New 5er Looking for cmpnt sugg to make 2-300W porta solar

[rrwantr]

Just purchased a new 5er. Moved up from a TT. However we do quite a bit of dry camping. In our previous trailer we could get by for 2 weeks (longest we would be out) with the 2 -12V batteries by running the Honda 3000 a couple hours a day or even missing a day of charging every once in a while using incandescent lights, parasitic draw and furnace fan.

I'd like to minimize the useage of the gen by doing a portable solar setup. I don't wish to mount them to the roof. We don't use a whole lot of power and if needed will run the gen. Will definitely use it for the MW when we use that.

I converted all the interior lights to LED and am planning on putting in 2 6Vs from Costco. We aren't in the trailer much at all during the day. It's only a light or two in the evening for a few hours (if we're not at the campfire), the parasitic draw for the propane fridge, detectors etc, furnace fan once in a while (set at 60 at night) and would like to get an inverter for the TV so they kids can watch a movie or something every 2nd or 3rd day or so.

Have looked at the 160W kit at solar blvd, but as with other things one can probably piece together something better for around the same price.

Any suggestions on deals on panels, controller etc to get a good 2-300 watt setup?

[JiminDenver]

We used a portable set up last year and will until I get my system mounted. Even after I mount them I may keep a portable for the flexibility. The ability to collect the early morning sun was big when we had clouds by noon daily.

[donn0128]

Do not understand why you do not want to permnently mount the panels? But trying to move, store and setup panels without breaking them is going to be difficult at best. Permanent mount isyour best solution and not difficult to do.

[westend]

To me, a lot of your choice is going to revolve around how you want to move and store the panels. A 100W panel is 26" x 44". For me, moving anything bigger would be tiresome. If you can make some type of exterior mount that doubles as the transport holder like some have done on here, then panel size isn't such an issue.

If you're close to SolarBlvd, they seem to have good prices and sell pretty good modules. I'm a happy customer. The kit with free shipping and the included controllers with wire is a good value. I'd probably choose a better, name brand controller and pay the extra for wire, if I was doing the small system.

FWIW, I went with a single 235W panel and MPPT controller, mostly to be able to have easy future expansion that fit my roof real estate.

[TucsonJim]

I purchased two 100W panels from Costco. And got a controller from Amazon. We have a very similar set up to you, and about the same usage. It works well for us.