Affordable BOV solar power options

[Thegtwyo86]

Does anyone know of an Affordable BOV solar power options? Would like it to be vehicle mounted to save space

[Brownwater Riverrat 13]

What type are you talking about? One for charging the battery? Coleman makes one and so does harbor freight. The wife bought me a Coleman and I have nothing bad to say about it. It's a "battery tender " you can attach directly to the battery or plug into the cigarette lighter. As for mounting I just set it up in the dash board till I'm ready to drive the truck and then take it down. It's great for your less driving vehicles. I'm hoping this is what you are talking about................anyway this pumps about 22 volts DC.

[Thegtwyo86]

I don't know if it would work. the type of system I was thinking about would hook into my dual battery's on the jeep and I would be able to keep up with charging my devices and use of led lights for long periods of time without turning the jeep on to keep the battery's charged.thanks for the info though.

[Brownwater Riverrat 13]

Sounds like you want your own power supply for your truck you might as well have a 125 solar panel attached to your truck.............ok seriously, your talking some pretty healthy watts. You done any searches?

[Brownwater Riverrat 13]

How about this one? that is if you want to mount that big panel on your roof.

http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/yago93.html

[Brownwater Riverrat 13]

or maybe one of these? This is one hell of a set up for charging both of your batteries all you have to do is pick one.

http://www.wholesalesolar.com/RV.html

[Thegtwyo86]

Sweet man thanks for the research. whats going to be kinda trickery is storage on the roof and having enough room for the panels......thank again

[Brownwater Riverrat 13]

I don't know what type of vehicle you drive (BOV) you never said so I had little to go on. Give me more data and I'll see what I can do for suggestions. Looking at the RV charging systems they're pretty much made for what you're asking, you just have to figure out how much of each you want..........watts............$$$$ to spend........AAARRRRRGGGHH! More power! But hey stay within your means, be reasonable, what do your "really" need, not want. OK so what BOV are we talkin about????


I just wanta see how bad I can screw this one up!:rolleyes:

[Evolver]

Looks like BRR beat me to the suggestion for solar panels made for RVs. My sister had one on her motor home and it worked out well. You can install an power inverter and have 110v if you want.

[Brownwater Riverrat 13]

No need to reply on what you have for a vehicle I found your Jeep, pretty nice my wife had an 01. OK now I can trash your BOV........I'll have to stare at it for awhile to make any suggestions, you said you wanted to put a roof basket on top. Hmmmmmm?

[Thegtwyo86]

Lol...Sorry about that,it's a 2001 jeep cherokee 4x4.im building it into a expedition/bov and in the future I might be building a trailer to match it with a roof top tent.

[cwconnertx]

If you have a tent on the roof, where would you mount the solar panel.

Solar panels of useable output are larger than people expect. A 200W solar panel can be 3ft x 5 ft, or so.

Plan accordingly.

[Metrocruiser]

That sounds cool, a trailer with rtt ...... things that make you go hmmm
we are researching what type emp bov to build, I was thinking to bild a matching trailer as well. :)
Is this dumb? have a custom enclosed trailer with a trap door on the roof so that the rtt becomes a 2 story tent trailer?

[Evolver]

Here you go...

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bJmND_LDIig/Tfla5PufWuI/AAAAAAAAHtU/VolvEFbweMQ/s1600/4x4+tent+trailer1200_.JPG.jpg.jpg

http://www.bugoutsurvival.com/2011/06/4x4-tent-trailers-for-hauling-your.html

- - - Updated - - -

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mbenaw07FF1rgov9no1_500.png

[Thegtwyo86]

Yeah that's exactly what I was talking about.I've even thought of making one of those out of a jeep Comanche bed.

