Crazy idea, want your thoughts

[ebbinghausr]

I have a 2012 XLT EL without the towing package.

Ok, so I’m in western TN, I have to drive 6 hours to south western Mo and back. To get half a pig a buddy is getting ready to harvest. It’s already too hot to just make the trip with the meat in the cooler. So I have a 5x8 trailer, I also have a 5 cubic foot chest freezer. I was originally planning on also taking a small gas generator to run the chest freezer. The issue with that is it becomes even more of a target with a 2 grand trailer, 2 grand Honda inverter generator, and a few hundred dollar chest freezer with 200lb of amazing pork in it.

So, if I remove the bright red (not loud) but still running generator I draw less attention. Then crazy idea, the chest freezer only draws 150-250 watts. What if I get an Amazon 12 volt inverter that’s at least 300 watts? Plug it into the cargo area 12 volt plug. Run an extension cord out the back down the trailer to the freezer. It will run while I’m driving and the chest freezer can sit off for the quick fuel and bathroom breaks.

Issues
Can the rear cargo aux cigarette lighter type plug power a 300 watt inverter? I know the 110 plug in the center console will not run the freezer( already tried).

What fuse is the rear cargo’s 12 volt feed in my expedition?

Weather, what if it rains? Use a GDFI ? Will it work in a floating ground?

Wishes,
I wish I had a 7 pin trailer plug. I wish every truck and SUV that can tow over 5k pounds came with one pre installed. I hate cutting or splitting into the factory wires to “ install “ an after market kit. I did use a four pin taillight T adapter on my 2008 XLT f150 I used to have. To add a trailer brake and 7 pin plug using the factory wires. I will have to look at the wires under my unit to see if that’s even a possibility.

Am I overthinking it?

 

[JamaicaJoe]

Why don't you arrange for a butcher shop closer to your buddy to collect and freeze the meat and put on dry ice? Bear in mind dry ice sublimates into CO2 so you will need your windows open on the vehicle or you will die.

 

[The Ark]

On my 2012 Expo EL Limited its 180w max... Use it to run my 58 quart refrigerator/freezer while traveling ( draws 45-60 watts).

 

[ebbinghausr]

Why don't you arrange for a butcher shop closer to your buddy to collect and freeze the meat and put on dry ice? Bear in mind dry ice sublimates into CO2 so you will need your windows open on the vehicle or you will die.

Thought of this, only place the would do that was closer to KC or STL. My guess it it closer to were a dry ice production facility is. It made for other issues, like moving a live 400lb pig that’s already mean as hell. Because those slaughterhouses are USDA certified so it has to be alive when it arrives, we are going to use more of a deer processing place. Cheaper. Plus the cost of dry ice OMG. That said it is a great idea.

 

[ebbinghausr]

On my 2012 Expo EL Limited its 180w max... Use it to run my 58 quart refrigerator/freezer while traveling ( draws 45-60 watts).

Good to know , it’s looking more like a trailer seven pin with a break controller is happening. That way I can use a female 7 pin plug convert the four needed for my utility trailers four flat plug and steal the 12v constant from the battery to power the inverter.

Also I’ll be ready when I find an affordable travel trailer.

 

[The Ark]

Was thinking about your issue... One idea might be to load the freezer into your trailer (ice cold) and then tape the seal shut, with about 60-80 lbs of regular ice. Bring an extension cord. When you get to destination, run the freezer at least an hour before your return trip to get it as cold as possible. Bring a spare 12 volt (deep cycle) battery and power inverter to run the freezer once or twice during return trip. That should get you home no problem, especially if the butchered pork is already wrapped and frozen.

 

[DieselMonk]

Please, whatever you do… don’t put a large load on a cigarette lighter plug. These things are made for anything under 10 amps 12V, but not 30 amps. Also it would pop the fuse. Not a good idea.
300w should be hard wired.

Use the trailer power, it’s fused for 30 amps. Maybe a small battery and hook the inverter up to it.

 

[Andy B]

I have a 2012 XLT EL without the towing package.

Ok, so I’m in western TN, I have to drive 6 hours to south western Mo and back. To get half a pig a buddy is getting ready to harvest. It’s already too hot to just make the trip with the meat in the cooler. So I have a 5x8 trailer, I also have a 5 cubic foot chest freezer. I was originally planning on also taking a small gas generator to run the chest freezer. The issue with that is it becomes even more of a target with a 2 grand trailer, 2 grand Honda inverter generator, and a few hundred dollar chest freezer with 200lb of amazing pork in it.

So, if I remove the bright red (not loud) but still running generator I draw less attention. Then crazy idea, the chest freezer only draws 150-250 watts. What if I get an Amazon 12 volt inverter that’s at least 300 watts? Plug it into the cargo area 12 volt plug. Run an extension cord out the back down the trailer to the freezer. It will run while I’m driving and the chest freezer can sit off for the quick fuel and bathroom breaks.

Issues
Can the rear cargo aux cigarette lighter type plug power a 300 watt inverter? I know the 110 plug in the center console will not run the freezer( already tried).

