Solar tonneau cover !

[Cbowe]

This ad should be in the Marketplace, or in the Vendor section.

It’s a podcast this is not my company or product we support them and think it’s a cool design implementation I make zero affiliate money from any sales of the solar cover or battery. I like that that are aligned with us on American manufacturing and American jobs with sustainability

Sponsored

 

[ZeusDriver]

Yeah that makes sense. They have it rated at 600w and on the podcast said they were getting as much as 800w peak. I don’t have any illusion it would be used to charge the truck it’s more of a complimentary system and fun use of dead space on the truck that I like the concept of.

I converted a minivan to make a "solar" camper, covering the entire roof with solar panels, back in 2013. I've designed and built a solar powered boat, etc. So I have some perspective on the subject. I think the 400 watt figure is a little conservative, and instead agree with the vendor's 600 watt spec.

However, that spec is under ideal conditions, without any shading whatsoever, and with the panels aimed at the sun, instead of straight up. In my van of about the same panel output, I found that 2000 WH per day was a reasonable expectation, in good weather, most of the time. With a suitably-sized battery bank, I powered a microwave, very small window air conditioner, a space heater, and a hot pot... not at the same time, of course. I also powered various low amp loads such as computer and cell phone charging, lights, etc. Heat and AC sucked up a lot of energy quickly, but I would run one or the other for just a few minutes at a time, to take the chill off or (conversely) reduce my sweating rate. In one 6000 mile trip, I never had to plug in keep the batteries charged.

In my boat, all propulsion is electric, and the panels keep the batteries charged for intermittent propulsion use. (Main long distance power is a rigid wing.) The average solar harvest, however, is stunningly low, because my dock is partially shaded. I get about 1/10th of the daily charge that would be expected if I had full sun.

I found the podcast nearly unwatchable, given that it provides about 30 seconds of actual useful content. There is nothing new here, with most RV vendors having offered solar panels for many years.

I just paid $100 for a used ( but like new) tonneau cover, so $2000 seems pricy. However, when looking for a cover, I stopped at a Leonard truck outlet, and the standard rigid covers they wanted to sell me were $1500 - $2000 (including installation, for the physically challenged, I guess). From that perspective, this solar setup is reasonably priced.

 

[RLXXI]

5kW might be what it's capable of in the math but I guarantee you won't see that in real use. I have a solar system at my house since 2013. I speak from experience on this topic.

 

[Cbowe]

I converted a minivan to make a "solar" camper, covering the entire roof with solar panels, back in 2013. I've designed and built a solar powered boat, etc. So I have some perspective on the subject. I think the 400 watt figure is a little conservative, and instead agree with the vendor's 600 watt spec.

However, that spec is under ideal conditions, without any shading whatsoever, and with the panels aimed at the sun, instead of straight up. In my van of about the same panel output, I found that 2000 WH per day was a reasonable expectation, in good weather, most of the time. With a suitably-sized battery bank, I powered a microwave, very small window air conditioner, a space heater, and a hot pot... not at the same time, of course. I also powered various low amp loads such as computer and cell phone charging, lights, etc. Heat and AC sucked up a lot of energy quickly, but I would run one or the other for just a few minutes at a time, to take the chill off or (conversely) reduce my sweating rate. In one 6000 mile trip, I never had to plug in keep the batteries charged.

In my boat, all propulsion is electric, and the panels keep the batteries charged for intermittent propulsion use. (Main long distance power is a rigid wing.) The average solar harvest, however, is stunningly low, because my dock is partially shaded. I get about 1/10th of the daily charge that would be expected if I had full sun.

I found the podcast nearly unwatchable, given that it provides about 30 seconds of actual useful content. There is nothing new here, with most RV vendors having offered solar panels for many years.

I just paid $100 for a used ( but like new) tonneau cover, so $2000 seems pricy. However, when looking for a cover, I stopped at a Leonard truck outlet, and the standard rigid covers they wanted to sell me were $1500 - $2000 (including installation, for the physically challenged, I guess). From that perspective, this solar setup is reasonably priced.

I think what’s new and unique is the implementation and being manufactured in America not really the solar itself but in this mix of form factor, quality and efficiency. Hopefully the price can come down as they scale and I think this would more augment than replace part of a system with an RV but could stand alone at a worksite for example.

