Stick on Roof Solar Panel

I currently have a rigid solar panel on the roof of my extended cab (100W Renogy) which to be honest looks stupid. I’d really like to swap it to something low profile. I’ve seen hood ones but I’d rather have it on the roof. Any good brands/models to use for this?

I know I can just go to google/Amazon and find one. Which I did, same brand, same wattage, slightly bigger. But since the roof isn’t perfectly flat I'm curious what others did/used. I doubt it’s going to be flexible enough to follow the roof curves.

Here’s a couple pics of the one I have now.

 

isn't there a slim hood option that looks purdy damn cool?

 

why not go with a flexible adhesive pannel?

https://www.renogy.com/100-watt-12-volt-flexible-monocrystalline-solar-panel/

 

On my Tundra, I installed a roof rack/platform and mounted a panel to the platform.

 

Unless they cured the heat related power sap of zero airflow you are not doing that panel any favors. They are cooled by air flow underneath.

 

You won't find one that will follow the ridges of the roof perfectly but the flexible panels are less than 1/4" thick and would look a whole lot better up there.

 

Hear me out…get a roof rack and black solar panel. Boom can’t even tell you have one. (I have one mounted on my rack in the middle in this photo)

 

I've often wondered why roofs/hoods/trunks of EVs are not solar panels so they can recharge themselves if no plug-in available or instead of plugging in.

 

That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. Why would we want to use our solar panel technology to allow evs to actually produce some of there own power?

 

Exactly - wife and I will most likely install some on our 'hut' to continually charge the Goal-Zero. Especially useful when boon docking...

 

You tryna got some of that inflation reduction rebate cash??? Lol

 

There isn’t enough room for enough panels to provide a meaningful amount of recharge.

 

I put mine on Thule crossbars and added 1” spacers to lower it down flush with the bars

 

Yeah plus I’m thinking if I mount it starting on the smooth part of the hood I’ll get full coverage with the tape. Then the back I secure it along the ridges and sides which will leave a little bit of room for air flow on the dips.

 

Yeah roof rack would be nice. Not in the budget though. Plus I’m not sure I’d use it for anything else. Looks good though. Haha

 

Oh yeah that’s a good idea as well. Cheaper than a full rack too.

 

How do you figure? I have a panel half the size of my hood pushing 15v so 30 from hood and roof 60v not anything meaningful all day in the sun while inside at work or wherever you are? How meaningless does that make the ones on the roof racks in this thread? I mean, a 2 amp trickle charge keeps my car alive in the garage so why wouldn't stuff on roof and hood be enough to keep it topped off.

 

For an electric car with a 50kwH battery youd need to charge it for 34 days with a 60 watt panel to fully charge it. It’s just a tiny amount of power relative to what a vehicle requires to move.

 

500 watts of solar will produce about 2 kilowatts of power daily. That’s roughly 2 miles of range.

 

Something is better than nothing though
I vaguely remember prius had some solar panels on the roof or somewhere. I think it helped power the ac.