Slide out Solar on Rhino Rack

[rubberducky]

Wanting a solar panel for the Jeep now that i have a fridge but as we all know space is a premium, even in a JKU. I have a Rhino Pioneer/Backbone roof rack and originally I thought about mounting a solar panel on top that was removable/tilt-able, but that still takes up some space, and wont work if i end up with an RTT. Then i thought about maybe having a slide out panel mounted underneath the rack that either slides out the side, the front or the rear (side would be ideal but the gap between rack feet may not be big enough).
I figure it shouldn't be too hard but cant find any information of anybody doing this.

Anybody tried it or have any ideas/considerations? What slides would you use or would it be easy enough to make some? Fridge slides are a bit exy, i imagine as they're made to carry a fair bit of weight.

[Nanook]

Do a search on Google there will be plenty of ideas there.

I've seen a few that are mounted on draw runners underneath Rhino Vortex style bars.

There have also been a few articles in 4WD Action magazines that give a detailed description on how to mount it on a slide. If I get a chance, I'll dig out my old copies and see if I can find it for you.

I've been looking at something like this myself for a while. I just never got around to it as I either carry my solar panel in the camper trailer or just throw it on the back seat when heading beach fishing.

[Nanook]

Here's a couple of ideas to get you started.

http://www.4wdadventurers.com/showth...oofracks/page2

https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/sol...-mount.811312/

http://forum.expeditionportal.com/th...anel-slide-out

http://www.pradopoint.com.au/showthr...-MOUNTING-IDEA

[rubberducky]

awesome will check them out

[chunky_wrangler]

I too have been down this route, I ended up buying a 100w flex panel off eBay, one similar to this.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/100W-Fle...QAAOSwQS1Z6aJy

Basically I have an Mppt regulator in the back of the truck, next to my drawers and an Anderson plug. the panel fits nearly between back seats and drawers and I throw it on the roof or the ground when I get to camp. I like the idea of the flexible panel, takes 2 seconds to setup and I use my rack a lot so did not want one permanently. It was a lot easier than the under rack idea and I have a 10m extension cord so can park in the shade and run the panel in the sun

You can see below the cable running from the back left of the drawers onto the roof, panels so thin you can't even see it. The panel works well I had it in a previous car and it ran a 65L fridge at Fraser for a week without starting the car on a 100ah battery. I have a 90AH AGM under the seat in the jeep and it runs a 40L engel no dramas.



Here it is on my old car, I just use a couple of sand pegs and tilt it up on the beach, works a treat.

[Macca2801]

Frontrunner have the slides etc for their tables to slide under their racks. You could use those or just back to back two pieces of ally angle to form the Z required to mount any panel you have... fit a couple of R clips and you have your slide in setup.