Good series! I know its older, but I had to comment for folks who might stumble across this like i did. 3M tape will break down eventually, screws and dicor to secure the panels to the roof are the safest way to go about mounting. Will seal it up so its water/weatherproof too. And Silicone should never be used because it too will break down (shrink) over time with weather and changes in temp - leaving you vulnerable to leaks. Otherwise lots of other fun design ideas. thanks for posting!
200 amps of solar and 4 batteries will get you through a long cloudy spell and stay up with the fridge. I know you are not spending months in the bush lol. But a week is fun with plenty of power. Thanks for sharing, I'm looking forward to more of your vid's!
I have a large truck camper & 4 batteries is out of the question. Two group 31 batteries weigh 140 pounds. I'm already pushing the GVWR of my big dually.
It's almost done! We actually took it out already. The video comes out in like 2 weeks. Then there will be regular camping videos. Thanks for following along.
Thanks for the video, very helpful. I have the exact same Skamper and I'm having a hard time with the converter/inverter part. The Skamper came with Magnetek 6612 Power Converter .. My current setup is: Hyundai 255W Panel (already installed on the top of my camper) + Global Power Lithium Battery 12.8v 100ah + Renogy Rover 40am Charge Controller + Magnetek 6612 Power Converter (came with the camper. I can connect to shore power, and has a couple of outlets and couple of inside lights) My goal is to use the panel to charge the battery, and use the converter (or inverter?!) to distribute the power to the outlets and lighting. What I really don’t know and really need help with is that I don’t know if need to buy an inverter too or the combination of the power converter and the solar charger controller will do? The outlets and inside lighting in my camper are working with shore power, so my idea it was to connect the battery to the converter, but the more I research, I’m started to think the converter I have is just for shore power?! Thanks a lot!
Glad I found your channel, I split my time between SoCal and South Florida. I know a pop up camper is great out West, but I wonder how it will be in the heat and humidity (and bugs) down south. I look forward to seeing and hearing about your experiences. Subscribed...
Just installed a Renogy 160 W panel on my RAM Promaster. Cost about $240 shipped. Cables, PWM controller and panel. I used Sikaflex 252 and those plastic brackets.
I'd love to build a simple custom popup just for standing space in the middle of a low roof Promaster 118 low roof where the roof of the popup is a reinforced 300 watt solar panel and frame itself. I imagine a design where I JB weld a watertight aluminum lip around van opening that will sit inside the frame of the panel. Hinged on one side and clamped down onto rubber weather stripping.
@@AdventuresinPopUps you need about 6hrs of sun to with this panel to maintain my fridge, lights and charging phones. I'd recommend 2 panels or 1 big one.
Did you figure out the bed? Joanns fabrics sell thick foam by the yard. We've used it in the past for mattresses . Also call around to upholstery shops. Or get a hot knife and cut down a decent memory foam mattress for best comfort. Happy camping 🌺🗿🌺
That's a good idea. We still haven't bought or made a mattress yet. I'll check out the Hobby Lobby to see if they have any thing like that. I think Joanns closed down in my town.
Wanted to send a reminder: please check the load rating on your tires. Tire failure at any speed with a truck camper sucks! Long Point Park is next on my list. Safe travels!
Can you run your AC with the solar panels and what inverter do you have if so? If not do you just use shore power or a generator for the AC?! Thanks love the channel
The solar will not even come close to running air conditioning. I usually run it off shore power or a 2000w generator. That's pretty much your only choice. Thanks for watching.
Hi! I know nothing about solar and have watched videos so this might sound like I am an idiot but I have to ask…. Do I need a special battery? Or will it hook up to and charge the battery that comes with the pop up camper? Thanks so much
Kevin, can you mount the charge controller on the backside of the door? Leave enough slack in the wires to open door, that would allow you to clearly view the controller? Just a thought 👍🏻
Do you have any trouble with just using adhesive tape to hold down the panel? I have the exact pop up in AZ. The tape might dry rot due to the extreme heat and being so dry and fly off at highway speeds. I also don’t want to make holes on the hoof. Thanks for the how to!
I've had this tape holding on my solar panel for 3 years now on my other camper. It's solid and not going anywhere. That's with the Florida weather and sitting in the sun at 110° in the summer.
Nice install. Does it rain every day in Florid? Maybe you should buy a boat. How's the new intro coming? I'm sure the Jeep community is getting nervous. Looking forward to your first trip out in the new camper.
We usually have a 15min or 1hr rain storm in the summers. But this summer particularly we have had a ton of rain. I've had a few boats and will probably be buying another one very soon. Nicole and I just took the camper out last weekend and camped one night. It worked great! It rained from 6pm until 11pm and we were totally dry. It was nice cooking inside too!
