Hood solar panel

[MSmith]

Lensolar https://www.lensunsolar.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=87_84_89
makes 80W panels for many trucks including Ford. Not maverick yet, but it looks good, like a decal and seems easy to install. Any experience with similar products?

Sponsored

 

[MSmith]

These types of solar panels wear out quickly without cooling due to heat from the sun. With an engine under the hood it could be even faster. The advantage of traditional solar panels is that that are usually mounted to some kind of substrate and elevated above the surface with a frame to provide air movement underneath for cooling. . Many people in the boating and RV communities have tried using them. One guy I know of tried outfitting his whole catamaran with them to avoid running his generator so much and had to replace them in just a year.

Thanks for the info. Hope someone will make one that has some space above the hood for cooling. I hope to put a light weight popup camper shell on mine so that would eliminate the cab surface for solar. Don't want to weigh down the popup camper top with solar.

 

[nunucello]

Lensolar https://www.lensunsolar.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=87_84_89
makes 80W panels for many trucks including Ford. Not maverick yet, but it looks good, like a decal and seems easy to install. Any experience with similar products?

GO with this instead :

https://www.lightleafsolar.com

 

[06Warrior]

I’d be interested in one if done correctly and looks nice for the roof since I’m not getting a sunroof.

 

[Egz]

GO with this instead :

https://www.lightleafsolar.com

I could see mounting arrays of those on a tri-fold bed cover.

 

[OldSoulNewMaverick]

I could see mounting arrays of those on a tri-fold bed cover.

https://www.motortrend.com/news/worksport-terravis-solar-tonneau-cover-truck-bed-power-system/

 

[710-oil-614]

Honestly see zero value is something like this at $350+ and then install.

That's 2 batteries at least. Replace a battery every 3-4 years the truck will be 12 years old. Now if wired to feed a separate battery that would power lights for outside the vehicle or possibly even a fan that exhausted hot air in the summer from the vehicle when parked.

But just to top off the battery? That's nonsense.

Sponsored