Here’s my after the fact build post for the solar mount. I bought some angle aluminum from the hardware store (1”x1” I think, and probably a little over 1/16” thickness -I know, I’m a woodworker, not a metal fabricator), and mounted through the top with some simple hardware and locknuts, and made sure to have some rubber washers to seal the holes. If my memory serves me right, there is a dead space between the inner layer where the mattress sits on top when it’s flipped open, so I drilled minimal access ports to attach the hardware. I made sure to use some oversized fender washers to help spread the load.
I used the same angle aluminum and mounted this to the panel itself. Important note-this width was determined by the spacing for attachments on the panel, and this drove the location of the attachments to the Flippac.
I tested how much room I would need to pivot open the solar panel with the top flipped open, and I pretty much had to go to the very back of the top. Even then I have to open the panel before I attach the Flippac support poles, or I bottom out on the windshield, but this will likely vary with your truck model. It doesn’t present a problem, and if I have it flipped open and then decide to open the panel as well, one can just loosen the support poles and open the panel and then reattach the poles.
I also made some pieces from the same aluminum so that I could lock the panel in place when flipped open, creating a triangle between the roof and the panel. I have never actually needed these, because the panel has sat open just fine, without it, and it is a little extra hassle to “install” these. However, if it were very windy, they might prove to be useful, so the panel isn’t getting buffeted into your windshield.
For the hardware, I used locking hardware towards the back, so it would pivot, but would always remain attached. The other attachments are a readily available knob(see pic), and the backside is like a plastic handled female tee nut, so I can undo them by hand to open and close. I was super paranoid about these loosening up on their own after sometime, and I checked them obsessively for awhile. Then less and less, and only one time was one of them a little loose, so they do work well. The tight spacing is a little challenging for my fat fingers, but not too bad.
The other piece, was how to route the solar cables in to my battery. I already had a basic bar and fairing mounted in front of the topper, so I just voile strapped the cables to that bar, and it does a fairly good job of securing them. When I am driving in extremely windy conditions, the cables will flap around a bit, but it’s just a mild annoyance. I simply routed them into my bed through one of the ports at the bottom front of my bed over to my solar controller and battery. Voila! Solar powered Flippac in both configurations.
Another important thing to know is that despite the minimal weight of the components, because they are located at the furthest point from the pivot, this does make the Flippac significantly harder to open and close. I have no problem, but I am a 6’3” and 225 lb man. I think any normal, reasonably strong person will not have an issue with it, but I was surprised how much harder it was with just that small weight addition.
I hope that helps!
