Build Update 04/17/21 — Electrical cubby Phase III — Install day
Preparing to run power to the bed – Creating the harness
I started with 35ft of insulated automative 8AWG wire and wrapped the entire length of it in 1/4" automotive plastic loom. From there I measured where the harness would start to pass down through the engine bay from my second battery and wrapped the entire length from that point in 1/2" plastic loom. Finally I wrapped heat reflective automative tape to the portion of the harness that goes down pass the engine, pass the exhaust, and takes a short trip on the exterior side of chassis. This took some time but worth the peace of mind since this harness will be exposed to elements. It’s now quadruple sealed in the most exposed areas.
Preparing the second battery — Circuit Breaker install
My dad fashioned up a nifty bracket from some scrap metal to wrap around the battery and Off-Grid Engineering tie down to cleanly and securely mount my Blue Sea Systems Circuit Breaker. I can use this to kill all power to the bed with a flip of a switch. (eg. when in daily driver mode and not in camp mode)
Running the harness
I ran my harness across the engine bay to the driver side, wrapped around the brake fluid reservoir, passed the fuse box and started to make my way down from there. I followed an OEM harness that makes its way through the front driver side wheel well, makes a slight detour to exterior of chassis (I assume to clear the exhaust) and continues along the inside of chassis all the way to the rear driver side taillight. This was all straight forward other than passing by the fuel tank / rear wheel as you loose visibility on the OEM harness here. We used a clothes hanger as a fish and after a few attempts of locating the path got it through, zip tied it taut on either end and continued along to the tail light.
Harness making its way down under the fuse box
• Red line is my harness (Prior to zip-typing it down in first photo)
• Yellow line is the OEM harness that I followed.
Path in wheel well (With splash guard removed)
Path in wheel well (With splash guard installed)
** No photos under the truck, the path is obvious once you’re down there, and nothing to photograph around fuel tank **
Path coming into the taillight from under the truck
The fuse box ground is also visible here. We stripped away some paint from frame and used one of the Cali Raised LED bed stiffener bolts inside the taillight as our grounding point.
Mounting the box
The hole and grommet where the power runs into the cubby and the ground runs out is visible at the top here. (Which was also heavily siliconed.)
This was pretty painless with the exception of securing the cubby’s top middle bolt. Threading the nut completely blind in the most awkward angle was a royal PITA but with luck got it.
We have power!
Voltmeter, Temperature Sensor, USB Sockets and 12V Sockets are all functioning as expected. The REDARC Monitor in cab is accurately showing battery levels and charging too! Very excited about all of this coming together!
Next steps on electrical work
• Clean up wiring, lugs, shrink tubing, in-line fuses, and zip ties under the hood where needed.
• Mount Sunflare Xplor Adventure Solar Panel to the roof of the GFC and connect to REDARC battery charger as additional charging source.
• Install Matt Gecko LED lights and install Blue Sea Rocker switches in electrical cubby.
• Install Dometic Fanstatic Fan in roof of GFC.
• Intall ARB Twin Compressor under passenger seat.
• Cut hole in bed mat and run conduit underneath for fridge wiring.
Will probably get to most of this electrical work next month, as for now, time to go camping 
