Let's see your solar setups!

Whats better, mounting on hood or roof vs portable?

 

It's all a tradeoff, and a compromise. I lived out of my camper the last 8 summers. I started with a portable setup, for the last 6 years I've had a panel mounted permanently to the roof.

Portable pros:
Portable
You can park in the shade and pull the panel into the sun. Don't have to park in the sun.
You can transfer to a different vehicle.
You can "track" the sun with it, moving it as the sun moves.

Portable cons:
One more thing you need to find space for (less of an issue with flexible panels).
Can be stolen.

I liked the portable, but it was a solid, giant "briefcase" setup that took up too much room, and I worried it'd get stolen. I put a 100 watt panel on the camper roof and and never worried about it again. Depending on where you live and how much power you use, a flat panel that's in & out of the sun and rarely at the optimal angle is still plenty to charge a singe deep cycle battery. Once it was up there, I really very rarely even thought about it. It just did its thing.

Used to be you could camp out on national forest and be left alone. Things have changed. I don't trust that things won't get stolen. If you leave camp unattended (do days hikes straight from camp and don't bring the truck with you), I'd be pretty hesitant to leave a portable panel out.

I would not, however, mount a panel on the roof of my truck. I put stuff up there. Canoe etc. Really depends on how you use your truck.

 

what bumpers are you running? that front bumper is sexy.

 

Currently have a 100 watt on top of my rack on a mount I builtI made it so it’s removable so I can move it into the sun easier or just take it off when I don’t need it I did have to add a piece of UMHW as a spacer so I could carry a canoe

I have a Lone Peak wedge camper on order so I’ll be moving on from the current setup and will likely mount a couple of flexible panels to the camper roof, probably be more in the neighborhood or 240 watts.

My experience with the single panel has been great, keeps my batteries topped off , used to have the issue of have my to break down every 48 hours to go drive around for a few hours and sometimes we just wanna sit still for like 5 days lol

 

curious why you went with the lone peak?

 

not my truck, just a pic from the internet.says BSI on it

 

The new Fisker Ocean has a solar roof that can provide some, be it minimal, charge to the main batteries...

 

This was the setup I had on my contractor cap, 120 watt flexible panel with 30 amp charger.




This my new setup, panel is a 100 watt flexible and an adjustable 100 watt hard panel.

 

I like the idea of the hood panels, but they are way to expensive. I was able to completely do my camper solar setup with 125 watt panel, breaker, 30 amp charger and wiring for more than a $200 cheaper then the 85 watt hood kit.

 

Several reasons-
-First and foremost in Washington state so supporting local vendors and not driving too far for install or paying for shipping.
-Really not a lot of options for wedges on first gens. Pretty much Lone Peak, Go Fast, Sierra Pacific and AT Overland. I was saving for a Vagabond then they went tits up.
-Price is really good for what you get, $6000, only GFC is close and they don’t have as many features/options. I’m doing my own build but Lone Peak has a lot of options for add ons for those that want it pre-installed. Sierra Pacific and AT are close to $14,000, no thanks, I’ll buy a trailer before I go that route.
-Like the footprint of the upper platform the best, very close to my current roof top tent so we’re used to the size. At ~52” my Exped Megamat will fit if the supplied mattress isn’t comfortable enough. AT is 48” so too narrow and Oru Designs is 60” which seems unnecessarily large, makes lower walls vertical. Lone Peak cab walls are more similar to cab shape, so hopefully less drag, likely less body roll than a vertical sidewall camper. My current rack has a very similar footprint so I’m used to the dimensions and the current weight characteristics with the tent are likely similar, ie center of gravity.
-Only ones besides AT with a fold up bed platform.
-Side access doors that are double sealed, I’ve heard GFC leaks, not something I’d find acceptable. Front canopy glass available as a slider and is drop down so better access for cleaning, etc
-Track all everywhere allows for easy mounting and they supply t-nuts for a good price. I’ll want to mount an awning and load bars up top to carry a canoe, etc.
-They’re constantly trying to refine/perfect things and waited to release their product until after testing it and living in it on the road for half a year.
-Honest communication, several production updates, good product demo, friendly service where they are introducing themselves in videos, so high level of accountability.

 

I’ve got a potted GoPower PMW charger, size of a deck of cards and is IP68 so can mount in the engine bay. Works well with a single panel

Plan is when I go to the wedge and the 2 flexible panels I’ll ditch the current dual battery setup and install a Redarc BCDC25 and lithium battery in the second battery spot. The Redarc has a built in MPPT charge controller