1. Welcome to Tundras.com!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tundra discussion topics
    • Transfer over your build thread from a different forum to this one
    • Communicate privately with other Tundra owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Truck Bed Camping Power Setup?

Discussion in '1st Gen Tundras (2000-2006)' started by danmurphymn, Nov 13, 2021.

  1. Nov 13, 2021 at 6:25 PM
    #1
    danmurphymn

    danmurphymn [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2021
    Member:
    #64785
    Messages:
    84
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Dan
    Minneapolis, MN
    Vehicle:
    Black 2004 DC TRD
    My wife, son & I are planning a few larger road trips next year.
    I feel like I have a decent camping & storage setup, but was hoping to see others who have setup electrical for their truck beds.

    I'm thinking a 10ga wire from the battery to a fuse block behind the tail light. Then a connector going to the topper. I Don't plan much. A few LED lights in the topper, a 12v charger & probably some aux LED backup lights.
    What have you seen done for something like this?
    Any pictures, links or threads you can point me to?
     
  2. Nov 13, 2021 at 8:27 PM
    #2
    Dave8699

    Dave8699 Trackrat

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2021
    Member:
    #68852
    Messages:
    633
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    David
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    04 Tundra AC, 2014 Tundra 1794 Crew Max
    Whole truck Raptor liner in olive green, leer camper cap, 5100 with OME, Wheelers AAL and Firestone Air bags.
    I added a couple of USB and 12V plug with a 120 plug to connect a generator when I'm at the track. In your case I would determine how many lights will you be running and for how long because you might need to add a second battery to do multiple lights and not worry about draining your cars battery for start up.

    I'm also going to add some LED lights in my topper that I can run with 12v and 120v.
    20211021_180822.jpg
     
    dirtnsmores and HBTundra like this.
  3. Nov 13, 2021 at 8:49 PM
    #3
    HBTundra

    HBTundra New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2019
    Member:
    #38908
    Messages:
    792
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2006 DC 2wd
    I'm following this anxious to see what people come up with.
    I've been eyeing a couple 'O-Light' brand lamps . . . one is called an 'O-Bulb' and the other is their 'Mini-Lantern' . . . small compact lighting options with decent run times on the included rechargeable batteries. I too take a small honda generator often out of necessity . . . but it would be cool to have a couple small portable lights instead of flashlights for when the generator is off.
     
  4. Nov 15, 2021 at 6:07 AM
    #4
    danmurphymn

    danmurphymn [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2021
    Member:
    #64785
    Messages:
    84
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Dan
    Minneapolis, MN
    Vehicle:
    Black 2004 DC TRD
    I watched this Chris Fix video last night. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77t1UW4Qc7g&list=WL&index=31

    While not exactly what I'm looking to do, it is similar. My only difference is that I thought about running a small fuse block behind the tail light. That way I could fuse the different circuits in the truck bed.
    LED Lights & 12v plug.
    Aux backup lights

    But that may be a bit overkill...
     
    HBTundra likes this.
  5. Nov 13, 2023 at 8:55 PM
    #5
    dirtnsmores

    dirtnsmores New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2021
    Member:
    #68770
    Messages:
    420
    Gender:
    Male
    Southern CA
    Vehicle:
    2006 DC 4WD TRD OFFROAD
    Bilstein 6112/5100s, JBA UCAs
    Seeing if maybe I can bring this thread back to life. I had a 2nd gen Tacoma before this truck and loved the power outlet in the bed. I will be getting a camper installed in a few months and need to get power to the bed to help power something like a large Jackery power station. Don't want to necessarily install a bunch outlets... Just one is fine or even some sort of power cable. I want this to only give power if the truck is running.

    Any idea?
     
  6. Nov 13, 2023 at 9:17 PM
    #6
    artsr2002

    artsr2002 2005 Tundra DC SR5

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2019
    Member:
    #35520
    Messages:
    2,108
    'Yonder
    Vehicle:
    Red-Maroon-Something 05 DC 4.7 4x2
  7. Nov 13, 2023 at 9:18 PM
    #7
    dirtnsmores

    dirtnsmores New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2021
    Member:
    #68770
    Messages:
    420
    Gender:
    Male
    Southern CA
    Vehicle:
    2006 DC 4WD TRD OFFROAD
    Bilstein 6112/5100s, JBA UCAs
  8. Nov 13, 2023 at 10:56 PM
    #8
    SD Surfer

    SD Surfer Globe Trotting Bon Vivant

    Joined:
    Oct 13, 2022
    Member:
    #84846
    Messages:
    1,853
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Bruce
    So Cal
    Vehicle:
    2019 SSM CM SR5 TRD OR 4X4 5.7
    Nope, my '19 had nothing.

    I went straight to the battery 'cuz I wanted constant hot without needing to have the truck ACC or running lights on.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    cran2 likes this.
  9. Nov 14, 2023 at 6:01 AM
    #9
    dirtnsmores

    dirtnsmores New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2021
    Member:
    #68770
    Messages:
    420
    Gender:
    Male
    Southern CA
    Vehicle:
    2006 DC 4WD TRD OFFROAD
    Bilstein 6112/5100s, JBA UCAs
    I like that setup. You added a second mounting rail? My first gen has none. I may go this route.
     
  10. Nov 14, 2023 at 7:00 AM
    #10
    SD Surfer

    SD Surfer Globe Trotting Bon Vivant

    Joined:
    Oct 13, 2022
    Member:
    #84846
    Messages:
    1,853
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Bruce
    So Cal
    Vehicle:
    2019 SSM CM SR5 TRD OR 4X4 5.7
    Those are actually the factory rails; my Bakflip tonneau comes with brackets that drops them down a few inches.
     

Products Discussed in

To Top