My truck makes a great family hauler, but on those long road/camping trips with 6 of us we have about 8 different things that need 12V plug ins (iPad, phones, iPods, games) and there is only two outlets, one of which is the cig lighter. We have made due with splitters and extension cables, but it gets old having to run those around the shifter and through the legs of the kids.

My solution was to get this off .





After looking around for a place to put it where it wouldn't look goofy I noticed this.





Shoot, I forgot about even having an ash tray! I use the cupholder every day, but I don't think I have used the ash tray since I stuck the lighter in there the day I bought the truck. So I pulled the ashtray to see if I could find a way to mount the dual outlet in there.






After eyeballing it for a minute I noticed that the little piece that a cigarette would rest on was separate and should come off.






After bending it back and forth a few times, it came right off.






Here's the ash tray without the rest piece.





Then it was just a matter of trimming away plastic from the dual outlet until I could put it in the ash tray and have it close all the way when I shut the ash tray.

I mounted it to the top metal piece of the ash tray so that when I open the ash tray the dual outlet will point up away from the bottom of the ash tray, allowing room for larger plug ins. Then I step drilled a hole in the back side to run the wires through and ran a screw down through the lid into the middle of the dual outlet.








**Yes, I will put a grommet in there to keep the wires from chafing.**



Now all I have to do is figure out where to mount another one in the back seat area for the other kids.

 

very nice

..

 

Very nice, love it. I would skip the grommet those wires will never rub through.

 

Looks very good.
If you use it a lot you may want to add some heat shrink or the
small cable loom to keep the wire from any metal if it happens
to break from the repeat bending.

Sean

 

off topic question here, my 2004 only has a trash bag clip where your ash tray is. Does anyone know if Ford offers the ashtray that will match a 2004 F350 with the tan color interior? I would love too add the 12volt power points my kids are driving me nuts with always charging their DS games when we go on trips.

 

Is the tan different between 2000 and 2004?

 

do any of those devices happen to charge off of USB?

you can get 12v -> USB adapters in pairs... which means you ahve a place for up to 6 USB cables right there...

Also, if any of the devices happen to be a laptop, you can use those USB ports, too.

Finally, if you are ever in need of other forms of electricity, you can wire in an inverter, too.

 

That's a nice mod, think I have to make one my self!

 

i dont know i have a 2004 but it has that stupid trash bag clip thingy that is just a waste of space. Would love to add the ashtray so i could add the 12V plugs since i dont smoke... to come to it my dads 2000 F350 has the trash bag clip too??

 

i tried ebay and craigslist but i cant find one, i tried Google but cant find a difference in color so im not sure

 

I have one I bought off ebay several years ago from a 2000 model truck and it was definitely a lighter color than my 2002 interior.

 

Nice install! Just out of curiosity where did you wire them up to? I have an 08 console in my truck and and id love to add the extra 2 power points.

 

I haven't wired it up yet. I am getting ready for elk season, so it will have to wait.