Solar panel that cover entire back half of the truck - any interest

[hemiarch]

I installed a 420W solar panel, charge controller, battery and inverter to supply 12/24Vdc and 120Vac power for off grid camping/over-landing. The system has two 100Ah 12V LFP batteries wired in series (2.4kWh), a 20A Renogy Rover charge controller and a 1000W pure sinewave inverter capable of charging the truck using the mobile connector. The panel is mounted to the rooftop tent with a crossbar kit. The total cost of materials came to under $1k, not counting the tent and crossbar kit.

Ooh. I want know more. All the details you are willing to share please

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[cadamo001]

We don’t know that yet.

Agreed. Why I said probably. Everyone has their own cost/value analysis...

 

[Cybergirl]

Ooh. I want know more. All the details you are willing to share please

This approach requires a bed rack, of course. Urander makes this one. I mounted the solar power station (batteries, charge controller, inverter) inside the bed rack in a ventilated metal enclosure. The plastic box on the back is where 12 and 24V connections are made (refrigerator, A/C, Starlink, USB connections, etc), and there's a 120V outlet on the side (for electric blanket, CT charging, etc). The total weigh of the bed rack, tent, and solar system came to 450 lbs. My efficiency dropped from an average of 532 Wh/mi to 566 Wh/mi (-6%). I have removed the side mirrors.

The spare is placed beside it. It's raised and lowered on a Lippert winch (commonly used on RVs). The vault is completely free for other cargo.

We constructed an overhead support frame in the garage for removing the bed rack when a vertically unobstructed pickup truck bed is needed for hauling. It's also best to remove the bed rack, tent, and solar system over the winter up north. I have to remove the 8 bolts that attach the bed rack to the truck, raise the truck to 'extract height', back under the support frame, hook the bed rack to the overhead support frame, lower the suspension, and drive out of the garage. The rack hangs from the support on four chains. It's not a quick and easy procedure to remove and reattach the bed rack because the two 17mm hex head bolts at the windshield are hard to get at to remove and replace. The vertical post can be removed when there's no weight on the overhead structure.

 

[CybertruckWraps]

If someone's ever interested in installing solar panels for charging vehicle purpose, this is the only effective way: https://www.dartsolar.com/

Just reserved. DM me and let’s see how we can help each other!

 

[BrockN]

This approach requires a bed rack, of course. Urander makes this one. I mounted the solar power station (batteries, charge controller, inverter) inside the bed rack in a ventilated metal enclosure. The plastic box on the back is where 12 and 24V connections are made (refrigerator, A/C, Starlink, USB connections, etc), and there's a 120V outlet on the side (for electric blanket, CT charging, etc). The total weigh of the bed rack, tent, and solar system came to 450 lbs. My efficiency dropped from an average of 532 Wh/mi to 566 Wh/mi (-6%). I have removed the side mirrors.

The spare is placed beside it. It's raised and lowered on a Lippert winch (commonly used on RVs). The vault is completely free for other cargo.

We constructed an overhead support frame in the garage for removing the bed rack when a vertically unobstructed pickup truck bed is needed for hauling. It's also best to remove the bed rack, tent, and solar system over the winter up north. I have to remove the 8 bolts that attach the bed rack to the truck, raise the truck to 'extract height', back under the support frame, hook the bed rack to the overhead support frame, lower the suspension, and drive out of the garage. The rack hangs from the support on four chains. It's not a quick and easy procedure to remove and reattach the bed rack because the two 17mm hex head bolts at the windshield are hard to get at to remove and replace. The vertical post can be removed when there's no weight on the overhead structure.

This is a nice system - I think I've admired it a few times in the past few months! ?

Are you comfortable with the weight of the panel on the tent roof? The tent supports are up to the challenge? That was my concern when brainstorming panel locations.

If you are already taking an unavoidable energy hit from the rack and tent, then the solar panel probably doesn't appreciably factor in to making it any worse. That's a good thing! Otherwise, I would be concerned about the energy hit (air friction) of a solar system when compared to the energy it can replace. If it can't be net positive over the trip, it's probably a bad idea!

 

[Cybergirl]

This is a nice system - I think I've admired it a few times in the past few months! ?

Are you comfortable with the weight of the panel on the tent roof? The tent supports are up to the challenge? That was my concern when brainstorming panel locations.

