Mounting and routing locations in the 100

[sdnative]

Sorry if this has been covered in another thread, or this is in the wrong spot. I am specifically interested in the 100 series so felt it appropriate. Mods please move if necessary.


I am trying to find places to mount accessories, electronic accessories in particular, in my 2003 LC. It was much easier in the 80. I am hoping to see examples of what others hace done. I understand I will need to get creative, but I am hoping not to reinvent the wheel. Thanks in advance for any ideas.

1. 12V Aux plugs (cigarette lighter type) and the dual USB plugs of the same form factor in the front console area. In my 80 I had them on the side of the console next to the passenger's knee. I haven't pulled the console apart but is there enough clearance behind there for the back side of the plugs? Any other clever locations?

2. Fuse block to handle front cab area devices like radios, aux plugs for GPS/tablets, etc. I have a Blue Sea 6 position block, but can't seem to find a good flat location out of the way to mount it.

3. 12V Aux plugs (1 or 2) in the rear cargo area. I was planning on the PS trim opposite the factory DS plug. Is there enough room with the rear AC unit back there? I have the ARB drawers so I could put it there, but I want to have a always hot plug in the back available when I remove the drawers.

4. Power post and fuse block in the rear cargo area. I currently have a fuse block bolted to the side of the drawer under the wing. This powers the ham radio and fridge. I want to move this so it will be available when I remove the drawers and I want to use this space for other things. Eventually I will be adding an inverter and running 2ga or 4ga wiring under the truck and into the oval plug behind the rear bumper. I want to terminate this to a power post, probably inside the long storage compartment on the PS. I could put the fuse block in there also, but not sure if there's enough height to change fuses. The drawers block access to the lower storage compartment.

5. What is the best way to run a coax antenna cable from the cargo area to the exterior rear roof area? Is it going up in the gutter from the bottom of the tail gate and hatch? Or is there another way?

 

[El Cid]

This is difficult to do in text....but I hear two questions.

1)What is the best wiring configuration for my accessories.
2) Where is the best place to mount specific accessories.

They are interdependent questions, but there are certainly user preferences at work and if you can conquer the grand scheme then it gets much easier. I think we get into trouble when we try and piecemeal approach electrical modifications.

I would draw up a functional wish list based on just raw user considerations. Meaning I want this plug here, this device there, etc.

And I would get ready to do a full re-routing of wiring..

More on this later, but it would be a cinch if we could circle around a drawing board with a diagram..

 

[perrobravo]

Here's what I did...HTH

1. Haven't found a great solution for mounting additional cig lighter sockets up front, so just use a cheap-o adapter to power a couple USB cables. With that and the USA-SPEC cable that charges my iPhone and I'm usually set for powering devices up front.

2. Recently added another Blue Sea fuse box under the hood. I made a simple bracket which hasn't broken yet!

3. I replaced the factory cig lighter socket in back with an always on dual USB socket wired to another Blue Sea fuse box which is mounted where the OEM jack used to be. My tailgate becomes as popular at camp as those power stations at the airport as soon as everyone's phones die. The wires hanging out of that panel door let me quickly plug in an LED light strip...which was intended to be temporary, but seems to work so has been temporary for a year or so.

On the passenger side, there are two other outlets. The one seen here is for my fridge. There's another inside that little flip up storage area. The switch controls a camp light mounted behind the spare on the swing out.

4. I don't have a real drawer system, so can't help much

5. Not sure it is the best way, but my ham radio is mounted in the space above the DVD player for the rear seat entertainment hides. So, I ran the antenna under the carpet and out one of the holes in the floor...near the drivers side rear...then out to the bumper.

 

[Sligex]

Hmm, I'm particularly interested in how you are planning on running power to the rear... There was a thread around here about a guy who drilled a 1 1/4" hole in his firewall to run a new grommet for power into the cabin, I was thinking I could fish two 4 Ga wires through the door sills but I personally have not pulled them off to see what's going on under there.

Why/how are you planning on running them under the body? I'm under the impression that it's safer/more durable/more reliable to run the cables through the cabin as it can help to reduce the nature they will be exposed to on the outside of the truck.

 

[sdnative]

This is difficult to do in text....but I hear two questions.

1)What is the best wiring configuration for my accessories.
2) Where is the best place to mount specific accessories.

Thanks for the reply. I am more interested in places to mount stuff and examples (i.e. pictures) of professional looking installs. I have a good grasp on the circuit design/wiring configuration side.

 

[sdnative]

Here's what I did...HTH

Thanks for the pics. I don't have a second battery yet, and not sure if I will so am planning on terminating a 2ga or 4ga wiring run onto a set of powerposts. One in the engine bay and the other end in the cargo area. Most likely in the long cubby on the PS.

I am planning on mounting one of these at each end, and run the wires under the truck.

 

[El Cid]

Thanks for the reply. I am more interested in places to mount stuff and examples (i.e. pictures) of professional looking installs. I have a good grasp on the circuit design/wiring configuration side.

I don't want to sound too confident, it's been a real pain in the ass. I bought a 2nd battery and the IBS system, then i replaced the terminals with this product: http://www.hifisoundconnection.com/...ogleBaseFeed&gclid=CNOao_iDosUCFZaKaQodKh0Aww

Now I have power running to the location of the subwoofer in the back. The sub has been removed and there is a lovely Yaesu FT8800 base unit in it's place. That's no small accessory. Finding the right professional was tricky. I am time limited. But I knew precisely what I wanted, and I don't trust the workmanship of many auto electric 'professionals.' . Let's face it, it's not worth the risk.

Once you have a second battery dedicated for accessories, this effort gets much easier...

 

[sdnative]

Hmm, I'm particularly interested in how you are planning on running power to the rear... There was a thread around here about a guy who drilled a 1 1/4" hole in his firewall to run a new grommet for power into the cabin, I was thinking I could fish two 4 Ga wires through the door sills but I personally have not pulled them off to see what's going on under there.

Why/how are you planning on running them under the body? I'm under the impression that it's safer/more durable/more reliable to run the cables through the cabin as it can help to reduce the nature they will be exposed to on the outside of the truck.

Yes, the wire would be better protected running inside the cab, but 2ga wire is pretty large to be running through the door sill. Also, I think the rubber boot would be to small to fit a pair of these. I do not want to drill new holes.

I have some 8ga running through there now and it was about as large as I would feel comfortable with. Running under the body should be fine, as I am planning on running it inside split loom and taping. Just need to avoid the cats and exhaust pipe. The large vertically-mounted oval cover behind the rear bumper is plenty large to route the cable through and it gives good access to the cubby mentioned above.

 

[hondarepairman]

 

[perrobravo]

...examples (i.e. pictures) of professional looking installs.

Uh oh. I missed the part about "professional looking". Feel free to ignore (all) my post(s)!

 

[Sligex]

Yes, the wire would be better protected running inside the cab, but 2ga wire is pretty large to be running through the door sill. Also, I think the rubber boot would be to small to fit a pair of these. I do not want to drill new holes.

I have some 8ga running through there now and it was about as large as I would feel comfortable with. Running under the body should be fine, as I am planning on running it inside split loom and taping. Just need to avoid the cats and exhaust pipe. The large vertically-mounted oval cover behind the rear bumper is plenty large to route the cable through and it gives good access to the cubby mentioned above.

Ah okay. Do you have a picture of how your 8 Ga is run right now? I'm assuming you simply go down then back, and clear the firewall that way? 2 Ga would be even nicer to run, but I was worried considering the stuff is so thick.