dzl_damon

Hey Guys. Wondering if anyone has tried the block heater bumper plug from Geno's Garage. It's "designed" for the 94+ model trucks. Has anyone bought it and found it to be generic enough to put on our bumper? It would br pretty nice to have a solid mount block heater plug with a cap over the opening instead of fumbling with my coffee in my hand under the truck to unplug/plug the darn thing in.

Thanks in advance

-Luke

ofcmarc

Look here.

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...d.php?t=167831

Boatnik

I bought one locally and fabbed up my own system. I mounted the plug on the fender behind the front bumber on the drivers side. I picked this location for two reasons. It is the closest point to the outdoor receptical and I have to practically step over the cord to get in the truck. Old guys get forgetfull.

I ran a wire from the plug to a duplex box mounted on the inner fender beside the battery. I snaked the block heater cord under the radiator and added a heavy duty extension cord to reach the duplex. I then mounted a battery tender on the firewall outboard the brake booster and ran the 120 volt cord to the other side of the duplex and plugged it in. The battery tender is connected directly to the battery with ring terminals or you can go to the hot side of one of the grid heater solenoids. All wires are secured with zip ties.

BearKiller

All of the above is some good advice.



Also, some time ago on either one of the FORD forums or maybe even on here, I saw some really neat set-ups where several different people retrofitted those old hinged spring-loaded rear gas-filler license-plate brackets onto the front bumper, with a rigid cord-plug (available at camper supply stores) installed behind the license-plate bracket.


Using a good heavy 12-AWG out-door extension-cord, it is a simple matter to re-route the block-heater cord to the most convenient location for your personal situation.

As Boatnik already stated, a two- or four-gang receptacle box can be wired in the system and the block-heater and battery maintainer plugged in to that.

A bright little "nite-light" can be added, such that, whenever the block-heater is on, the nite-light will also be on and be visible from inside the house, thus re-assuring you that a breaker has not "thrown" and all is well.


A well-designed electric heater on a timer can also be installed inside the cab to make it nice and toasty-warm; careful selection and application is advised to prevent the truck catching fire; this would, of course, need be on a separate breaker/circuit from the block-heater.


Also, I am a firm believer in those five-dollar Harbor Freight battery maintainer/chargers; I have probably fifteen if not more.

I have one on both riding mowers, one on each tractor, and on every one of the trucks around here.

I keep the seldom-used ones plugged in all the time.

On any night below freezing, I also plug in the battery maintainers of our frequently driven trucks (along with the block heater).

That little all-night pulsating trickle of current makes the battery(s) behave like it is a hot day in August.