What did you use your cargo bed inverter for today? (Now with Poll)

^^This is the thing.....like anything that still really needs 120V AC power is going to be much more power hungry than a 400W inverter will supply. All the smaller items have gone to USB power, or can be powered by 12V, so I come back to my question of what good is a 400W AC outlet in the bed that only works when the engine is running.

Anyways.....I’m repeating myself....

 

It is useful for cooking a crockpot of bbq or whatever while you are on your way out of town. It’s nice to have dinner ready upon arrival. 400W AC while driving conversion.

 

Get Schwifty: Xmas edition

 

Giving a bump before 2019 ends. I have to agree that a 400w inverter is a joke. I agree that a factory inverter should be an awesome option, but when its most popular use is charging batteries and making coffee, you have failed. To everyone running saws and drills, I hope you realize how much damage you are doing to the tools by running them at partial power. To the OP, I agree that at 400w it would be just as useful to just have a 12vdc cigarette style outlet in the bed.

I remember how excited I was when I first saw the bed outlet, thinking, no more loading the generator to use my power tools off grid. My hopes and dreams were quickly destroyed when I saw the output. I have tried unsuccessfully to run a saw and drill just to see if it was possible in an emergency. My opinion is that no inverter would have been better than getting peoples hopes up only to realize it is practically useless in the real world. Yes, charging batteries and making coffee are nice.

 

Hey I'm digging up old stuff by searching I guess. I'm actually considering a sawzall for firewood, it would be for home use mostly but would want to be able to use it from the truck from time to time. How bad was it? I'd prefer to not have to run a gas chainsaw all the time and the battery reciprocating saws get like 4 cuts then they die.

 

Not sure how others have faired, but my sawzall would not cut under load, and was moving at less than half speed with no load. Never mind having to constantly reset the inverter and the damage done to the tool. If you can find a sawzall that draws 3.3 amps or less you will be all set.

 

Thanks. Not sure I'd be able to find a 3 amp saw but I'll at least google it and see if I can find anything Fair enough, thanks for the heads up. I'll either find another inverter or rethink my plans.

 

The inverter works great to charge batteries if you have the time to wait. The lowest amperage sawzall I could find was 6 amps. It is a very disappointing accessory.

 

Sawzall can be used (get a 12" blade) but isn't nearly as handy as a chainsaw. The trouble is if the wood moves with the oscillating blade, you don't get much of a cut. You can get it to work though, just not a very good solution IMHO based on my trying it. Better off using a skilsaw if you want to use a hand-tool.

FYI - Makita has a pretty nice compact 18V sawzall. Other brands as well, depends which platform you're on.

Best use I've found for the inverter is running 120V C7 style LED christmas lights on the truck in December.

 

I hate the battery saws. Screw guns aren't bad, but saws burn through batteries. You get like 3 or 4 good cuts then it's dead already. Can't stand it.

Looks like I'll be looking for an electric and gas chainsaw then. Electric at home, gas in the truck. Sawzall would have been if it's better with the truck, sounds like that's a no go. Electric quiet and easier for the back yard use.

Thanks everyone!

 

Not my experience, I get plenty of cuts -- but I waited until they started using brushless motors in them -- which are far more power efficient. Makes a huge difference in longevity.

For example - I have a Greenworks 60V chainsaw that did fine for taking down and sectioning a 12" dia wild black cherry I needed gone. Didn't even need to go to a 2nd battery. No, it's not a harvest-wood-all-day-long saw, but does great for smaller jobs like large fallen branches and smaller trees.

 

I use mine mostly for my one of my shop vacs to keep truck clean. Carport in yard so not close to the house.

 

I use mine fairly often. I've used it for charging tool batteries, camera batteries and inflating my kayak when I go summer steelhead fishing. Pretty nice to have it back there, but I will agree a 12V cig plug would be compatible with more devices on the market.

I was wondering if I could use it to power an air compressor to air my tires back up after driving in sand, but it looks like most AC pumps draw too much current.

 

whens the last time you used one? the new tech is awesome i have switched over all my tools to the dewalt 20V system. i can cut for hours with my circ saw, recip, etc...

 

Hm. I'll consider it. But at the same time, I feel like firewood collection for me, 95% of my use will be at home so I can plug in and use the mains. I just cruise craigslist for fresh cuts

I have a dewalt cordless system, maybe the batteries are shot too by this point that could be part of it.

Edit to add: I have the Dewalt 18V stuff. Drill, impact, recip, flashlight (never use that one....), circ saw.

 

Make BOTH part of the survey. 12v and 120v outlets.

 

Last year when I was working early and was in academy late I would use the plug to power my air mattress and then charge/power my laptop and do homework or watch movies.
Used it ~90-100 times. It’s been great.

 

I have used the inverter like twice in 3 years. A cigarette lighter would be useless though.

 

I have never used my Inverter plug. I want to see if the tiny 1 gallon Cambodian Tire air compressor I have will work plugged in to it. I calculated the wattage and it should work, it's just the surge wattage I am wondering about. Next dry day I will give it a try and report back. That should be April or August or ....


As for the poll, I think both outlet styles should be there.

 

I installed a 12V outlet and a USB outlet in my bed cubby. I use both all the time. I’ve yet to use the AC outlet in 3 years of ownership.