What fuse is the rear cargo’s 12 volt feed in my expedition?

Weather, what if it rains? Use a GDFI ? Will it work in a floating ground?

Wishes,
I wish I had a 7 pin trailer plug. I wish every truck and SUV that can tow over 5k pounds came with one pre installed. I hate cutting or splitting into the factory wires to “ install “ an after market kit. I did use a four pin taillight T adapter on my 2008 XLT f150 I used to have. To add a trailer brake and 7 pin plug using the factory wires. I will have to look at the wires under my unit to see if that’s even a possibility.

Am I overthinking it?

Just 6 hours? Why not just pack the meat with dry ice?

 

[Fastcar]

I get meat products shipped from Omaha to FL a few times a year. They freeze it, put it in a styrofoam cooler with dry ice and ship it by UPS truck. It arrives here frozen with a bunch of dry ice left.

 

[Fastcar]

Really, after reading this thread a few times I agree with Andy B It is a 12 hour round trip. Can't you have cut and frozen before you get there? Load it into a few coolers and head home?

 

[LanceExp2025]

If a local butcher (JamaicaJoe's - best idea) is NOT available or NOT workable, for a one-time pig meat deal, I would just rent a U-Haul Pick-up for this one-day trip, put everything in the back and drive home. It seems to me, that you are over thinking all of this, though.

If you have a 400# pig, to start with, once you butcher it at your buddies place, carve it into useable parts, wrap those and split all the butchered meat 50-50 with your buddy, you will be lucky to get 100#-125# of cut meat and their included bones. A total of 100# of cut meat will fit into 3-4 large coolers easily, including dry ice. Put those in the back of your Expy, put the windows down slightly and drive home. We have done that for years with deer and elk from Colorado hunting trips and even the almost 2-day drive home to ca, the meat is still frozen, when we get home. If it is more of an adventure than a money saving matter, just do what is best for you and have fun! Lance

 

[Fastcar]

If a local butcher (JamaicaJoe's - best idea) is NOT available or NOT workable, for a one-time pig meat deal, I would just rent a U-Haul Pick-up for this one-day trip, put everything in the back and drive home. It seems to me, that you are over thinking all of this, though.

If you have a 400# pig, to start with, once you butcher it at your buddies place, carve it into useable parts, wrap those and split all the butchered meat 50-50 with your buddy, you will be lucky to get 100#-125# of cut meat and their included bones. A total of 100# of cut meat will fit into 3-4 large coolers easily, including dry ice. Put those in the back of your Expy, put the windows down slightly and drive home. We have done that for years with deer and elk from Colorado hunting trips and even the almost 2-day drive home to ca, the meat is still frozen, when we get home. If it is more of an adventure than a money saving matter, just do what is best for you and have fun! Lance

What he said!

 

[ebbinghausr]

Just 6 hours? Why not just pack the meat with dry ice?

Ya where it’s at it’s another 3 hours north to get dry ice.

 

[ebbinghausr]

I need to find a dry ice place that’s near Springfield, MO. But I’m thinking getting the trailer power hooked up. And running an extra deep cycle battery.

Any idea on how to hook a trailer 7 pin plug system on my EL XLT 2012 that only has a 4 flat pin plug? Without hacking into the tail light wires.

 

[LanceExp2025]

Yes, there is a standard made 4 pin - 7 Pin adapter available on eBay at $15.00 in Kentucky & CA

eBay Item # 124828259287

 

[bb37]

I need to find a dry ice place that’s near Springfield, MO.

Dry ice is available in most major cities.

Where to buy Dry Ice Springfield, MO - SpringfieldMODryIce.com

We are Springfield, MO only regional manufacturer and distributor of dry ice. BUY DIRECT in pellets, blocks and rice for responsive delivery and FRESH ice. SpringfieldMODryIce.com

www.springfieldmodryice.com

 

[ebbinghausr]

124828259287

I need to add more than just the four pins. I’m talking about the factory wire loom. It already has all the wires for a brake controller and 12v constant but this is a start

 

[danimerciss22]

Bear in mind dry ice sublimates into CO2 so you will need your windows open on the vehicle or you will die.

jiofi.local.html tplinklogin​

 

[ebbinghausr]

Bear in mind dry ice sublimates into CO2 so you will need your windows open on the vehicle or you will die.

jiofi.local.html tplinklogin​

Did it already, I installed a trailer brake seven pin. When I did I also installed it with a heavy gauge positive and negative wire all the way back to the battery. With automatic reset breaker on the positive side and a master fuse on both sides ( + and -) . Then I forked it just before the 7 pin plug in the back to a secondary plug just like a float charger plug is.

The 7 pin constant power will charge any trailer battery with no problem. That and the ground is clean going to the battery ( with a fuse to protect the battery). I just had a utility trailer with the deep freezer on it. I ran an inverter off the forked plug with no issues. Made it, glad I did it because I had to make a few stops and was also stuck in dead stop traffic for hours.

Now I need to add a transmission cooler and while doing that service the transmission and the rear end. To insure I can tow my travel trailer when I get it.