Reliability Of Bed Outlet

Hello, I have a 2008 Tacoma that i'm going to be taking camping for 2 months. I'm having a difficult time figuring out a way to charge a power bank that has an AC outlet, so my alternative is to just use the outlet inside the truck bed. (Solar is a little impractical for full time usage, and can be somewhat unreliable.)

However, i'm hesitant to do this as I don't know how reliable the outlet is, along with how the alternator will hold up to this type of use. If I use the bed outlet, I plan on doing so when the truck is running/driving, just to be safe.

I would rarely use the outlet when the truck is off. My power demands for my devices and supplies are not large. Here is a basic rundown of what i'll be charging with the bed outlet:
-Car jumper battery/power bank.
-Some kitchen electronics, nothing major.
-Phone charger (If I don't use my 12v cigarette outlet up front)

Realistically, my car jumper/power bank will be charging my smaller electronics that can be charged with a USB. So my car jumper/power bank will be the main item using the bed outlet, in order to charge my smaller electronics.

I don't have many devices that will be drawing power, i'm not bringing any other AC outlet reliant things. My camping setup is pretty minimalist.

Any experience you guys have with the outlet will be appreciated, as well as ideas or opinions on the setup. Thanks.

 

While moving you only get 150w from the outlet. Parked with engine running you get 400w from the outlet. It has terrible spike protection and trips easy....however I have never had it fail in 10 years of use.
Your jumper pack is a much better idea and maybe slow charge that as you drive around.

 

I had the same idea for charging while driving, albeit being a slower process. I figured it didn't have the best surge protection, but that's good to know that you've had good luck with yours. Thanks for the reply.

 

I’ve run angle grinders off my bed outlet before and never had it fail. Other people have said they tried the same and had theirs trip

 

There are threads on here that illustrate adding an indoor outlet on the back of the consol. Consider doing that - ugly wet weather can limit what you do with the bed outlet. Running an extension cord back up front is an option but not the best.

There are are also threads that illustrate how to fool the inverter into allowing the 400w limit while driving. Works OK on my outfit but I haven't pushed it.

 

You are much better off investing in a small portable gas inverter generator. No need to unnecessarily put a strain on the trucks charging system for 2 mos of use.

 

For charging USB things, get 1 of these.

https://www.ch4x4.com/product/toyota-usb-power-socket/

There are 2 sizes for Toyota. I put the 12-15 power port panel in my '06 and have the USB ports wired constant with an add a fuse. I use it a lot.

If you're planning on driving places anyway, charge the jump pack while driving. I wouldn't run the truck for hours just to charge the jump pack.

Consider that if you get a generator, you can run a microwave.

 

I have a dumb idea! Lol

How about you charge the power bank using the outlet from the bed while you are driving???

 

That amounts to 1.25 -1.36 amps available while moving, and 3.3-3.6 amps while parked. As long as the total AC draw from the outlet is less than that, you should be okay, irrespective of the power spikes, which could damage sensitive stuff like a computer. Any start-up surge over that might blow a fuse in the bed's outlet circuit.

This is the route I'd take, there are many sizes available and some brands are very quiet. The proviso here is campground rules about their noise, even the quiet ones can irritate your neighbors and some campgrounds don't allow them. If you're alone in the boonies, then disregard.

An alternative to the generator is a power bank capable of delivering AC voltage and current. Easily made using a deep cycle battery and an AC inverter of suitable output to service your AC appliances. The deep cycle battery can be charged from your truck via jumper cables, battery to battery, just like jumping off another vehicle, but longer duration, or with a portable battery charger plugged into the AC outlet of your truck, but there's a loss converting DC to AC and back to DC. The deep cycle battery could be recharged while you're driving, secured in the bed and connected to a charger plugged in to the bed outlet.

I use a power bank for my astronomical equipment in the field. I use a 96 amp-hour deep cycle battery and have a 1000 watt inverter hooked to it, along with a set of RigRunner DC outlets. I'm running a telescope mount and two cameras on DC, and a laptop computer on AC, and I can sustain a steady 2-4 amp draw in both AC and/or DC all night long and draw the battery to about 60% capacity. You probably wouldn't draw that heavy a load just using it to recharge small items or using the AC intermittently for small appliances. It takes me about 4-6 hours to completely recharge my setup at a charge rate of 2-3 amps. The jump starter power bank won't have quite the "legs" due to a lower capacity battery; I use one as a backup system or for quick setups when I don't power more than the telescope mount and usually get 6-7 hours from one, as a reference. Here's a picture of the larger bank I built; it's about 75 pounds, and also has a "power minder" display that shows battery drain in watt-hours and watts being used, current in amps, and has a low battery alarm that can be set for whatever level you want.