Setting up Jeep Gladiator for overlanding. Power storage question.

[Cesna Jeeper]

Good morning fellow Jeepers! I'm new here and have a 2020 Jeep Gladiator that I just picked up. I want to get this rig setup for an all in one overlanding vehicle. I like this dudes Gladiator , which is the same year as mine, but he tows a trailer behind his. I don't want a trailer. I bring this up because he has solar panels, large ones mounted on his trailer for power consumption. In this video, he mounted a solar panel on his hood, but that's a small panel and I don't will power a fridge.

SO... if I have a hard shell tent going on the back of my truck, where could I get the space for solar? I know when I'm running the truck from location to location, batteries will be charged. But once at camp, how can I get things charged up without having to turn the key?

But then again, this guy has a Rubicon. Mines an Overland. I don't have those hood vents, so I could in theory run a larger solar panel on my hood?

Thank you so much!

 

[Cesna Jeeper]

Also, solar is new to me. Can you recommend a channel that breaks things down? Thank you all!!

 

[Dan Grec]

How about a rack above the cab with panels on that. I much MUCH prefer panels that are mounted. The last thing you want to do every day is mess around with panels and cables.

Here's my video explaining my solar setup, but also the whys of what I did.


-Dan

 

[TheDriver]

I have two 100W hard panels mounted on my JKU in a custom rack but that doesn't seem like a solution for you. You could try mounting somthing on top of your tent or maybe on a rack above the cab.

Otherwise, I think these are the smallest, lightest, high quality panels you can get to setup and put away:

Foldable Solar Panels

Foldable Solar Panels are lightweight, durable, and extremely portable. They are designed to be quickly folded for storage and unfolded for use.

www.powerfilmsolar.com

For use in marine or wet environments they do make a waterproof roll-up model. These are proven in both HAM use and the military.

I think for your situation some kind of deployable panel(s) would work but note that I've found my "house" battery (Battle Born 100AH) can go 2-4 days without needing a charge. Perhaps you don't need solar at all if you move (or start) your rig every few days and have a high quality DC->DC charger. I'm very happy with the 30A Victron:

https://www.amazon.com/Orion-Tr-12-30A-Isolated-Charger-Booster/dp/B07ZKG396Y

 

[Cesna Jeeper]

How about a rack above the cab with panels on that. I much MUCH prefer panels that are mounted. The last thing you want to do every day is mess around with panels and cables.

Here's my video explaining my solar setup, but also the whys of what I did.


-Dan

Thank you, I'll watch this now!

 

[vtsoundman]

Having a good time while overlanding is all about minimizing the Hassle Factor (HF)...mount it (solar and battery) permanantly and don't mess around with cables, portable units, etc.

If you drive everyday for more than 2-4hrs - then you will likely not need solar. (Just another battery). Get a B2DC like a CTeK, Kisae, or Victron. (I like the Kisae as a budget option - it is a 30A B2DC and an MPPT controller).

With a fridge, comms, and lights, I can go for 2-3days on a Group 31 LA battery - no problem. (Grp 31 is a 110Ah lead acid battery - so 50-80Ah of usable energy. 50Ah for most number of cycles, 80Ah is just fine from time to time).A decent fridge out of the heat/sun/kept closed will consume 20-40Ah/24hrs. (12*20=240Wh | 12*40=480Wh)

Equiv Goal $ero your wallet or Jackery is ~650-700Wh unit.

If you are going to camp for a few several days in between drives, get rigid solar panels (alum frame ones)...and hard/perm mount. Get a Victron controller. The app and quality of the converter is far superior to anything else.

The semi-flexible (thin plastic) solar panels are borderline garbage in both output and longevity. (I've used quite a few of them over the years).

The ones included in kits (GZ or Jackery) are way over priced. Renogy will sometimes be reasonable. The flexible panels cannot compare to the output of a comparable rigid panel. Thin plastic on the flexy panels will last 3-5yrs before they start to get milky(less light) The cells themselves develop microcracks and start producing less.

Decents ultra portables - you will pay an ultra premium for the cost - and their efficiency is not all that great.



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[Cesna Jeeper]

vtsoundman, thank you!

So I have a question for you, would you recommend a battery like this:
it's 300Ah. I do plan on doing some cold weather camping, and if I can get away with it, would like to have an electric blanket or small electric heater for the nights. I have a tough time sleeping and my joints hurt something horrible when they are cold. I have never been one to sleep in a sleeping bag, which means I need to keep the tent warm.

Again really appreciate your help!!

 

[vtsoundman]

300Ah is a lot....

Like doesn't work. Try again?

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[Cesna Jeeper]

I'm sorry, so do you think a single 300Ah battery would give enough power to run a 2000w inverter with small electric heater running through the night? thank you!

 

[vtsoundman]

I'm sorry, so do you think a single 300Ah battery would give enough power to run a 2000w inverter with small electric heater running through the night? thank you!

300Ah of Lithium or lead acid? To run a space heater or electric blanket? A 2kw inverter will consume 1-3Ah on its own...with no load.

What size is the heater?

Diesel heater or Mr Heater Propane heater for heating a tent.

Electric is not viable.



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[86scotty]

I'm sorry, so do you think a single 300Ah battery would give enough power to run a 2000w inverter with small electric heater running through the night? thank you!

No never ever ever. Plus, if you have a Jeep where are you going to put a 2000w inverter OR a 300ah battery? This is a serious question. That kind of hardware will seriously jam up your living space and there's no room under the hood or chassis of any Jeep for a big battery.

 

[Jurfie]

Check out Elevate Expeditions on YouTube; he’s putting a solar panel under a Front Runner rack that he can slide out at camp. As of this post, he’s only mocked it up, but you can follow along as he works it out. He’s done some other cool power and lighting setups on the Gladiator, so his channel is worth a look. He’s not one of those pretentious or annoying YouTubers either; he’s just a chill guy with cool ideas.

 

[Cesna Jeeper]

No never ever ever. Plus, if you have a Jeep where are you going to put a 2000w inverter OR a 300ah battery? This is a serious question. That kind of hardware will seriously jam up your living space and there's no room under the hood or chassis of any Jeep for a big battery.

Am I missing something that battery is 20" long x 9x9" and the inverter is 3"x 12" x 12". I have a Gladiator and was thinking about installing all this stuff in the bed. There are two Gladiators I found on YouTube I really like their set up. The Story Till Now guy and this guy: Now I'm including a time stamp link to a video that guy has posted, I need to figure out what hard deck he has on the back of his Gladiator. He has some sort of rack on the back of that with a bike mounted. That being the case (once I figure out that deck he is using), I can mount my hard shell tent (still need to pick one) on top.

What do you think?

 

[Cesna Jeeper]

Elevate Expeditions

thank you, watching that dudes channel right now. thanks for the tip!

 

[Cesna Jeeper]

86Scotty - here is that other channel I was tell you about: