Mounted solar panel or portable, pro's and con's

[ByeBye]

Tiltable, not portable

 

[bullfrog]

If you want to get really fancy put a couple gas struts off of a topper or rear hatch to help you lift it. I'm currently trying out a ratcheting cargo bar as a temporary support leg. The panel once it is hinged is not that hard to lift but will get much heavier when a support frame is attached. I am surprized how flexible that panel and factory frame is and yet they mount it with just four z brackets!

 

[dextours]

A lot of good points regarding pros and cons of portable panels. One I haven't seen is that portable panels take a lot more abuse than mounted units. 

Portable panels aren't likely to last as long and will need to be replaced much sooner than mounted panels. Just another thing to consider when making your decision.

 

[ByeBye]

If you want to get really fancy put a couple gas struts off of a topper or rear hatch to help you lift it.  I'm currently trying out a ratcheting cargo bar as a temporary support leg.   The panel once it is hinged is not that hard to lift but will get much heavier when a support frame is attached.  I am surprized how flexible that panel and factory frame is and yet they mount it with just four z brackets!

Hadn't thought about a strut but probably won't unless it gets difficult to lift. 
I, too, thought the z bracket attachment was a weak link but haven't heard of a lot of problems with it. I'm going to bolt the 3x3 surface over the corner of panel, tying the two pieces that make the solar panel corner together.

Attached a pic of non-pivoting mounts

 

[Ticklebellly]

Are you going to park in the shade, because it's hot, or in the sun, because it's cold?

I bought a 120 Watt semi flex panel because it only weighs 2 Kg. Sits on the roof if parked in the sun and sits in the sun when the campervan is parked in the shade. I tie it down with shock cord and sit it on two 2 x 2 pool noodles on the roof.

Friend with a similar arrangement parks facing East and angles her panel from bullbar to top of windscreen to catch early energy, then moves panel to the roof as sun comes overhead. A bit of mucking around but the 120 Watt panel is big enough for her energy needs and the light weight allows her to get more energy than would be coming from a fixed flat mount on the roof.

 

[Sepudo]

Great idea MaTaLa.

I too have a single 180w panel and having the ability to tilt it without a doubt improves the effectiveness of the panel.

go on you.

 

[ByeBye]

@Ticklebellly
I'm a newb but plan is to chase 70 degrees in remote areas and to have windshield face West with panel on passenger side. That will be the side to raises. My refrig and large camper window are also on the passenger side, North, so it'll help with cooling.
In the evening the cab will be facing the sun.

I have a pretty small niche in mind, remote self sustained camping just rough enough where you want 4x4 available in case you need to get out of some jam. No sleath, urban or street much for me. I'm sure there'll be some but my intention is otherwise.

I have intentions of add another 200ah to the battery bank and perhaps another 200 watts of portable/flexible but not soon.

I have to be careful, I can overthink, overanalyze and mess up trying to over design/build things so I'm trying to walk that thin line of a quality build but want to GET OUT THERE, lol.

 

[bullfrog]

Just so everyone knows put a piece of wood behind where you are drilling the frame to prevent scratching the white surface on the back side of the panel when the drill bit comes through. I've been told this can cause hot spots and ruin the panel.

 

[Ticklebellly]

....... but want to GET OUT THERE, lol.

Possibly the best way of working out what works for you.   Posts read like you already have done a lot of thinking, and planning, and analysing.