How to seal a hole

[DanDweller]

Hi all, this should be pretty straightforward.  I'm looking at where to install my shore power inlet and see that there is a perfect spot on the rear, passenger-side bumper.  Right there behind the bumper, there is a factory hole in the metal of the van through which I could pass my cable from the inside.  Then I would drill my 1 3/4" hole in the bumper and install the inlet.  I would rather mount it on the bumper for stealth and to avoid cutting holes in the body of the van.  But this leaves me with the question:

What is the best way to seal off the hole that is already there in the metal (it is about 1 1/2" diameter) once I've run the cable through it?  I guess just gooping it up with silicone is peobably not a good long-term idea?  Also I want to make sure the cable is well protected against abrasion there where it passes through the metal hole  so I wonder what best to use?  The inlet I'm looking at on Amazon says it is weather protected both front and back, so hopefully the ~5" length of cable and connection that would run from the metal hole on the outside to the bumper hole would be fine even though exposed to the elements.

I'm also thinking that that same 1 1/2" factory hole is the perfect spot through which to run the water hose from the hitch-mount 4 gallon water tank I just bought.  If I could safely pass both the hose and cable through that hole, it would be nice.  Is that crazy?

Any thoughts?

 

[MrNoodly]

Is there something already plugging that factory hole? And are you sure it's not the access hole for cranking down the spare tire?

 

[bullfrog]

Bumpers sometimes get bumped so good luck with that and that area gets a lot of water splashing when it rains. Is it a flat surface or curved? You can probably find an electrical fitting for a 3 wire service entrance or masthead and modify it. Grommets are available as well. I have used plastic pipe fittings and drilled a pipe cap so the lines or cables fit snuggly, on larger ones I fill them with spray foam then drill them to insulate them.

 

[Lowdesertpatrol]

Can get rubber grommets at real hardware stores for bumber abrasion.

 

[DanDweller]

Is there something already plugging that factory hole? And are you sure it's not the access hole for cranking down the spare tire?

Just a rubber grommet.  No, it's not the access hole for the spare.  No idea what it's for.  Someone said some of the holes are from the factory painting process.  There's a few of them like this scattered throughout the van with nothing going through them.

 

[DanDweller]

Bumpers sometimes get bumped so good luck with that and that area gets a lot of water splashing when it rains.  Is it a flat surface or curved?  You can probably find an electrical fitting for a 3 wire service entrance or masthead and modify it.  Grommets are available as well.  I have used plastic pipe fittings and drilled a pipe cap so the lines or cables fit snuggly, on larger ones I fill them with spray foam then drill them to insulate them.

Well it's fully on the passenger side of the van, where the black plastic wraps around the body, not to the rear.  And it is flat.  Also, it's pretty high up in there tucked behind the plastic splash cover that goes around the wheel well.  I'd post a picture but I'm not advanced enough to get past the uploading sizing requirements.

After I posted I did notice another spot, in the floorboard where factory installed cables pass snugly through a rubber grommet with kind of an exaggerated boot.  I wonder where I can find those.

 

[bullfrog]

Try the junkyard or dealership.