Thanks Volks, for all the input.

I think I will stick to my original idea -

1) Cut an opening in the kick board under the edge of the rear seat.
2) Mount a steel receptacle box on the back side of the kick board.
3) String a long heavy duty cable from the box through the firewall
under the seat and through the engine compartment, clearing hot spots
and moving components, and securing the thing with ties.
4) Install grounding receptacles in the steel box, and fit a cover plate
over it to cover the box.
5) Wire in the cable to the receptacles.
6) Attach a three prong plug to the cable end by the rear hatch,
7) Secure the cable end to something at the rear service hatch using a tie.

All that would need doing then would be to open the oil service hatch a
bit, plug in the extension, and voila - power available inside the van.

Yes, there is a possibility of a drive off with extension attached, but
it should pull free from the plug on the end og the cable attached to
the van.

But for myself, I'm an old pilot who has done untold hundreds of
preflight checklists before beginning a flight. And I alway do one on my
van before driving anywhere. It is  not likely - but is possible - to
miss disconnecting and driving off, so ease of breakaway is sort of
built in on this one.

The tail end of the cable can be long enough to hang out the hatch when
parked, yet tucked in when on the road. That should make breakaway
easy.But I just might install a red "Power On" light just to alert me
that the extension cord is still connected.

Thanks again for all the input.

Regards,

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
> I have periodic need to have internal 115/120 Volt  power available
> inside my van, and I always wind up have to string an extension cord,
> leave a door or window cacked open for the cord access, etc. I'm
> thinking of installing a 4 gang receptacle under the rear seat, with a
> metal box under the seat and the receptacles themselves faceing out from
> under the seat. It would be mounted on that board that makes for the
> storage space under the seat. For wiring, a heavy cord would be wired
> into the receptacle and strung through a hole in the slanted firewall
> under the seat into the engine bay and  strung across the top of the
> engine and the plug end would be tied off right at the rear service
> hatch opening. This would allow for simply plugging in an extension
> cable at the rear of the vehicle, eliminating all that other hassle.
>
> Just wondering if there are opinions as to better arrangements, or
> things to watch out for, cautions, etc.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Regards,
>
> John Rodgers
> 88 GL Driver
>
>