DIY Solar Install On My Project M Truck Camper

DIY Solar Install On My Project M Truck Camper - 400 Watts!!

Рет қаралды 15,349

11 ай бұрын

In this video I will be installing two 200 watt Renogy solar panels on the roof of my Four Wheel Campers Project M Topper. Four Wheel Campers prewires a plug in the roof of their camper and runs it down into the bed of the truck. I then connect this to an auxiliary battery system which in this case is a GoalZero Yeti 3000x lithium battery. I used a combination of SAE plugs, 12 gauge wire and Anderson plugs. Here are some of the items I used.
Please consider Purchasing items through my Amazon link
90 degree brackets for solar panel - amzn.to/3NelEPn
MC4 to SAE - amzn.to/3TcYPiR
MC4 "Y" connector - amzn.to/3NczBxe
SAE 90 degree roof connector - amzn.to/3t47sSf
12 gauge wire - amzn.to/3TjOrpw
Anderson plug to 12v - amzn.to/3uIvenn
Anderson plugs - amzn.to/4abbcC7
Loctite - amzn.to/3GC2qzr
6mm bolt kit - amzn.to/480G6LJ
Solar Panels
www.renogy.com/200-watt-12-vo...
GoalZero Yeti 3000x
www.goalzero.com/collections/...

Пікірлер: 59

@rfitzpatrickCO 11 ай бұрын

Every time I watch your videos I’m impressed how organized and detail oriented you are. I saw you at Overland Expo Mountain West but you were busy so I didn’t want to bother you. Anyway, keep the videos coming!

@prospectoverland 11 ай бұрын

Thanks man! Appreciate it. I try to be like that on video or not. Makes me confident that the product/install won’t fail me out on the trail. And dang sorry wish we could have met. It was a crazy busy event. I couldn’t believe the amount of people (in a good way) that were checking out the truck/FWC. Maybe next year

@chrislenkeit5764 11 ай бұрын

Love the detail! It helps me follow along and gives me confidence trying projects like these on my own!

@prospectoverland 11 ай бұрын

Thanks Chris, you know where to come if you ever need a hand.

@uncledougiecampboss8382 11 ай бұрын

Great video. I know a lot of people have questions on solar. This should help "most" people figure it out.

@prospectoverland 11 ай бұрын

Thanks appreciate it 👍👍👍

@the_kestrelstudios 7 ай бұрын

Like others have said, I really appreciate your attention to detail! Thanks for the very helpful video!

@prospectoverland 7 ай бұрын

Thanks, I appreciate you saying so and glad it was helpful.

@biggun5460 11 ай бұрын

Nice job on your project! The video is also well done.

@prospectoverland 11 ай бұрын

Thank you. I felt like this wasn’t one of my better quality videos but it got the process across so I guess it’s effective 🤷‍♂️. Thanks for checking it out.

@angelogarciajr5356 11 ай бұрын

Nice work. I might have encased the two small, exposed wires between the panels into a case or sheath of some kind to keep it from cracking in the constant direct sunlight. Just a thought. Nice rig. I wish that was mine.

@prospectoverland 11 ай бұрын

That’s a great idea. Maybe I’ll just slip some of the plastic type ribbed wire sleeve with the slit down the middle on that one section.

@OXFOOT 11 ай бұрын

Man that thing looks awesome

@prospectoverland 11 ай бұрын

Thanks man!!!

@mumoymode 8 ай бұрын

Looks good! nice and detailed. Will figure it out once ours comes.

@prospectoverland 8 ай бұрын

Thanks! you are going to love it

@mumoymode 7 ай бұрын

we optioned 2 fans. Ill probably only be able to fit just 1 panel.

@stephenbeard9882 11 ай бұрын

I just ordered the renogy flexible panels for my GFC. Took me a year to choose between hard vs flexible panels.😅 Nice job as always!

@prospectoverland 11 ай бұрын

Nice. What made ya go with flexible in the end?

@stephenbeard9882 11 ай бұрын

I carry kayaks and lumber etc. on the beef bars and I’m pretty sure I would end up breaking the hard panels. I’m still not sure I trust the flexible ones though. We’ll see. 😬

@JRJROFFROAD 11 ай бұрын

Love how its coming along my man

@prospectoverland 11 ай бұрын

Thank you! Roof rack video in a week or so

@zw0983 9 ай бұрын

Awesome build!

@prospectoverland 9 ай бұрын

Thank you!!

@MrLoadedweapon 9 ай бұрын

have you ever seen anyone add a 12volt ac unit on the roof of a project M ? nice set up and great video

@prospectoverland 9 ай бұрын

Thanks! And no I haven’t. I would imagine it would make it difficult to “pop the top” up with the weight of those units??? But maybe not.

@dishaparikh3645 11 ай бұрын

Useful info. Thank you.

