Front Quarter Panel Access

What’s behind here, and how can you access that space? I’m contemplating a shore power connection here, but don’t want to start digging behind the wheel well liner if someone already has the answer.

 

Why there? Why not here?(not my truck, just a quick google reference.)

 

There's a tall styrofoam piece running the height of the fender. You can see it if you open the driver's door and look toward the front. Other than that, nothing. Access is by peeling back the plastic fender liner (and destroying a few plastic clips in the process).

 

If you want my two cents, I’d suggest hanging it out the grill/frontend like a block heater

 

^May be a good idea as the fender is tinfoil and can dent with repeated plugging/unplugging.

 

Thanks, all. I plan to install a scanner that will always be powered on, as it'll be accessible to my home wifi network while the truck's parked in the garage. Shore power will ensure I don't kill the battery. I could either use a NOCO AC port plug



or (though pricier) a Kussmaul Auto-Eject


Obviously, the Auto Eject gives the added benefit of keeping me from forgetting to unplug the thing before I drive off. (They're designed for emergency vehicles, and we used them an many of the fire apparatus I used to drive.)

If the fender is that weak, an alternative may be to mount it to the side of an aftermarket bumper. This is what I had done on my 1st gen, but I don't have an aftermarket bumper on my current Taco.

 

Sounds like a good excuse to get an aftermarket bumper…

 

I have a shell on the truck, so that'd be a hassle to access every time I wanted to plug in or unplug the truck. (Thanks, @Hodakaguy!)

 

This excellent snorkel install write-up shows how to access this location by removing the wheel well liner.

 

alternatively, you can reinforce the connection from behind the fender so you're not stressing the fender itself, but the mounting solution behind it.


personally, i question what kind of crazy batman private citizen work you're doing that requires any gear to be running as hardcore as a full fire rig. you'd more than likely be much better served by running an accessory battery with starter isolation , but vague details gives way to vague suggestions.

 

Wasn't trying to be vague, sorry. As indicated, I'm just trying to power a scanner when the truck is in the garage so I can access it from the WiFi network in my house. We don't drive the truck every day, so even an accessory battery may not last long enough, hence the shore power idea. The obvious alternative would be to get a separate scanner in the house, but that would end up being at least as expensive, and wouldn't give me the fun of working on a truck project.