I’d love to hear your thoughts / experience with creative solutions to solar for those of us with limited roof space. I have one flexible panel on my roof, but my fan and a/c take up the rest of my roof space on my Chevy G20 🚌🧡

[u/zoebytheriver]

Reallyyy craving more solar power so I can spend longer off grid 😅 Thanks in advance! 🙏🏻

[u/QuesadillasAreYummy]

I have portable 200W solar panels (the common Amazon ones that fold in quarters) and set them up next to my truck during the day. It’s probably not your perfect long term solution, but a couple of those will remain relatively cheap give you plenty of power while you workout a better solution.

[u/zoebytheriver → u/QuesadillasAreYummy]

Yesss, honestly portable may be the best bang for my buck rn lol. Someone sent me a photo of portable panels hanging from their roof / off the side of their van. Think I could get a lot of power doing that. Now I just gotta figure out how to integrate them into my system lol. Thanks for the advice!! 🙏🏻

[u/Torin-ByThe-Ocean]

Put your solar panel over your roof vent fan. That's what I did on my 2006 Sienna posted above. Works perfectly fine. ✌️

[u/zoebytheriver → u/Torin-ByThe-Ocean]

Oooh super low profile, love that! My roof is kinda funky, I’m not sure how I’d make that work without it adding a bunch of height, but something I’ve been thinking about. Thanks for sharing!

[u/Torin-ByThe-Ocean → u/zoebytheriver]

You are most welcome.

[u/AmILukeQuestionMark]

Can your alternator charge your leisure batteries?

[u/zoebytheriver → u/AmILukeQuestionMark]

It does! But I don’t want to have to rely on that for when I spend longer periods of time in one place :/

[u/secessus]

creative solutions to solar for those of us with limited roof space.

• picking sites with more available sun
• finding a solar-optimal spot within a campsite using apps like Sun Surveyor
• park facing south to minimize shading from rooftop objects
• portable panels on extensions

[u/zoebytheriver → u/secessus]

lol thanks for this :) My problem is my one little solar panel doesn’t get enough juice to re-charge my two battleborn batteries…excited to hopefully add more solar to my setup. Good to know about Sun Surveyor. Appreciate your tips :)

[u/Federal-Flow-644]

Can you post a pic with some dimensions? We’ll get way more creative.

[u/zoebytheriver → u/Federal-Flow-644]

Ahh I’ve been trying to find a good photo of my roof but haven’t had any luck yet…here’s my van though! I circled where my one flexible panel is…

[u/Buzzkill46 → u/zoebytheriver]

You've probably either got to just run foldables on the ground or build a super structure over the fan and/or A/C. That would definitely ruin the look.

You could mount one right on the leading edge of the roof that could fold up when parked, but rocks would ruin it.

Your can is awesome, but sadly, you have the wrong build for a lot of solar. You'd have been better off with a rear door mounted minisplit. That would get two panels where the A/C is at.

[u/ez2tock2me]

I have a 2000 GMC Safari. It’s got 35 cubic sqft of SLEEPING SPACE. No room for any extra.

8 years ago I discovered my job and the public have every thing I need for comfort AND ITS FREE.

I’ve been homeless for 20 years now, but I only SLEEP in my Van. I live at work, the gym, coffeehouses and Malls.

Everything I need is there. I quit buying groceries almost 2 years ago. The restaurants have food and plates.

I don’t need to cook, wash dishes or store anything.

There ways to get what you need without materials and hardware.

Electricity is free at work. I have a power unit, literally the size of a book, that holds 8 hours of charge and charges in 90 minutes.

[u/Qjahshdydhdy]

Do you have dc-dc charging? Assuming you aren't parking for long periods its probably all you need.

[u/zoebytheriver → u/Qjahshdydhdy]

I do have dc-dc charging :) But I also want to have the ability to stay put off grid somewhere for longer periods of time without having to drive to charge my batteries. Thank you!