Mounting & Wire Routing of In-Bed Receptacle?

[gkirtley]

Hi,
I am setting up my Dodge Cummins 8' bed for a future slide-in. I would appreciate getting some advice where to mount the in-bed 7-blade receptacle. The previous owner installed a fifth wheel wiring harness so it has a factory receptacle on the bumper and the other one in the bed which is not usable for a slide-in due to its location. I want to relocate it somewhere in front of the left wheel well.

I was considering mounting it as far forward as the 9.5' harness would allow but I have read where some people mounted them to be just in front of the wheel well and wondered if there was more cable available would there be any drawback(s) to going further forward? I was concerned that mounting the plug right in front of the wheel well might be in the way of using an inside access door.

Also my choices are to route the split wire loom forward along the frame and then over to the mount area or go directly from the back of the bumper to the space between the two bed walls and route it forward between those two walls. I wondered if anybody has any thoughts on the routing choice. Thanks.

[RoyB]

I am looking for some diagrams or install info on the TRUCK CAMPER power plug between the TC and truck. There is all kinds of info online showing the 7-way connectors and other from the Trailer trailers and Fifth wheel but absolutely nothing for the slide-in truck camper...

This keeps coming up on the forums and I'd like to get up to speed on it... I see photos of the plug on the bootom of the truck camper but no pin-outs. I do understand the TC guys talk about adding an adaptor to hook this up to the 7-way connectors on the back of the truck...

What does this connection provide for with the Truck camper. I'm thinking rear and running safety lights controlled by the truck and even the license plate light- All of these are usually hid from few when the camper shell is loaded...

What else is needed... Are the pins standard...

Roy Ken

[trail-explorer]

It doesn't have to be in the bed.

Here's one under the bed: 7 pin receptacle mounted to Torklift Tie-Down

[Farmerjon]

Hah.
It was raining just before I took the picture and the truck is at an angle towards the front and that one corner and the water is trapped between filler bump out and fender well.

[AnEv942]

Wow Farmer-why isnt your bed draining?

[Farmerjon]

I mounted both a 7 way and a 2 way that's for the 12v refrige power.
On the 2000 F350 I put them both up front. On the 2015 F350 it has an OEM 7way in the back and I added the 2 way in the front.

[wvabeer]

FishB8s wrote:
I thought the harness I purchased was the 9 ft version, but as luck would have it I actually ordered the 7 ft model. I laid it out to do a dry run and thought I had enough length to put it right next to my Lance Plug receptacle midway between the left wheel well and the front of the bed (8 ft bed). After cutting the hole and actually routing it I ended up an inch short - ouch. So I ended up cutting another new hole just forward of the left wheel well.

Mounting it anywhere forward of the wheel well where you can reach it easily while standing outside of the truck should work. Just make sure you have enough length. Good luck.

I almost did that too. Sorry 😞

[HMS_Beagle]

I mounted mine as close to the front of the bed as the fuel filler would allow. Makes it easier to reach if you need to plug or unplug with the camper loaded.

[hedge]

On my camper the plug is at the buck under the wing, so my plug is in the rear about 1/2 way between the wheel well and the rear.

[Tom_Anderson]

I mounted mine at the front of the bed, directly under the left front stake pocket. I can reach to plug or unplug it with the camper installed.

I did buy the 7' long version, so I ended up splicing a section of 7-way trailer wire onto it.

[rlb8s]

I thought the harness I purchased was the 9 ft version, but as luck would have it I actually ordered the 7 ft model. I laid it out to do a dry run and thought I had enough length to put it right next to my Lance Plug receptacle midway between the left wheel well and the front of the bed (8 ft bed). After cutting the hole and actually routing it I ended up an inch short - ouch. So I ended up cutting another new hole just forward of the left wheel well.

Mounting it anywhere forward of the wheel well where you can reach it easily while standing outside of the truck should work. Just make sure you have enough length. Good luck.

[wvabeer]

I mounted mine between the rear pillar and the wheel well closer to the wheel. Its an easy mod. Glad I did mine

[RoyB]

This is where most non TC owners put their connectors in truck beds for 5th wheel trailers...

I have mounted the 7-way and a 2-way for bringing Battery connections to the truck bed for radio equipment in a couple of my trucks in the past... Most all of my truck had the thick plastic lining on the insides of the truck bed rails...

We routed all the cables in some sort of cable loom to keep mud and water away from the cables as well as preventing any brush or other dangers grabbing the cable looms...

Looks similar to this GOOGLE image



This would most definitely be in the way of the Truck Camper being loaded...

I like the idea of putting them at the front of the truck bed and perhaps having your 7-way to TC CAMPER cable adapter plug just hanging out over the front bed rail so you can plug it in when the camper is slide-in where it belongs...

Roy Ken

[gkirtley]

I didn't mention exactly where the previous owner mounted the receptacle. It is on the inside of the post that frames the tailgate opening. In other words it is in a location where most campers I have looked at have very little clearance. If it was plugged in and the camper moved forward during the loading process it would shear the plug off. 🙂 So I need to relocate it no matter what.

[kohldad]

My father ordered his new Ram with the tow package which comes with the FW connection as you said, in the left rear corner. He finds it works great there. He loads about 3/4 of the way forward, plugs the connector in and the finishes loading.