Solar panels under the roof rack

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r2m

r2m

Richard
10 Year 15 Year
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San Clemente, CA
I had an epiphany yesterday and started thinking about solar panels under the roof rack (assuming you have a roof rack). The solar panels would be on the underside of the roof rack between the rack and top of the truck, and still allow loading of the rack. Even with the grating/cross bars of the rack there should still be ample area for the sun to hit the panels. Then wire the solar panels kind of like a second battery so when you're not driving, your battery/batteries are always getting a trickle charge. With a 4' x 6' (or whatever fits) array of panels, one should be able to get a good amount of current off that. If you're out in the boonies, there should be enough juice to run a low volume stereo or charge phones without working off the battery.

This may especially be useful for those who use their 100's only occasionally and leave it parked on the side of the house for weeks or months, you'll never have a drained battery.

I am not haughty enough to think I'm the first person to ever think this up. Has anyone tried this setup yet?
 
Don't have a solar panel for the roof, but something like a Goal Zero would be simple enough without having to run wires? Also, we go through extreme temps here (100+ summer, below freezing in winter). How durable are those panels?
 
I have been thinking about this as well. I have the Front Runner rack, so the slats are much wider than factory and they flex. Plus I park in the garage for a couple weeks between driving so this wouldn't help with that. I removed the slat above the sunroof so I could put a panel there I suppose.

IMG_1936.jpg
 
phsycle said:
Don't have a solar panel for the roof, but something like a Goal Zero would be simple enough without having to run wires? Also, we go through extreme temps here (100+ summer, below freezing in winter). How durable are those panels?
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I just looked at Goal Zero and they have some cool stuff but expensive and bulky.
As far as durability, think about the solar panels that are sold for homes across the country. I believe the durability will be dependent upon what product/type of solar panel one uses, and yes, probably how much one spends.
 
sdnative said:
I have been thinking about this as well. I have the Front Runner rack, so the slats are much wider than factory and they flex. Plus I park in the garage for a couple weeks between driving so this wouldn't help with that. I removed the slat above the sunroof so I could put a panel there I suppose.
Click to expand...

I can easily see either fitting small long and narrow panels between the slats or one large panel under the entire rack, sans the sunroof area.
So you may not get the trickle charge at home, but there's always the "Battery Tender" for that. But out in the sticks I'm sure you would get some use out of it!
 
Kinda kills the view when driving in the great outdoors...;)
 
LandCruiserPhil said:
Why not just mount it on top:meh:
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The idea is not to kill any loading space, assuming that it may be needed and to increase the electrical output by having more surface area for panels.
Although it looks like you have it all pretty well laid out!
 
I was thinking about the same thing a few weeks ago. What I've learned is shading of the panels even very slight will have a dramatic effect on output. So you would try to space the crossbars accordingly. I'm unsure how you would get the wires into the truck (clean) I'm not huge on drilling a hole in the roof.


...via IH8MUD app
 
hondarepairman said:
I was thinking about the same thing a few weeks ago. What I've learned is shading of the panels even very slight will have a dramatic effect on output. So you would try to space the crossbars accordingly. I'm unsure how you would get the wires into the truck (clean) I'm not huge on drilling a hole in the roof.
Click to expand...

You may be correct that the best way would be to strategically space the cross bars and insert the solar panels between them and still keep them below the bars so one can still load the rack without cracking or breaking the panels.

The wiring is not an issue. It's done all the time with roof rack mounted lights. If you don't like drilling and sealing a hole in the roof, you can always run them to the rear and have them enter at the back hatch. Since this idea is for a full size rack, it should not look bad at all having a couple of black wires run to the rear of the rack and down into the rear hatch.
 
Could you set up the panel/s on something like a fridge slide? Then when you are camping out you can slide them out from under the rack so they get full sun. Even if the rack remains loaded. That would be cool with an RTT.
 
I have mine set up on slides under the rack. Nice and protected when driving and slides out when parked. Sits flush with the front of rack when slid in. This is on my 60, sorry.
rack 001.webp
 
Tag 3, that is a sweet setup having it slide out like that! I knew if I threw this idea out that somebody would take it to the next level!
I really like the slide out feature, but for myself, when I'm camping, I pretty much have everything off the rig in case we want to do a little wheeling in the area. But still, even with nothing on the rack, sliding it out would provide even more surface area for it.
 
X2 on the shading. I've heard even a portion of the panel in shadow drops the effectiveness quite a bit.

I like Tag3's setup. It may not charge up much while driving but once you get to your spot just pop it out. However, it's nice to have the truck in a shady spot while in camp. With a mounted solar panel you'll need to find a full sun spot.

A loose solar panel that you can move about camp towards the changing sun seems to be a good way to go. Downside is if you leave camp you have to worry about someone walking off with your solar panel.

hondarepairman said:
I was thinking about the same thing a few weeks ago. What I've learned is shading of the panels even very slight will have a dramatic effect on output. So you would try to space the crossbars accordingly. I'm unsure how you would get the wires into the truck (clean) I'm not huge on drilling a hole in the roof.


...via IH8MUD app
Click to expand...
 
I would imagine everyone is just using their vehicle batteries, which my are Odyssey batteries (2 under the hood).
 
patrickfinley said:
X2 on the shading. I've heard even a portion of the panel in shadow drops the effectiveness quite a bit.

I like Tag3's setup. It may not charge up much while driving but once you get to your spot just pop it out. However, it's nice to have the truck in a shady spot while in camp. With a mounted solar panel you'll need to find a full sun spot.

A loose solar panel that you can move about camp towards the changing sun seems to be a good way to go. Downside is if you leave camp you have to worry about someone walking off with your solar panel.
Click to expand...


The panel comes off and an extension cable plugs in to put it in a sunny spot while I'm in the shade!!!
 
Tag 3, how much juice do you get out of it? I'm sure it will trickle charge your rig, but what else can it do?
 
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