What did u do to your raptor today?

[6cuda6]

Wished I was in the same country as my truck....damn work... :-/

 

[srs]

Replaced the 12V outlet with a volt meter.
Wired it in to Keyed Ignition.

Do you have a write up on how you did this?

 

[Dirt Bag]

On the way.
sorry no pics though as I did last minute.
Rainy day tinkering in the garage kinda thing.

---------- Post added at 09:51 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:43 AM ----------

Do you have a write up on how you did this?

Sorry No Pics but here ya go.

• Remove Glove Box
I just emptied mine out and gently squeezed the sides inward to allow the rubber stops to swing past the opening.
If you want to get serious you could remove the screws at the hinge holding in the lid but I did not need to.
• Looking up through the opening where the glove BOX had been you will see the red and black wires going to the back of the 12 outlet.
• Reach up and feel for the plug. The Plug has a lock mechanism that requires you to press down on the lock tab before being able to unplug (common type in the truck if you have done other projects)
• Once the wire is unplugged there is another lock mechanism holding the outlet in place on the dash surface
With the wires disconnected it should slide back and allow the entire plug assembly to be pushed out through the front of the dash board
• now you have the plug removed but the hole left behind is too small for a standard 52mm gauge.

• Make a template the same size as the outer diameter of the gauge. Use anything can be made to create a circle the same diameter as the gauge body. (not the gauge face as the hole will be too big)
• Using that template, draw the radius of the cut you will need to make to fit the gauge in the opening.
This is where you need to commit or quit!
• use a small saw to cut along the line you had drawn. I used a small air saw and started from the inside, smaller opening. A hand held or even just a jig saw blade with something to hold it should work.
The plastic is soft and cuts easily so be careful and move slow
• Undersized is preferred then use a file or sand paper to increase the opening for a tight fit
Wiring for Volt Meter
• Cut the connector off the outlet wire
• Double over and tape up the red power wire to ensure it does not dance around and ground out on something. It could start a fire if you do not take precautions to be sure it cannot ground out
• Strip the ground wire as you will use it for your gauge
• Using a test 12V test light clipped to common ground (door hinge bolt, seat frame, sub frame under dash) start to look for a wire that is powered with Key on only so as to not drain the battery when the truck is off
I searched the large bundle running above the glove box and found numerous keyed power wires
I chose a 15 gauge purple wire with a red stripe as it was easily accessed and a slightly heavier gauge wire than the majority of the others
• Different gauges may have variable wiring requirements for the gauge light but you should be able to figure out what works best for you
I wired mine to the same power wire for the gauge so once the key is on the gauge is powered and lit
• With the wires pulled through the opening, connect the ground and power using appropriate connector plugs (most seem to use standard spade connectors)
• With wires connected test the gauge by powering on the key
• Once everything lights up and you see voltage install the gauge with the hardware provided
• Anchor all loose wires with electrical tape, tie wraps etc. so they don't work loose while off road

 

[beachz]

Gave it a bath after our trip across the country and into another one. 7380 miles in 15 days. http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f114/va-canadian-rockies-38624/


I think there is about 20 pounds of salt in my driveway. What a mess!

 

[Wilson]

Man they clean up nice

 

[beachz]

Man they clean up nice

Nice, yes... Easy or quick, not so much. I think I was out there about 4 hours.

Here is a "before" shot fo you. This was near Buffalo Bill State Park along the Shoshone River outside Cody, Wyoming.

 

[Wilson]

Adams's helps I user to hate cleaning mine now its not as bad.

 

[ReyLorenzo]

Not necessarily today but over the past few days I've done the following:
Wrapped hood, roof, tailgate & added graphics
Tinted Tail Lights & Brake Light
Dee Zee Tailgate Assist
Installed knockoff "Dually" reverse lights

 

[WyoStorm]

Hope you enjoyed a little Wyo Country!

Nice, yes... Easy or quick, not so much. I think I was out there about 4 hours.

Here is a "before" shot fo you. This was near Buffalo Bill State Park along the Shoshone River outside Cody, Wyoming.

 

[beachz]

Hope you enjoyed a little Wyo Country!

Very much, thank you. You definitely have some beautiful country out there. Hope to make it back out that way again sometime.