What's the point of the bed outlet

I am honestly brought to tears by the simplicity of this statement. Thank you. +1 internet beer to you.

 

Do the 400w anytime mod. Plug your fridge into it while driving, charge batteries ex. camera, laptop, flashlight, etc. while driving.

Better still, add an outlet or two in the cab and power your accesories there instead of in the bed. Using a Ram mount, I can have my old netbook running map software as well as connected to an external hard drive and my stereo- >1TB music on tap.

 

Mine runs a small shopvac. I can clean my interior anywhere.

 

I was on a road trip with a few buddies and one of the guys had a wall charger for his phone but no car charger. We ran an extension cord through the sliding window into the outlet. Problem solved.

 

That search function is an amazing thing. Lots of results on "Bed Outlet". Here's one.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/does-anyone-acually-use-the-power-outlet-in-the-bed.365944/

 

It's a gimmick, instead of something useful like heated mirrors.

 

I understand that it can provide some practical benefit, however 95% of th devices mentioned above have native 12V power/charging capability; that will be much more energy efficient than using a 400 W inverter powered by a 4 or 6 cylinder gasoline engine. I have read of the "always 400 W" mods, and some to allow the inverter to operate without the engine running. My caution there is that typical starting duty automotive batteries have a 70 to 100 Ah rated capacity--with the 30 to 35 A the inverter draws at 400 W output that's only 2 to 2-1/2 hours 'til you may not be able to start the engine.

I would find it much more practical if the factory setup was rated to provide 100 W engine off, and 400 W engine running. So my bottom line on it is as "3coma's"; it's a gimmicky thing to sell add-on packages. If it were 1000 or 1200 W maximum it would be much more practical; of course that would require 80 to 95 A from the vehicle's system--damned near the generator's full output...

 

Sarcasm is my second language.

 

So I can blend my protein shakes any time, anywhere.

 

If it were 1200 watts I could run my oil burner off it when I lose power.

 

because yota

 

I've used it for dremel, skill saw, Christmas lights it's pretty handy

 

I've run a small coffee pot on it, charged camera and drone batteries, etc. Has been really helpful in certain situations.

 

I've ran an angle grinder off mine. Never know when you may need to plug some crap in. Tons of uses.

 

I agree I feel like it might as well be a cigarette lighter

 

Must have been a small skilsaw, most 7-1/4" class saws draw 12 to 15 A--1450 to 1800 watts--I am surprised it started let alone cut anything...

 

Correction. It was a gig saw, not skill saw. It's a makita

 

That make more sense...

 

I used mine once, got new wheels and tires and needed to do some trimming, problem was we got a freak snow storm and lost power at the end of October a few years ago, used my bed outlet for my dremel. Worth it just for that.

 

I've posted about what I've run off of it before and I've found that if everything has relative low amp draw and start-up amps are taken into consideration, it can run a bunch of stuff at once.