Hey there. I notice you have brackets on the panel. Is that just to make it so the wires can fit through? Could you just glue it flat to the roof if the wires could come through a hole?
advice to anyone watching this video DO NOT USE TAPE to mount your panel, some self tapping screws with silicone is the safest way to go. Tape is not effective long term and the panels WILL come lose at some point using tape
You can get 10-30% more from your panel if you use an MPPT controller - we have the same set up on our Romahome - unfortunately, we found it does not make enough power to run the fridge 24/7 but meets our other needs great
So after having it installed for 9 months would you change anything? Does it offer enough power to run ac and frig? Super curious if i should do this with our popup as we dont always have electric where we go
You'd need at least 4 100Ah deep cycle batteries and 600w of solar panels to even come close to running the AC (depending on how many btu the AC is). Let alone all the other stuff.
Good series! I know its older, but I had to comment for folks who might stumble across this like i did. 3M tape will break down eventually, screws and dicor to secure the panels to the roof are the safest way to go about mounting. Will seal it up so its water/weatherproof too. And Silicone should never be used because it too will break down (shrink) over time with weather and changes in temp - leaving you vulnerable to leaks. Otherwise lots of other fun design ideas. thanks for posting!
Still after all these years the 3m tape is holding up. Everything you said is true, just check them regularly!
Nice video....important note connect the battery before the panels, use appropriate fuses where necessary
200 amps of solar and 4 batteries will get you through a long cloudy spell and stay up with the fridge. I know you are not spending months in the bush lol. But a week is fun with plenty of power. Thanks for sharing, I'm looking forward to more of your vid's!
I am using an ARB fridge. It can goes days with just the 100ah battery. So having a cloudy day isn't so bad.
I have a large truck camper & 4 batteries is out of the question. Two group 31 batteries weigh 140 pounds. I'm already pushing the GVWR of my big dually.
Good to know when I get a pop up trailer. Thanks
I'm ready to see you camp with this camper, I have been enjoying the build so far.
It's almost done! We actually took it out already. The video comes out in like 2 weeks. Then there will be regular camping videos. Thanks for following along.
Thanks for the video, very helpful. I have the exact same Skamper and I'm having a hard time with the converter/inverter part. The Skamper came with Magnetek 6612 Power Converter .. My current setup is: Hyundai 255W Panel (already installed on the top of my camper) + Global Power Lithium Battery 12.8v 100ah + Renogy Rover 40am Charge Controller + Magnetek 6612 Power Converter (came with the camper. I can connect to shore power, and has a couple of outlets and couple of inside lights)
My goal is to use the panel to charge the battery, and use the converter (or inverter?!) to distribute the power to the outlets and lighting.
What I really don’t know and really need help with is that I don’t know if need to buy an inverter too or the combination of the power converter and the solar charger controller will do? The outlets and inside lighting in my camper are working with shore power, so my idea it was to connect the battery to the converter, but the more I research, I’m started to think the converter I have is just for shore power?!
Thanks a lot!
Yes, it's just for shore power unfortunately. I ran into the same issue. I'm glad you found my videos.
I quote "I don't want to drill holes in a roof that don't leak" proceeds to drill two holes in the roof. Lol i found that very humorous lol
You gotta do what you gotta do lol
Glad I found your channel, I split my time between SoCal and South Florida. I know a pop up camper is great out West, but I wonder how it will be in the heat and humidity (and bugs) down south. I look forward to seeing and hearing about your experiences. Subscribed...
Thanks for following along. The camping videos should start in a week. I try and put out a video every Thursday.
Just installed a Renogy 160 W panel on my RAM Promaster. Cost about $240 shipped. Cables, PWM controller and panel. I used Sikaflex 252 and those plastic brackets.
Awesome! It's a great kit.
Its coming along great
Thanks!
I'd love to build a simple custom popup just for standing space in the middle of a low roof Promaster 118 low roof where the roof of the popup is a reinforced 300 watt solar panel and frame itself. I imagine a design where I JB weld a watertight aluminum lip around van opening that will sit inside the frame of the panel. Hinged on one side and clamped down onto rubber weather stripping.
Thanks for the video! Wondering how it is holding up a couple years later?
Great! These panels are supposed to last 25 years or more. Renogy is a great company.
@@OverlandFlorida How much power do you get with that? (Just enough to charge electronics, or a little more?)
@@AdventuresinPopUps you need about 6hrs of sun to with this panel to maintain my fridge, lights and charging phones. I'd recommend 2 panels or 1 big one.
Did you figure out the bed? Joanns fabrics sell thick foam by the yard. We've used it in the past for mattresses . Also call around to upholstery shops. Or get a hot knife and cut down a decent memory foam mattress for best comfort. Happy camping 🌺🗿🌺
That's a good idea. We still haven't bought or made a mattress yet. I'll check out the Hobby Lobby to see if they have any thing like that. I think Joanns closed down in my town.
