We are considering selling the caravan (using 2 portable solar panels ) and possibly buying a smaller campervan eg Hi-Ace. Can you put solar panels on a pop-top like that, would it make it too heavy to push the top up?
Yes, definitely can be done( personal experience). However, it may be prudent to use some timber props to ensure that the top stays popped, as the extra weight can cause the helper springs to let the top down. The helper springs were installed to hold the weight of the top, not the extra 20kgs or so of the panels
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Gerty, I have 1 large Panel on top of my Pop-top Hi-ace. At the moment I can still lift the roof, but won't be able to do that forever, having Emphysema. I am [still] going to get an RV Airlifter Unit installed, so that won't be a problem in the future.
Cheers,
Sheba.
-- Edited by Sheba on Monday 5th of August 2013 07:50:54 PM
I installed 2x 120 Watt panels on to the top of my pop top caravan. The weight is not a problem. Just have to us a little bit more effort to lift up the pop top.The scarry part is drilling in to the roof structure to install the mounting hardware for the panels, oh and drilling the first pilot hole to check if there were power cables ( 12 Volt lighting ) in the roof. Thankfully the cables were miles away from were i was.
Well yes you can...I didn't believe my eyes but saw one yesterday when I was looking at campervans on every site I could find, They had the kitchen/ensuite area across the back. Shower, basin, porta loo had a pink curtain in R hand side at the back, curtain was lifted
back and rear door was up in open position. But you wouldn't be able to access from rear, Maybe when using rear door needed to be up and that's why the pink curtain.
but there was a door from inside, probably built for fairies, not much room, what'll they think of next. Amazing.
