Options for tailgate feeder controller?

[Dale Moser]

i don't know, maybe UNPLUG when not in use????

Oh this sounds like a great plan. Wake up to go hunting, forget that feeder is plugged in, spin corn out at camp. Un plug feeder and head to the blind, get out of the truck in the corn row to plug in feeder, feed corn row, get back out of the truck to un-plug feeder so you can park truck. Leave camp in the afternoon get to corn row and realize you forgot to plug the feeder back in....repeat. Yep, that makes perfect sense.


Why not just run a wire and a switch and never fool with it again???

[stickerpatch59]

Oh this sounds like a great plan. Wake up to go hunting, forget that feeder is plugged in, spin corn out at camp. Un plug feeder and head to the blind, get out of the truck in the corn row to plug in feeder, feed corn row, get back out of the truck to un-plug feeder so you can park truck. Leave camp in the afternoon get to corn row and realize you forgot to plug the feeder back in....repeat. Yep, that makes perfect sense.


Why not just run a wire and a switch and never fool with it again???

well if you have an old beater of a truck then your way is the way to go for sure, i just prefer not to drill holes in my truck and jerry rig some wires, jmo.

[tgil]

Oh this sounds like a great plan. Wake up to go hunting, forget that feeder is plugged in, spin corn out at camp. Un plug feeder and head to the blind, get out of the truck in the corn row to plug in feeder, feed corn row, get back out of the truck to un-plug feeder so you can park truck. Leave camp in the afternoon get to corn row and realize you forgot to plug the feeder back in....repeat. Yep, that makes perfect sense.


Why not just run a wire and a switch and never fool with it again???

Moser were you there on my javi hunt last March? This was the first time I'd ever used a tailgate feeder. The ranch we hunted let us borrow theirs. Plugged it into trailer connector. Problem #1: my lights come on automatically when it's dark. Figured out I could override that by turning off the "auto on feature". That worked until I got up the next morning and left camp, still groggy. Corned from where my truck was parked all most all of the way to the sendero where I meant to start! Problems #2,3 and so on followed.
I just use the remote now, and keep the feeder on my atv. If I were to use it on my truck, I'd wire a seperate switch.

[BSOB]

Oh this sounds like a great plan. Wake up to go hunting, forget that feeder is plugged in, spin corn out at camp. Un plug feeder and head to the blind, get out of the truck in the corn row to plug in feeder, feed corn row, get back out of the truck to un-plug feeder so you can park truck. Leave camp in the afternoon get to corn row and realize you forgot to plug the feeder back in....repeat. Yep, that makes perfect sense.


Why not just run a wire and a switch and never fool with it again???

hey you just described why i quit using the trailer harness method....because it wasnt worth the hassle. I just use the long remote cable now. If you dont want to drill holes in your truck, just zip tie a switch to something.

[Reaper33]

ya i would just stick to the method that works now the coprd through the window why fix what aint broke!!! plus its free now and i cant imagine it being that big of a hassle

[Dale Moser]

There are a million places in a truck to hide a switch and still be able to get to it, or use an existing switch (like the fog light switch), and you can buy toggle switches these days that look factory installed. The only small problem I see with using a factory fog light switch is that fog lights will only come on with the headlights on dim.....and it seems like mine stay on bright at the deer lease, but that's pretty minor.

I can't imagine anyone who's ever used a road feeder very much would want it tied in to the head lights......but whatever.

[super_dave]

I plug mine into the trailer lights. I turn on lights and motor spins! I also only feed in the afternoon

[Luck_of_the_Draw]

I wired in a switch on the dash. Guess which switch??

[Russ81]

well if you have an old beater of a truck then your way is the way to go for sure, i just prefer not to drill holes in my truck and jerry rig some wires, jmo.

Get a orange extension cord, wire it to the battery then run it into the cab. Theres three ways to make a switch, put a toggle on the dash, make a trigger out of a timing belt trigger or PVC, OR if you got a newer ford that already has accessory switches built into the dash use them. And I think with the factory switches you start under the dash not the battery, but I've slept since then

Run the extension cord down the frame, zip tying as you go then wire a two prong plug at the back. Bada-bing, bada-bang you got a yellow brick road paver ready for bidness

The cord's heavy rubber coating protects and keeps the wires neat, plus gives you an extra wire in case of emergency. The only wires in your cab are under the dash and the switch is discreetly out of view.

[Bill's Unlimited]

Dale - I couldn't agree with you more! Got your back!!!!

Russ - I have done the extension cord thing before, good cost savings there...

For those talking about the "cost" / "no cost" for existing wiring setup - The only thing you "need" to change out is the switch, you already have enough wire in the existing setup to re-route it along the frame and into the cab... The only "cost" is a $5 toggle switch and a couple of .05 connectors.

[Luck_of_the_Draw]

I used motorcycle battery disconnects at the feeder so I can take the feeder off.

[Coach W]

On our old jeep I had it running to the old school dimmer switch in the floor... the step on step off push button types.

The lights were converted to a toggle on the dash a long time ago but the switch still had power to it, run a hot to the feeder motor, then ground it to a screw back there.

I have also seen the switches inside the cab.


For a daily Driver that you want to convert on the weekend, use the cigarette lighter for power, run to a toggle switch and ground in the cab... then run a hot wire out the window to the feeder. If you use the quick disconect female/male type adapters you can easily ground and plug into the feeder when ready and disconnect and roll up when not in use.

If you want to get fancy with it: Make a small wooden box to mount the switch on that also doubles as a wire holder/compartment when not in use.

[huntingfanatic]

Look on eBay There are all kinds of 12 volt remote switches that fit on a key chain just like your car alarm. Just hook the receiver on the tailgate feeder, get power for feeder and receiver from trailer connection etc and your all set. Completely wireless and works like a charm.