Super helpful, thanks!
You're welcome.
Can you do a detailed video on your solar system currently on your truck? How you have it tan to your truck battery? Thanks!
I will do that soon.
Wanted to send a reminder: please check the load rating on your tires. Tire failure at any speed with a truck camper sucks! Long Point Park is next on my list. Safe travels!
That's a good point. I'll check that. Thanks.
Couldn't remember if you got your truck new. Used car dealers are famous for throwing car tires on their trucks.
@@garyausher It's still the factory tires.
Sounds like you're almost ready to roll. Enjoy!
Can you run your AC with the solar panels and what inverter do you have if so?
If not do you just use shore power or a generator for the AC?! Thanks love the channel
The solar will not even come close to running air conditioning. I usually run it off shore power or a 2000w generator. That's pretty much your only choice. Thanks for watching.
Hi! I know nothing about solar and have watched videos so this might sound like I am an idiot but I have to ask…. Do I need a special battery? Or will it hook up to and charge the battery that comes with the pop up camper? Thanks so much
An AGM battery would be great. You can hook the solar up to the battery that comes with the camper.
Kevin, can you mount the charge controller on the backside of the door? Leave enough slack in the wires to open door, that would allow you to clearly view the controller? Just a thought 👍🏻
No. The wires are too thick and don't bend that easy. Good thinking though.
Do you have any trouble with just using adhesive tape to hold down the panel? I have the exact pop up in AZ. The tape might dry rot due to the extreme heat and being so dry and fly off at highway speeds. I also don’t want to make holes on the hoof. Thanks for the how to!
I've had this tape holding on my solar panel for 3 years now on my other camper. It's solid and not going anywhere. That's with the Florida weather and sitting in the sun at 110° in the summer.
Why didn’t you just mount it to the cabinet door? It could swing open allowing ease for readings.
You'd be fighting against the thick wires coming in and out of it.
Nice install. Does it rain every day in Florid? Maybe you should buy a boat. How's the new intro coming? I'm sure the Jeep community is getting nervous. Looking forward to your first trip out in the new camper.
We usually have a 15min or 1hr rain storm in the summers. But this summer particularly we have had a ton of rain. I've had a few boats and will probably be buying another one very soon.
Nicole and I just took the camper out last weekend and camped one night. It worked great! It rained from 6pm until 11pm and we were totally dry. It was nice cooking inside too!
Hey there. I notice you have brackets on the panel. Is that just to make it so the wires can fit through? Could you just glue it flat to the roof if the wires could come through a hole?
Yes, you could mount it flat.
Install looked simple enough. Why not mount the charge controller to a swing out bracket, or to the back of the cabinet door itself?
They wires are so thick they would pull in the bracket when it would swing out.
I had the same mounting issues with space so I just installed a tap light in the top of the cupboard to see the readout.
Make sure you secure the battery or else it’s going to move around and possibly damage something
You’re right about that.
advice to anyone watching this video DO NOT USE TAPE to mount your panel, some self tapping screws with silicone is the safest way to go. Tape is not effective long term and the panels WILL come lose at some point using tape
I'm going on 3 years. Tape is good as new. Buy good tape if you want to drill a bunch of holes.
You can get 10-30% more from your panel if you use an MPPT controller - we have the same set up on our Romahome - unfortunately, we found it does not make enough power to run the fridge 24/7 but meets our other needs great
You are correct and I plan on upgrading the charge controller soon. But I'm using an ARB fridge and not the camper fridge. The ARB is super efficient.
how many solar watts were you sending to where it wouldn't run the fridge 24/7?
Love the video helped me alot but i was wondering, from the battery what is it hooked to? Do you have a inverter?
I just used the power for lights and charging devices. I didn't use an inverter.
So after having it installed for 9 months would you change anything? Does it offer enough power to run ac and frig? Super curious if i should do this with our popup as we dont always have electric where we go
There's no way it will run ac. It will cover the fridge, lights and charging phones with 200ah of batteries.
You'd need at least 4 100Ah deep cycle batteries and 600w of solar panels to even come close to running the AC (depending on how many btu the AC is). Let alone all the other stuff.
If I have a good battery like a good deep cell with the 100w panels will it run the ac and fridge?
Can you post a link to a kit like this? Thanks.
Go to Ebay or Amazon and search for Renogy solar kit. 100w.
Wen your sleeping do you smell battery acid??
Never.
Is that battery area vented?
There is a little area to the outside
The battery is also sealed.
Did I miss the video about the awning and the LED lights? ** Ignore, I just saw the title of Episode 9
I hope they help!
Maybe I missed it, but what battery do you use?
100 amp hour sealed battery from amazon.
great installation , thanks for the tips ! btw, wouldn't hurt to see your face once in a while ;)
thanks