Along with the world, rooftop tent camping is advancing in the area of solar energy. There are immense possibilities to implement solar panels in the camping lifestyle, especially for those with rooftop tents.
You can successfully install solar panels on a rooftop tent and create an extensive amount of energy in doing so. This will enhance your camping experience and can be done by following our simple step by step guide.
The one thing to highly consider is that most of what is seen on the internet for solar panel camping with rooftop tents involves hard shell models. This is for the people who are trying to physically install a solar panel on the tent itself.
This involves drilling for wiring as well as placement on the hard shell surface for the solar panel to sit on. Thus you are modifying your tent physically in order to do so, which most likely will put you in the category of an advanced camper.
If you do own a soft top tent, there are ways people utilize solar energy without installing it onto their tent. They may not be perfect examples, but it could spark an idea to get your creative juices flowing.
How to Install Solar Panels on a Roof Top Tent
- Like I mentioned, a lot of what has been displayed on the internet is for hardshell tents. So in order to begin the process, you would need to drill two holes for the wires to go through at the top of the shell. You have to drill through the fiberglass plate under the shell in order to create a smooth pathway for those wires.
- Once these holes are created you will also most likely have to drill through the fabric of the tent. It is recommended that the use of an extacto knife will create a nice cut without severely damaging the fabric. Once that cut is made, you now can thread the wires from the inside of the tent through the holes to then connect to the panel itself.
- After the wires have been threaded, it would be smart to take a sealant of some kind to secure the gland that will ultimately hold the wires in place on the exterior part of the shell. Now that the exterior portion is secured, the interior of the tent will store the battery and charge controller.
- There are suggestions on running the wires through the base of the tent and into your vehicle where you would store the battery and controller, yet it requires a lot more drilling and threading. In my opinion, most tents have ample room to store the battery and controller so space is not being compromised.
- The final step is definitely the easiest. After determining the perfect position for your panel, you would mark the four corners and drill holes corresponding with those spots. You can place a sealant on each spot to make sure it is secured and then mount the solar panel. Finish with drilling into place and you are off and running.
Alternative options to mounting a solar panel on a roof top tent
Maybe you don’t own a hardshell RTT or don’t plan on breaking out the power tools quite yet. There are some different variations I have seen people come up with in order to enjoy solar energy.
One great idea is purchasing flexible solar panels that can be placed in certain positions to maximize usability. For instance, if you have a softshell, you would just lean your panels on the side of your vehicle and get extra long wires that could run to a housing unit that is a controller, battery isolator, and battery charger. The housing unit could be placed within your vehicle or even in your tent.
The added advantage of this is having the ability to put the panels away during rough weather or while driving. There is also the option to maneuver the panels in specific spots as the day goes by and the sun is moving. Thus creating the best “source of energy” throughout the day.
Best Roof Top Tents to Install Solar Panels On
It is ideal that when installing a solar panel you want to do it on a tent that is suited for that customization. Below are a few tents that seem to be the perfect fit for this type of project.
Roofnest
Roofnest is a continual player in the hardshell market for rooftop tents. They make several models that are perfect for solar panel installation. The two I really enjoy are the Falcon and Sparrow models. Both feature extremely smooth, flat surfaces that create the perfect area for applying a panel.
I also really enjoy these tents because they have an aluminum hard shell foundation along with the ability to buy a standard or XL size. In regards to creating one’s own energy via the sun, these tents are geared towards families which would fit with the theme of needing more energy for a camping trip.
James Baroud
Similar to Roofnest, James Baroud is a manufacturer out of Portugal that makes hardshell tents with that fin/triangle like design that is perfect for capturing sunlight. The flat surface of the shell creates a great spot for panel placement and each tent is ready to use within 30 seconds via automatic opening.
Another small detail I really enjoy with these tents is the fabric is UV resistant, so while you are placing yourself directly in the sun for energy, your tent isn’t getting damaged in the process.
Bundutec
One of the more impressive brands I have come across is Bundutec USA. They create fully electrical set up tents that have an entry from all four sides. Coming in several sizes, you can even build a custom-sized tent up to 63” wide and 118” long.
A little on the heavier side, these USA based tents have a great platform for installation and would fit perfectly with the lifestyle of this brand. They are built in a square shape unlike the fin/triangle design seen with the models above.
Made specifically for large families and completely out of raw aluminum, this tent reflects heat even though your rig will be capturing it up on the roof. Priced anywhere from $3800 – $5000 these tents are the top of the line for luxury rooftop tent camping.
Roof Top Tents With Built-in Solar Panels
If you are not in tune with your own handy skills, there are several options I have seen out there that do incorporate a solar panel system already in the tent design. Either that or there is a product that is intentionally tailored toward a specific model of tent-making it an easy install.
One tent that is fully equipped with a panel already is the Woodsbuilt Hard Shell Rooftop Tent. Coming in at a price point of around $3000, this is a pop-up tent that features an easy set up with the solar panel already attached to the exterior shell. The 30” panel charges the interior lighting of the tent as well as the USB ports for additional charging of phones/electronics.
For a small family who is looking to hit the road with little set up or handy work, this is a tent that fulfills the needs of basic camping while bringing some of that home comfort along for the ride.
To go along with the Woodsbilt price point, the popular iKamper Skycamp 2.0 has a specific solar panel product made by Rhino Adventure Gear. The iKamper is an expensive tent and for good reason, so it makes sense the SolarHawk Solar Panel Rhino Adventure makes for this tent comes in around $490.
What you do get is 100w solar panel that is designed specifically to run along the length of the ‘mohawk’ design featured with the Skycamp 2.0. This thing can power a mini fridge, battery packs or vehicle accessories so you can enjoy staying off the grid a lot longer. The best part may be that it is totally adhesive and requires no drilling for the panel itself.
Lastly, you can buy the Alu-Cab Gen 3. The price point is pretty steep but well worth it. You can add a solar panel system upon purchasing this RTT for $500-$1000. The price varies based on the number of watts and electrical kit you choose. Once attached, you can feed the solar panel directly into the USB ports and 12V plugin that sit inside the RTT!
I don’t think it can get much easier than that. You also don’t have to worry about buying any other components used to harness the power of a solar panel. All of these are fantastic options if you’re looking to simplify this entire process.
Conclusion
Within this article, we have broken down the idea of installing solar panels to a rooftop tent. It is quite possible but does take a bit of research along with drilling and patience.
There are several models that are solid options for installing purposes, but there are also tents that can take care of that for you. What it will really come down to is experience, time, and how much money you are willing to put forth to enjoy creating your own energy via the sun.