[SOLD] Autohome Columbus Variant w/ 100-watt Solar Panel

[justincwatt]

Just wanted to let folks know that my Autohome Columbus Variant is still looking for a new rooftop to call home. Would be great for a Thanksgiving adventure!

 

[dylan.h.brown]

Is this still available? I'm very interested.

 

[justincwatt]

Hi Dylan, yes it is, sort of. I sent you a DM with details.

 

[justincwatt]

For anyone else who might be reading or interested, I figure I should expound upon my comment to Dylan above that my Autohome Columbus RTT is "sort of" for sale. I was hoping to find a new home for it last fall (Sept/Oct 2020) after returning home from supporting my Dad on the Continental Divide Trail...but it seems like that wasn't the season for it. So I've held on to it since then, and now it appears that my Dad is planning to return to the CDT in June of this year (2021) to hike the ~1,200 miles he has remaining. And he'd like my support again. Hence, I'll be holding on to it through this summer. And then my wife, who used it for a solo trip last Thanksgiving and loved it, said she might like to do the same this year...so she might overrule any sale until 2022!

 

[justincwatt]

I got a DM asking how I installed my solar panel with VHB, but since you can't upload photos in DMs, I'm posting it here.

Top left: First I test fit the 100-watt flexible Renogy solar panel on top of the Autohome Columbus rooftop tent. Not pictured: I added blue painters tape at the corners to help with positioning the panel once the VHB tape was applied.

Top right: I applied strips of 3M VHB tape to the bottom of the solar panel. I used an entire 1-inch by 15-foot roll. (Currently $22/roll.) To the left is the corrugated plastic sheet I cut to the same size as the panel.

Bottom left: After adhering the corrugated plastic to the bottom of the solar panel, I applied another 1-inch by 15-foot roll of 3M VHB tape to the bottom of the corrugated plastic.

Bottom right: Finally, I flipped the whole thing over and stuck the solar panel + corrugated plastic "sandwich" to the top of the tent.

Et voilà!

 

[JCS2179]

YEAH BABY! That's some serious ingenuity to keep things cooler! GLWS

 

[alia176]

For anyone else who might be reading or interested, I figure I should expound upon my comment to Dylan above that my Autohome Columbus RTT is "sort of" for sale. I was hoping to find a new home for it last fall (Sept/Oct 2020) after returning home from supporting my Dad on the Continental Divide Trail...but it seems like that wasn't the season for it. So I've held on to it since then, and now it appears that my Dad is planning to return to the CDT in June of this year (2021) to hike the ~1,200 miles he has remaining. And he'd like my support again. Hence, I'll be holding on to it through this summer. And then my wife, who used it for a solo trip last Thanksgiving and loved it, said she might like to do the same this year...so she might overrule any sale until 2022!

Or just keep it as there seems to be a strong need for it in your family even though you seem to be fighting it

 

[justincwatt]

Howdy y'all, just a quick note to let you know that I'm back from another adventure supporting my father on Continental Divide Trail—he reached the northern terminus at the Canadian border on August 26, 2021! Which means my Autohome Columbus Variant w/ 100-watt Solar Panel is once again for sale, and no longer "sort of" as previously described—my wife has given me the greenlight to let it go without delay.

The tent once again served me well during our 10-week journey through Wyoming and Montana, with no perceptible change to its like-new condition. The solar panel is still firmly attached to the top with no sign of delamination, and it continued to generate all the power necessary to keep the Dometic battery charged and the fridge cold for the duration.

Given that the RTT+solar panel setup would set you back about $3800 today before any tax/shipping, I was still hoping to get $3000 for it, and that includes my willingness to deliver it anywhere within about 3 hours of Fresno, California (including, but not limited to: San Francisco, Sacramento, San Jose, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Visalia, Bakersfield, Tehachapi, and all points in between) and help you install it on your vehicle. I'd consider delivering it farther afield with a deposit and agreement to cover the cost of gas. All that to say, if you're interested, please reach out.

 

[JCS2179]

Well, I can PERSONALLY attest to the solar panel installation above. Same exact materials, same exact product, in fact OP walked me through lots of my questions. The panel is up there SOLID. We did over 5,000 miles in highway up to 75MPH, and plenty of wheeling. Works like a charm and well worth the small investments. As a "funny" update, I'm saddened to say the solar panel was stolen while on our return trip from AQB to SW Florida in Mobile Alabama, while at a (very) decent hotel chain stop for the night (served us right for not camping??!) "They" took it right off, clean. At least no damage to the RTT. Soooo.....if you are wondering, the 3M tape leaves no residue even after months on the rig
Anyway, GLWS my friend! Great trip and great set up. Worth every dime! BUMP for you!

 

[justincwatt]

JCS2179, wow, though I'm glad my guidance proved useful, at the same time, damn, so sorry about the theft.

 

[justincwatt]

I sold it last weekend. Thanks to all who expressed interest in one way or another. Now onto new adventures.