"Stealthing" my solar panels

[user 29503]

This might be a situation where I "got what I got", but I have 4 100 watt solar panels (big surprise there right?).  I don't want to drill and I want to make them stealth.  I've seen Will Prowse demo those drill-less mounts, but they seem a little too conspicuous.  I thought of a normal ladder rack but worry it will obstruct my maxx fan.  Any ideas?  Or am I wanting all my eggs in one basket?

 

[jonyjoe303]

remove the cover on the maxx fan. I removed the cover on my vortex roof vent and put the panel right over the exposed vent. Never had rain get into my van in over 7 years I had it this way.. It doesnt affect air going in or out of the van.

This is my 365 watt panel, it goes over all 4 roof vents I have.

 

[Cammalu]

Forget stealth. Anyone that knows anything will spot you a mile away anyway.

 

[bullfrog]

If you want stealth hide in your apartment, you won't go unnoticed by anyone used to looking. A Prius allows you to go without a solar panel and be less obvious.

 

[abnorm]

^^ JonyJoe......How do you close the vent(s) for cold weather?

 

[user 423]

Never had rain get into my van in over 7 years I had it this way..

Even when driving 65mph during a rainstorm?

Or are you able to avoid that by being stationary most of the time?

 

[user 37446]

I wouldn't bother with solar in a city environment especially if you are parking near multi-level buildings. Anyone can look out a window and see the panels then begin to wonder/ask questions.

Years ago I was in Utah someplace and a nice white Sprinter was in the p lot of a hotel, I didn't think anything of it until out the 3rd floor window I saw the panels on the roof, any cover he had was blown.

All it takes is a cleaning person or manager looking out and if the place is posted "for guests only" or some such then it could cause issues.

Now out in BLM lands or such places just put the panels on and forget it. You can certainly buy different sizes/shapes to fit around your vent.

 

[highdesertranger]

If the parking lot is for guest only you shouldn't be there in the first place. Highdesertranger

 

[jonyjoe303]

inside my van I covered the opening with an insulation square cover, that keeps the cold air out in the winter. I drive at freeway speeds sometimes and the insulation cover has never fallen off, so there is probably not much airflow hitting it.

On this picture you can see the inside, one flexible ducting I use it to feed my swampcooler,  the other flexible duct I use to exhaust the hot air from fridge vent. I since relocated the fridge vent since the hot air was getting sucked back into the swampcooler.

 

[crofter]

If you want stealth hide in your apartment, you won't go unnoticed by anyone used to looking. A Prius allows you to go without a solar panel and be less obvious.

I'm going to get a Prius for that reason when they are as big as cargo vans.
-crofter

 

[user 37446]

I had a Prius for 6 years and all due respect for those that have somehow been able to travel in them, it was wayyy too cramped. Unless you took the seats out, being so high up with no storage space under anything didn't lend itself to much room.

As for the a/c that people rave about, if you like being shaken and awakened every 10-15 minutes for it to turn on and run then go for it.
It did have a large "traction battery" that some have added an inverter to and of course 45-55 mpg's was nice however the size limitations proved too difficult for me (and I'm not big).