Gobi Stealth Rack with Solar

[moshie]

So I am purchasing a Goal Zero Yeti 400 and looking for way to mount a Solar Panel on my Gobi Stealth Rack, has anyone ever done this?

My thought is..to put the solar panel on drawer slides so it can go under the rack because I don't want to take up more room on the rack itself. Are there any issues that I'm not thinking of?

Pictures would be great if you have done this!

 

[Dillusion]

You have a sunroof?

Just a though but maybe get the rack with the sunroof cutout and you can put a panel that would fit in that place.

 

[nglayton]

Solar panels work best at an angles (30'ish- 45'ish, etc, depends on time of year and location). If you have it just slide out and flat you won't be able to maximize the energy from it. And you'll be chasing the sun every hour requiring you to move the 4R way more than you would like, or get no juice.

To maximize energy gain you'll be better off with some sort of portable panels or solar blanket that you can move easy

 

[jerad]

I have a 100w panel on my frontrunner roof rack, my ARB has been set at 32* (it's a few * warmer than the setting) for 2 years now without being turned off. I do put it on shore power if I'll be in the garage for a long weekend. I still have plenty of room on my roof rack, it's nice to not think about it.

Like someone else said angled is better, but mine is there sun up to sun down. My camping trailer has remote panels should I need them.

 

[moshie]

I have a 100w panel on my frontrunner roof rack, my ARB has been set at 32* (it's a few * warmer than the setting) for 2 years now without being turned off. I do put it on shore power if I'll be in the garage for a long weekend. I still have plenty of room on my roof rack, it's nice to not think about it.

Like someone else said angled is better, but mine is there sun up to sun down. My camping trailer has remote panels should I need them.

Solar panels work best at an angles (30'ish- 45'ish, etc, depends on time of year and location). If you have it just slide out and flat you won't be able to maximize the energy from it. And you'll be chasing the sun every hour requiring you to move the 4R way more than you would like, or get no juice.

To maximize energy gain you'll be better off with some sort of portable panels or solar blanket that you can move easy

[MENTION=67802]nglayton[/MENTION] & [MENTION=15690]jerad[/MENTION] the reason I want to mount it under the roof rack is because I actually camp out of the back of my 4Runner and need ALL the space I can get, I have everything mounted on top and I have a little room but I know that will get taken up next year on my Alaska trip. That is why I was looking for different mounting solutions.

I completely understand that I would not be maximizing the solar panel, but this would at least get me some power. I also am charging the Goal Zero Yeti through my 4Runner while driving so not completely relying on the solar panel.

I would also like it under for the ease of setup and take down.

You have a sunroof?

Just a though but maybe get the rack with the sunroof cutout and you can put a panel that would fit in that place.

I do not have a sunroof, I also have had the Gobi Stealth Rack without the sunroof cutout for almost a year now so that is not an option

 

[jerad]

[MENTION=67802]nglayton[/MENTION] & [MENTION=15690]jerad[/MENTION] the reason I want to mount it under the roof rack is because I actually camp out of the back of my 4Runner and need ALL the space I can get, I have everything mounted on top and I have a little room but I know that will get taken up next year on my Alaska trip. That is why I was looking for different mounting solutions.

I completely understand that I would not be maximizing the solar panel, but this would at least get me some power. I also am charging the Goal Zero Yeti through my 4Runner while driving so not completely relying on the solar panel.

I would also like it under for the ease of setup and take down.



I do not have a sunroof, I also have had the Gobi Stealth Rack without the sunroof cutout for almost a year now so that is not an option

If you have to deploy it, you would be better off with a remote panel. Your probably going to want to park in the shade, therefore panels and 30’ of wire would be better for power when set out in the sun.

 

[moshie]

If you have to deploy it, you would be better off with a remote panel. Your probably going to want to park in the shade, therefore panels and 30’ of wire would be better for power when set out in the sun.

Since yours is on your roof all the time, do you have the ability to angle it?

 

[jerad]

Since yours is on your roof all the time, do you have the ability to angle it?

Nope, but for my power needs I don't need to. I have two Odyssey batteries (34 and 35), 100w solar and shore power when needed. With the 50q ARB I don't need more than 100w and I don't need it angled. As long as it's sitting up there from sun up to sun down the two odysseys do great with the ARB draw. it was 100* outside today and I came out from work after 10h and my Victron gauge said my batteries were t 94% at ~6pm. My short drive home took them to 100%.

When I'm camping with my turtleback I have 2 remote panels onboard. My turtleback has 2 group 31 odyssey batteries onboard, I have a long 30' cable with anderson plugs that connects my truck and trailer putting all my batteries in parallel. The 200w of remote, 50 on my TB and 100 on my 4R are more than enough to keep my set up going.

 

[bigair96]

Since yours is on your roof all the time, do you have the ability to angle it?

What size panel are you planning on using? I have a boulder 30 and it is pretty thin, but I have a boulder 100 and a boulder 100 suitcase and they are thick. The gobi is pretty low profile, so I bet any of them would be a pretty tight squeeze, I doubt the 100's would fit. But if you have a yet 400, you probably only need a 50 panel, but probably too thick.

My biggest question at this point is how to wire it into the cab semi-permanently without really cutting. I actually reached out to @swellrunner on instagram and he runs his through the grommet in the hatch (I asked him where it comes into the cab, havent heard back yet).

The boulder 100 you can buy mounts to easily put it on the roof permanently. Its also very tough so you could toss stuff on top of it, its just raised a little.

 

[Titanpat57]

Solar panels work best at an angles (30'ish- 45'ish, etc, depends on time of year and location). If you have it just slide out and flat you won't be able to maximize the energy from it. And you'll be chasing the sun every hour requiring you to move the 4R way more than you would like, or get no juice.

To maximize energy gain you'll be better off with some sort of portable panels or solar blanket that you can move easy

Hogwash...

I park my truck in the morning and rarely move it...keeps my North star group 31 topped off at 13.7 with my Dometic CF18 running 24/7 in there....never an issue

 

[nglayton]

Hogwash...

I park my truck in the morning and rarely move it...keeps my North star group 31 topped off at 13.7 with my Dometic CF18 running 24/7 in there....never an issue

Don't get me wrong, I can see this if you (or others) are in a parking lot (daily drivers, etc.) or other areas with no buildings or trees.

I don't run out of juice, it's just never topped off to 100%
But I camp in the same place for 6-7 days at time, without starting the T4R. Power needs are also a good thing to keep in mind.

I guess I use more power than you and/or others. I can rarely park in full view of the sun. Also Oregon weather may have an impact on my solar experience.

 

[Dillusion]

Hogwash...

I park my truck in the morning and rarely move it...keeps my North star group 31 topped off at 13.7 with my Dometic CF18 running 24/7 in there....never an issue

Sounds like your panels provide enough current for your needs.

But you are supposed to angle it towards the afternoon sun for maximum results.

 

[Shwell11]

There is no way to know what your needs will be.

But I run a 100W Panel flat on my Gobi across the Sun Roof Area. The only things I have connected to the controller are a Group 31 and a Suoaki 150wh Powerstation. Here in FL I am able to maintain those 2 sources. I am powering a Whynter FM65G with the group 31..