Energy Independence

[nwhiker]

I found a folding leg kit at Harbor Freight that works great for an extra panel that I have. I found it online not at the local store. Dave

 

[AlCat]

that's a nice price. I think the Zamp kit (refurb) was $500 (for 120-watt), though you get a bit more with Zamp (carrying case, legs, controller, cabling)

Hard to beat $150 (even if you think carrying case is worth $100, legs are worth $50, controller is worth $100...)

 

[nwhiker]

I originally purchased the Zamp 60 Watt folding panel. I discovered it was not eneought juice so I contacted Zamp and they sold me another 60 watt fixed panel they had from a builder demo for $75.00 (No case for this one) I then went on line to Harbor Freight and found the folding legs. Works great.

If I had to do it over I would purchase an 100 watt folding from Zamp. Nice panels and great support.

Dave

 

[Old_Prospector]

Thanks for all the good information on solar. One may wish to view the Australian u-tube on "Kickass" solar regarding the support legs hitting the back of the panel when the panel is picked up to be stored.

Here's the linkhttp://www.australiandirect.com.au/kickass_100w_12v_portable_solar_panel_for_camping

Adding a stop into the frame or padding on the back of the panel would be advisable. Also, note the solution so the support legs don't sink into soft sand. The panels by "Kickass" seem to be made very robust, but pricey.

 

[GinaNBob]

Do they ship to US? Seems like all the shipping info etc is for Australia. Wonder what you would do if you had a proble with the product?
Gina

 

[Old_Prospector]

GinaNBob. Good catch, wrongly assumed they marketed in the US. I just chatted online with them. They only sell in Australia. I also asked if they had plans to establish in the US. The answer was no, and that they were plenty busy just in Australia. They seem to be a small manufacturing firm.

 

[GinaNBob]

No worries ( catch my Aussie?). We had the solar hookup option added to our 560 so I am always watching any solar threads posted. We are saving our pennies for a future purchase. It did look like a robust solar panel. Keep the info coming!
Gina

 

[rotus8]

I was really impressed by the Australian panels. Here is their response to my inquiry:

We are looking at Expanding into the US in the new year.

International postage on our panels is very expensive and you would currently be looking at around $250 AU for postage alone to ship a 150W panel to the US.

The Aussies are really into their back country excursions. I have an acquaintance who's Land Rover is fully built out complete with his fridge and another freezer so he can have ice cream in the back country.

The Australian Direct website is worth perusing beyond the solar panels. They have a lot of good stuff for "Caravans".

 

[Randy]

We went with a Solarland SLP130F-12S 130 watt folding panel. What I like about it is that it comes in a nice padded aluminum carrying case, 16 foot cord, cigarette style plug and adjustable angle legs. It also has its own controller so we ordered our 560 with the solar plug-in socket but no controller. What I don't like about it is that its really heavy (almost 50 pounds with the case) and was not cheap (we paid ~$550). Haven't used it yet so can't speak to charging ability.

Randy & Michelle

 

[Pick]

We did as you Randy but with a Zoller 120 watt,nice case, cord, and controller. Cary installed the solar plug. I haven't used mine yet either and am kind of wondering if I ever will. It is very heavy and everywhere we go there is 120. During the long wait of the trailer build I couln't help myself. Somebody once posted that they spent six months collecting things for their trailer and three years getting rid of what they didn't need. I quess I'll just have to make a special boondocking trip just to test out the panel lol.

 

[Randy]

Mike and Denita,

Yup, that 6 month window is dangerous. At least we'll be ready to bug out when the electrical grid is attacked!

Randy

 

[birder526]

You all are so funny! Michael and I are sitting here cracking up! We are in the process of getting rid of our belongings, and yes, we are making purchases, too! April 1 can't come fast enough, or we are in BIG trouble!!

 

[Ken & Peggy]

Better get your panels fast...

US Imposes Steep Tariffs on Solar Panels

 

[Mullerenergyco]

While we are on the subject of solar experiences, I just got a 2nd panel and it is a bit different.

I have a 120W rigid folding panel and as I have found out for most of my needs it is just too much. It is too much weight, too much bulk, too much to deploy and just too much power. If I am dry camping for 5 days, it would work great, for most of my needs, I just need to top off my batteries. Also, the problem was always do I keep the panel in the trailer, the house, the TV or just keep moving the panel between each location.

So I found a semi flexible 60W panel that is about a 1/3 of the weight of an equivalent rigid panel, has the same power specs and is about as thin as a sheet of heavy poster board. It sits under the cargo matt of my SUV, always ready for deployment. It came with two wires, which I connected to the Camp-Inn provided plug and now all I have to do is pull out the panel, lean it against the side fender, or put on the roof, plug it in and I am ready to go. I got a DC extension cord for those times I need to move the panel further away from the trailer.

There are of course a couple of drawbacks. First is the cost, they are about 1/3 more expensive than an equivalent ridge pane. Second. I have no idea how fragile they are. They are mounted on a very thick plastic substrate, with the actual photo cells embossed on it, all covered with a plastic sheet. You are supposed to be able to walk on them. It did fine on its first test at Salt Creek; I will report issues as I encounter them.

That’s a ripper setup—and honestly, it sounds like you’ve nailed the real-world balance between portability, practicality, and power. For short trips or topping up batteries, having a lightweight, flexible solar panel that lives in the car and is always ready to go is a game-changer. No faffing about lugging heavy gear or trying to remember which vehicle it’s in—just plug in and charge.

You’re right about the trade-offs:
– Convenience and weight saving are huge wins
– Cost and potential fragility are the flipside

If you're curious about durability, we've been working with panels like the Sunman 235W eArc Portable Solar Blanket—similar flexible, ultra-light tech that’s designed to be walked on, bent slightly, and rolled up without drama. These newer semi-flex panels are far tougher than they look, but yeah, only time will tell how they hold up long-term in your use case.

Sounds like you’ve already solved a big chunk of the “solar hassle” a lot of campers face. Cheers for sharing—it’s exactly the kind of practical feedback more folks need when deciding between rigid vs flexible panels. Let us know how it goes over time!