@prospectoverland 11 ай бұрын

Glad to hear. Thanks for watching

@goobermcgylish5666 4 ай бұрын

Just got my Project M and your videos are going to be a big help! Regarding solar and then going to a Jackery/Goal Zero (I have both), the black and red wires seem to be wires to the lights and fans, so would be powered by the generator 12volt OUTPUT connector. But, looks like you used the black and red as the power INPUT to the generator.. if you don’t mind, what am I missing?

@markmiguel3350 10 ай бұрын

Hey man! Love watching your videos, very thorough. What plug did you use to power up the lights and fan and how exactly did you do it? Thanks for the help! Keep the great videos coming!

@prospectoverland 10 ай бұрын

Hey thanks a lot. I ended up buying a 12v cigarette pig tail from amazon and just plugged into strait into the face of the goal zero. I just connected it directly to the stubbed out wire from the camper.

@user-vu9nq5qq1b 7 ай бұрын

This is a great video. Thank you for posting. Would it be possible to post a list of wiring options you purchased from Amazon?

@prospectoverland 7 ай бұрын

Thank you! Yes it’s all been listed in the video description including my Amazon affiliate links for the products used.

@xavilicious 6 ай бұрын

I wish you were my next-door neighbor!

@prospectoverland 6 ай бұрын

Haha

@JeffCanyon 10 ай бұрын

Great combo of solar and Goal Zero for storage. We have a OVRLND camper on our Ford Superduty, the panels weigh 26lbs each. Has the added weight to the roof made it harder to push up the camper top? Did you change out the lift struts? Thanks Jeff

@prospectoverland 10 ай бұрын

Thanks for checking it out. Yes the front of the camper is a noticeably heavier to lift up but not unreasonable. I would like to research which strut I could outfit it with to make it more like back to stock.

@MichaelSchweizer-tw2yl 11 ай бұрын

Very clean install. Any issues/concerns opening the top with the extra 40#'s of weight? I'm thinking the same set up and also adding Thule racks and a long board, hoping that the weight will not be a problem.

@prospectoverland 11 ай бұрын

I certainly can notice the extra 40lbs when opening but it's totally doable and the top stays popped up just fine still. I have had a couple older, shorter folks at shows try and opening before they pulled the trigger on buying and my particular setup was a little heavy for them.

@Poppedoppebeestekind 10 ай бұрын

How tall are you? I'm 5'7" and I'd like to compare that to you@@prospectoverland

@RAMtrails 11 ай бұрын

been excited to follow along on the build. I'm hoping to order a popup topper in 2024. What made you go with the Project M over others?

@prospectoverland 11 ай бұрын

Froze in my last one during winter camping. This one has insulated walls. Roof fan. Optional thermal pack liner and tons of head room. Plus they have been in business for 50 YEARS.

@RyanOffRoad1224 9 күн бұрын

Fantastic video, thank you for putting this together! I'm planning on installing a similar set up on my Silverado 1500. Have you had any issues since installing? FWC service division told me that max wattage the roof plug and wires is designed to handle is 250 Watt panels. I'm hoping to do the same 400 W set up to a deep cycle battery.

@prospectoverland 9 күн бұрын

Thanks for watching and hope it can be helpful when the time comes. I was told the wire gauge which was 12 if I recall correctly. Which could handle up to 400 watt. Double check my calculation. But I’ve had my camper over a year. Maybe they moved to small gauge wire since then. And with a 400 watt set up you never get 100% output. I’ve only ever seen 337 watt max. It’s usually in the high 200’s with some shade and a layer of dust and the sun not at the perfect angle all the time. I’ve had zero issues with my set up.

@RyanOffRoad1224 6 күн бұрын

@@prospectoverland Thank you for the response! I'll double check but quite positive the wires are 12 gauge. Keep making sweet videos!

@LT11859 9 ай бұрын

Since you just added weight on that roof with those solar panels. Did you have to change the roof struts and how much or what gas struts did you used? Thanks!

@prospectoverland 8 ай бұрын

They come with 30lb struts and it still worked fine but I could tell it was a bit heavy. I changed them out to 40lb struts and it helped for sure.

@skye1355 3 ай бұрын

have to consider $525 price for roof rails on the camper

@prospectoverland 2 ай бұрын

I would do it, then it’s warrantied through FWC and no leaking issues. I didn’t want to risk installing my own.

@gordontaylor60 23 күн бұрын

Just wondering how the extra weight of the solar panels affected the popup operation? Do you know what struts your camper came with? Thanks

@prospectoverland 23 күн бұрын

It was noticeable. It came stock with 30lb struts. I put upgraded 40lb ones from fwc. Thats all they recommend doing. Some people put aftermarket 60lb struts on but you potentially void warranties.

@roberthunden1757 6 ай бұрын

How did you get the power into the cab? Thanks.

@prospectoverland 6 ай бұрын

All my antenna wires and power come under the rear seats where the void in the carpet is that use to house the stock jack mount. Now a it has a rubber grommet