What would you have wanted to see in the podcast that would have made it more useful? More technical details and specs? Always trying to make it better for sure.

 

[I <3 My Lightning]

@OP... I for one like to watch your videos from time to time.

But based on some of your videos you benefit from getting their stuff free to be an "influencer" and post reviews.

I would be all for that cover if it was free and use it to charge my ego batteries over the prior week time, to then run a small cab electric heater for really long trips during very cold weather. That might give me 10 to 20 extra miles perhaps. I have both the 2000watt and 400 watt ego inverters. Currently playing with the 400 watt one to keep my batteries conditioned/cycled during the winter months, (as I only need them right now for additional house back up for small things and the ego snowblower), to run my dash cam in parking mode. The 400 watt inverter peaks at 800 watts and has pass through with charging.

Sorry for the derailment.

Ego is coming out with a 1400watt inverter that will do pass through, hold 4 of their batteries and can take up to 900 watts direct solar. I'm not affiliated with ego in any way...

But I can build a nice one panel solar cover with a single bifacial panel that puts outs in the best conditions about 550 watts at 70 degrees F and during the cold winter easily could put out a bit more... Yes, the single panel could just fit within the bed and have to rest on the cab section of the bed box or be an inch or 2 on the tailgate cap... Some sq aluminum square tubes, some Ls, some diamond plate to make it all pretty and some weather stripping.

I would have my choice of a micro inverter or something along the lines of ego, eco flow, bluetti, ect. To take the power. And if I was real crafty I would nest a second panel below the top with sliders and if I was out and about at a job site, drop the tail gate and pull out the second panel that also has has drop down legs to rest on the tailgate. I could also add some additional drop down legs at both the the bulk head and tailgate ends to then lift and pivot the whole set up at what ever angle I needed to get the max benefit while parked and the orientation of the truck.

 

[Runaway Tractor]

I haven’t see anyone package this solution this well.

It's not a solution to anything, and it isn't even available yet. Zero customers, lots of adjectives.

It’s giving 5-6 kWh of power

No it isn't. No it won't. They're full of crap.

If you were camping for a week that’s 35+ kWh of power

Which this product is not capable of doing in reality.

If you want to be emotionally triggered so be it man I feel for you.

I'm triggered by facts. I'm annoyed by monetized lies. Truely.

 

[Cbowe]

It’s a fair call out and I try to make clear right at the start of the show that I am an affiliate and that they gave me covers to review. To be clear I don’t make anything from this one at all. I genuinely support them as a small made in America company and wanted to share their story and this product on the show. Its a challenge for sure when something is free to maintain credibility so I appreciate and understand the skepticism.

 

[Cbowe]

It's not a solution to anything, and it isn't even available yet. Zero customers, lots of adjectives.


No it isn't. No it won't. They're full of crap.


Which this product is not capable of doing in reality.


I'm triggered by facts. I'm annoyed by monetized lies. Truely.

I make no money from this product at all. Zero. but you do you my friend. I hope your day gets better you seem to be upset a lot. I can’t imagine what that must be like for you.

 

[Runaway Tractor]

I make no money from this product at all. Zero. but you do you my friend.

I didn't say you make money from the product. You said that very specifically several times. We know. I said monetized lies. Unless you're also going to tell us that your you tube channel the monetized links are all as fake as this thing's kWh claims

 

[Cbowe]

This is on the Podcast channel not my personal YouTube channel. It’s shared with 5 hosts. What little money the channel makes goes to the costs for things like the streamyard software and hosting fees and what’s left is split between 5 of us. This video will get a couple hundred views? You genuinely think is about me trying to monetize an extra 75 cents? I hope we can meet one day because you clearly have no idea what I’m about or why I do any of the content I do or why I founded 2 EV Clubs or do community EV events. Trust me it’s not for an extra 75 cents or to be a shill for some product or company I don’t believe in or think there is a cool story about. This company and the people making these covers are fellow Americans making a great product. I hope you follow their story and can see them deliver the results they have been testing. I don’t know where the harsh bitterness comes from but it’s misdirected man. I’m not here to argue with you all day you’re going to believe what you do but on this one you’re wrong in my opinion.

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