I thought I would post 200 watt Renogy solar panel install mounted to Yakima tracks. Initially I was going to mount them directly to the yakima bars using the aluminess solar panel bar mounts, but then realized that the racks could still be used for boards or rafts if the panels were underneath the level of the bars, so I decided to mount them directly to the Yakima tracks, bringing them just below the bar height. Now if I throw a raft or canoe up there I wont smash the panels, theoretically.
I had previously installed amazon flexible panels which have lasted about 5 years, eventually producing little to no power, back then I was stupid and unfortunately I secured them with double sided 3m tape which was a mess to remove and left micro spider cracks all over the gel coat of the CCV top.
Once I removed it, I sanded and waxed the gel coat, then
Fabbed up some custom brackets for the high side of the panels, the low side I used the standard solar brackets mounted into the yakima tracks.
The custom brackets are Installed with 8 m6 bolts per side directly into the yakima track anchor plates. I also used some 1/16th neoprene rubber washers in between the mounts and the tracks to hopefully avoid squeaks.
The other side I used the standard aluminum solar mounts
I haven't yet hooked up both panels, but already making an amazing amount of power with only one panel hooked up. . The panel on the front is the last of the two flexibles that I had and was still producing so ive left it for now. You can see the angle of the panels here for snow and rain runoff.
Now I just need to reinstall the rear bar, and re mount my road shower.
2008 GMC 3500 SMB
Linear Mode
