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Comment by Kevin F Smith on January 17, 2019 at 8:25am

So I was thinking about how I want to use solar power with our new-to-us 1995 Itasca Suncruiser.  After using solar for years with our old Holiday Rambler, I have determined that I only need about 300 watts of solar if I aim them at the sun, and that much only when we are boondocking.  So I was looking into the folding suitcase style panels, but they only go up to 200 watts, and are expensive!  They are also HUGE!  So I was thinking...why not hinge 2 150 watt panels together, and make adjustable legs for it that I can aim at the sun?  I already have a Morningstar MPPT 60 charge controller and all the fuses and breakers needed.  I could buy 2 good monocrystalline panels for about a quarter of the price of already made folding panels, add a hinge and legs, make a case for it, and done!  I really don't want to roof mount them on the RV, since the roof on the Itasca, fiberglass, is virgin and pristine. 

On the other side of the coin, having roof mounted panels on long trips makes it so that we don't have to run the generator when staying at Flying Js and rest areas.  What to do?

Eureka!  Why not make a rack that will carry the folding panels on the roof of the Jeep when we are on long trips, with an extension wire that goes to the charge controller?  On short trips, the folded panels could stay in one of the RV compartments, but on long trips?  Deployed flat on the top of the Jeep!  Genius!

Any thoughts on this, anyone?

Kev