I have to get 4 16 ga. wires from the inside of the tailgate to the spare and need suggestions, please. I'd prefer not to allow water to get in.

 

run them through the swing harness back inside the Jeep. then behind the carpet down to the bottom. pull up the weather stripping and cut a notch in the pinch seam. smooth the edges of the cut. run the wires through the notch and replace weatherstripping

 

How bad am i going to #%&! up the paint if I drill a hole and use a grommet?

 

the part you drill is under the weatherstripping. you can't tell from inside or outside.

 

I'm talking about next to the existing grommet or whatever for the 3rd brake light wires. maybe an inch or two to the left of it. thru the sheetmetal face of the tailgate.
I'm trying to get them to swing open with the tailgate.

 

Pull the existing grommet, split it, put your wires through, zip-tie the back of it and stick it back in the hole.

Be very carefull drilling holes without checking for interference first, there is some oddly shaped sheet metal in there.

I ran my License plate wires/third brake light wires through the existing grommet and followed thier routing, through the tailgate, out and underneath the plastic plate inside the tailgate, along the flexible portion, up into the top of the rear fender and down into the passenger taillight socket. it worked just fine.

 

ohh. i came through that grommet with my cb antanae, i just sliced a cut through the grommet from the center down. that gave me enough room.

 

this is what i was trying to say. but i don't have the vocabulary or grammar to pull it off.

 

I get it Happy, thanks to both of you, though. doesn't seem I'll need to drill the paint. I already saw the sheet metal you spoke of and could clear it, but if I don't need new holes, and it doesn't sound like I do, I'd rather not.

 

no you don't have to drill paint. i thought you were originally asking how to get power out to a swing away. getting power to open with the tail gate is much easier.