[Evolver]

These are car top roof tents that can be found at bass pro and they have put them on trailers.

http://s7d5.scene7.com/is/image/BassPro/1841547_10230257?rect=0,0,523,376&scl=3.596689087008331&id=g5-a-2

http://www.basspro.com/Tepui-Tents-Kukenam-Roof-Top-Tent/product/10230257/?hvarAID=shopping_nextag

[Evolver]

Back in my Utah Moab/Canyon Land days I found an old tent trailer that I turned into an off-roader and run the same tire and wheels on it as the jeeps so I didn't need two different sized spares. It was cool, slept 6 and had three 4'x7' fold outs for the beds that I could drag almost anywhere. I'm sure that the ex still has it and has never even put it up. I couldn't bring it down here to Florida because i was already pulling a trailer. :(

[Thegtwyo86]

Man...I'm sorry to hear that sounds like there is a road trip in order lol

[Metrocruiser]

Yeah that's exactly what I was talking about.I've even thought of making one of those out of a jeep Comanche bed.

I am thinking to build a EMP resistant 79 Bronco, I think I may build a matching 79 F350 p/u bed trailer to match. I just read these threads and I hope it helps you.
Should I start my own thread?

http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forums/trailers-towing-tech/145509-m101-pickup-bed-trailer-build.html
http://sweptline.com/blog/2009/01/20/how-to-build-a-truck-bed-trailer-from-an-old-pickup-truck/

[Thegtwyo86]

Thanks,everything will help. im wanting to get starte on it as soon as I can

[Brownwater Riverrat 13]

I am thinking to build a EMP resistant 79 Bronco, I think I may build a matching 79 F350 p/u bed trailer to match. I just read these threads and I hope it helps you.
Should I start my own thread?

http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forums/trailers-towing-tech/145509-m101-pickup-bed-trailer-build.html
http://sweptline.com/blog/2009/01/20/how-to-build-a-truck-bed-trailer-from-an-old-pickup-truck/

Go for it! That way everything won't get mixed up here with the Jeep thread. Yes 79 Bronco, great project. Let's get started, you own it yet? Where's it at........ let me at!

[BR101]

Goal Zero has some nice Solar Panel kits. I am ordering the Escape 150 Explorer Kit (http://www.goalzero.com/shop/p/61/Escape-150-Explorer-Kit/1:4/) here in a week or two to review.

[Thegtwyo86]

Alright let me know how it is

[Domeguy]

I have a 65 Mustang that I parked in Chattanooga , TN when I moved to IL in 1989. It was drivable when i parked it, but I'm sure it isn't now. My dream for it is to take out the 289 V8, and anything else not needed, and convert it to electric motor. Don't know what kind of batteries will be available at that time, but I wanted to install a strip of thin film polycrystalline solar panels down the center of the hood, roof, and trunk. I know it won't really charge much, but it wanted it to look like the racing stripes of the day.

[MegaCPC]

What makes you think it won't run?

Change the fluids, put a new battery in it, make sure the exhaust isn't plugged with anything, and fire that sonofabitch up!

Why electric? Drag car?

[Domeguy]

I was in the process of starting a small solar hot water and solar electric business a few years ago, but neck surgery killed that idea. I thought it would be a good advertising tool, plus, gasoline will be going up and up. I like the thought of having an electric vehicle.

[MegaCPC]

I see now. I agree that it would definitely be a head turner. I really like the idea of a solar panel racing stripe.

The motorhead in me screams "Mustang's should be loud" but an all electric one would certainly be just as fast and roast tires just as well. Gotta love the instant torque from an electric motor. I would think a CVT would be required to smoothly apply power to the ground, but I really don't know. Most of my experience as a gearhead is with combustion.

When you start this project, please document it. It would be one of the baddest ass and most unique stangs ever.

[Domeguy]

I like them to be a head turner, but a discrete head turner. I wish I could take the credit, but I saw someone turn an old 60s something firebird into an electric for some CA big shot on TV a few years ago. They didn't put the solar on though, that was my idea. When they delivered the car, I think they had about 8-10 batteries in the trunk, and about the same under the hood, and with 4 people in the car, they left a long tire trail.
I left it sitting under a tree in my sisters yard (along with a bunch of their Junkers) almost 24 years ago to the day. The whole family has had a falling out a few yrs. ago after my father remarried, and as far as I know, she may have sold it already. Oh well, a guy can dream, but I get the last laugh...I'm the only one left in the will!