13 replies to this topic

[Josh41]

OK, 100 watt Renogy rigid panel is ordered.  Curious how you all have mounted rigid panels on your FWCs.  I have a '17 Fleet with Yakima tracks.  I have one rear roof vent, and do not have one over the bed.  Prefer not to add holes to roof and wish to use the Yakima tracks. 

Advise appreciated. 

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

There are a couple of ways to bolt them to the Yakima tracks. Assuming you ordered or will make the panel brackets, you can either put track nuts into the tracks (I like the Thule TK 1 nuts), then bolt the brackets and panel to them. Alternatively, find bolts like carriage bolts, whose heads fit in the tracks, fit the brackets and panel over the bolts, then tighten the nuts down to keep things secure.

If I had to do it, I would use the track nuts. If they hold down Yakima bars and canoes, they should hold a 100 watt panel.

[whwv]

The panel on my Eagle is mounted to the Yakima tracks using four bolts and track nuts.  Makes it easy to move around or remove.  I don't have a picture of mine, but this guy has a similar setup: http://www.wanderthe...cks/#entry84359

[takesiteasy]

Here's how I did it: http://travelswithro...olar-power.html

 

[nikonron]

I made brackets from aluminum angle. With your smaller panel you may need to span all the way across with aluminum angle. 1"x1"x1/8" will be plenty.  Ron 

 

 

[Josh41]

I made brackets from aluminum angle. With your smaller panel you may need to span all the way across with aluminum angle. 1"x1"x1/8" will be plenty.  Ron 

 

20170401_105853_resized.jpg

I think that may be the case, the panel is narrower than the tracks.

[nikonron]

If you get a 150 watt panel it would be long enough to solve that problem.  Ron

[rando]

If your 100W panel won't span the tracks - it probably makes more sense to sell that panel and buy a longer 120 - 160w panel that will span the tracks than to spend the extra money and weight on aluminium angle to adapt the shorter panel to the tracks. 

[takesiteasy]

If your 100W panel won't span the tracks - it probably makes more sense to sell that panel and buy a longer 120 - 160w panel that will span the tracks than to spend the extra money and weight on aluminium angle to adapt the shorter panel to the tracks. 

 

I agree with this- my panel (160 watt) spans the tracks and made installation easy. Plus the extra capacity is nice. Didn't really cost more either.

[ckent323]

I have two 100 W  panels that are not long enough to bridge across the Yakima tracks.  I bought four lengths of rectangular Aluminum tubing and mounted the panels to them and then bolted to Yakima rails using the Yakima 8890028 Hardware kit I bought on Amazon. 

 

The mounting is solid and easy to adjust or remove.

 

 

For more details see post #3 in the following thread:

 

http://www.wanderthe...le-rack-how-to/

 

 

 

Regards,

 

Craig

Edited by ckent323, 25 January 2018 - 08:17 AM.