, 2012 | 08:01 PM
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Originally Posted by bubbabud
I instaled a 800 watt cobra on the floor in the cab just in front of the center console cup holder painted it flat black to match the carpet so you hardly notice it there it will run small power tools charge my laptop and other small cordles devices as well as a USB port for cell phones etc. I keep a 25ft. ext cord if i want to run 120vlt power outside This keeps it dry and also keeps the 12 volt cable as short as posible.

That is a good idea but I wired the 2500 watt inverter to another battery with a run over to charge both! The wires to the inverter is 4 gauge which is about 1/4' and plenty of wire for running to the bed! I have enough to run a full size table saw as well as a 110 volt mig welder! That 800 watt one has no chance and the 25ft power cord is a bad idea plugged into a 800 watt inverter to run stuff needs a lot of amps to make it though cord and power something!
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Old Sep 25, 2012 | 08:57 PM
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Originally Posted by strawsb
That is a good idea but I wired the 2500 watt inverter to another battery with a run over to charge both! The wires to the inverter is 4 gauge which is about 1/4' and plenty of wire for running to the bed! I have enough to run a full size table saw as well as a 110 volt mig welder! That 800 watt one has no chance and the 25ft power cord is a bad idea plugged into a 800 watt inverter to run stuff needs a lot of amps to make it though cord and power something!
The 25ft cord is on 120volt side so it doesnt carey much current at all. no more than if you pluged it into your house. the high amp load is on the 12 volt side so irun 4 gauge from a stud on the main power dist box through 2 40amp fuses in paralel for 80amp fused protection and kept the 12 volt run as short as possible. you have a good idea using a 2nd batt mounted near the inverter but I prefered to keep my bed clear and for what I use it for I would never need more than 1/2 of its capacity and the inverter will surge up to 1600 watts if the fuses hold. the most Ive run off of it is a small chest freezer while the truck is running and it handles that just fine
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