Should RV owners choose portable solar panels or fixed roof installations?

[wiliams]

Roof panels are hands-free and charge while driving, while portable kits can be aimed toward the sun. Which option saves more energy during long trips, and which works better when boondocking in shaded areas?

 

[jacombo752]

Bifacial panels shine when mounted above reflective surfaces like light roofs, gravel, snow or RV aluminum. The rear side boost can add 5–20% depending on placement. But the gap between surfaces is crucial—too close, and back gain drops sharply. When reviewing 400 watt solar panel, it’s smart to think less about peak wattage and more about installation height.

 

[johnharry12]

That's a great question and one I wrestled with before our last big trip. For us, the flexibility of portable panels won out. We often camp in wooded spots where roof-mounted panels would be in the shade, but with portables, I can spend twenty minutes running cables to a sunny clearing to keep our batteries topped up. It also means one less permanent hole drilled into the roof, which is a relief as I'm always wary of future issues; in my experience, whether it's an RV or a house, improper installations can lead to headaches down the line, much like the dreaded cavity wall insulation problems you hear about in homes, where moisture gets trapped and causes damage. For now, the ability to move our power source with the sun is the perfect solution for our style of travel.