If you are already taking an unavoidable energy hit from the rack and tent, then the solar panel probably doesn't appreciably factor in to making it any worse. That's a good thing! Otherwise, I would be concerned about the energy hit (air friction) of a solar system when compared to the energy it can replace. If it can't be net positive over the trip, it's probably a bad idea!

Yes, I pondered this matter, and came to the conclusion that it was worth installing the solar panel. The panel and extra weight didn't reduce efficiency much at all over and above the efficiency hit of the bed rack and tent which I justified for camping instead of sleeping in the vault. As you know, when overlanding, speeds are often under 50 mph and even less when traveling on gravel roads and off-road trails. The aero efficiency hit is negligible. When camping for days between charging stops, the solar system preserves CT's high voltage battery charge to a significant degree. Traveling on the interstates at 75 mph, I generally stop every 100 miles or so to charge so the loss of efficiency (~6%) is not a problem. If I was taking a 2000 mile trip cross country without camping, I would likely remove the bed rack to take back the efficiency loss.

 

[hemiarch]

This approach requires a bed rack, of course. Urander makes this one. I mounted the solar power station (batteries, charge controller, inverter) inside the bed rack in a ventilated metal enclosure. The plastic box on the back is where 12 and 24V connections are made (refrigerator, A/C, Starlink, USB connections, etc), and there's a 120V outlet on the side (for electric blanket, CT charging, etc). The total weigh of the bed rack, tent, and solar system came to 450 lbs. My efficiency dropped from an average of 532 Wh/mi to 566 Wh/mi (-6%). I have removed the side mirrors.

The spare is placed beside it. It's raised and lowered on a Lippert winch (commonly used on RVs). The vault is completely free for other cargo.

We constructed an overhead support frame in the garage for removing the bed rack when a vertically unobstructed pickup truck bed is needed for hauling. It's also best to remove the bed rack, tent, and solar system over the winter up north. I have to remove the 8 bolts that attach the bed rack to the truck, raise the truck to 'extract height', back under the support frame, hook the bed rack to the overhead support frame, lower the suspension, and drive out of the garage. The rack hangs from the support on four chains. It's not a quick and easy procedure to remove and reattach the bed rack because the two 17mm hex head bolts at the windshield are hard to get at to remove and replace. The vertical post can be removed when there's no weight on the overhead structure.

That is amazing. Still digesting. Bravo!

 

[Gaximus]

Makes me wander about attaching something like this to the tonneau cover would be possible.

https://www.bougerv.com/products/yuma-400w-cigs-flexible-solar-panel-with-holes

 

[affinity]

Makes me wander about attaching something like this to the tonneau cover would be possible.

https://www.bougerv.com/products/yuma-400w-cigs-flexible-solar-panel-with-holes

That small wire part would stuck inside when you open the tonneau cover.

 

[hemiarch]

Maybe a bunch of narrow cigs panels ? One per slat. Not sure what your do with wires though you’d have a big loom at the end that would need to roll/twist with the tonneau. Could also make a big panel that slides up over the roof glass to open the factory tonneau

 

[paraglidingbum]

I placed a pre-order for the GoSun EV solar charger when they first announced it last year. I just completed the order and I'll update when it arrives. They are saying second half of 2025 for delivery.

 

[Gigahorse]

Most of these chargers primary benefit is combating the insane vampire drain, when Tesla gets that under control these will be less necessary and will add some range each day which will be awesome.

 

[hemiarch]

What’s everyone’s take on just gluing some cigs panels on that glass roof?
https://www.bougerv.com/products/20...dxYEehikUZEA57Sbtfb3R_jrCKvWMnQ_CeVUCSs&gQT=1

 

[scottyah]

Count me as super interested. I'd actually love something that folds out and covers the windshield too, while attaching enough to cover high wind scenarios. I no longer plan on adding any sort of roof rack, so something that I could pop out of the bed and attach would be so cool. I have only 110 charging at home which is enough for my short commute, but with my job having uncovered outdoor parking even adding a few percentages of charge while blocking the topside glass would be huge for me.

 

[JUSTICEQD]

Not to hijack Roger’s thread but let’s say for arguments sake we could get someone to make a panel which covers (with appropriate holes), the entire back half of the truck minus the tonneau cover.
so, the glass and top sail panels basically. Maybe the side sails where UP and mars put molle panels. Or even just the glass.
How many of you would be interested? A group buy may be a way to get this done if a lot of people are into it.
These guys appear to do that kind of thing.
https://mitosolar.com/

Replacement tonneau slats maybe - otherwise no

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