Cargo Trailer Conversion Series: Solar Installation

[@ericmattinen4728]

Hey! I'm from N MN too. I grew up in the Carlton/Cloquet area! I've been in NE MT for about 10 years now, but always will call MN home!

[@getaway_man]

Crazy, we would be neighbors if you were still around! MT seems like a fun place to live though, need to make some more trips out there.

[@functionalvanconversion4284]

Nice work!

[@ericmattinen4728]

I think I would go with 5/4 deck boards (or 2 X 6) screwed down to a 2 X 4 at the front and back and resting on the cross members. Attach the end lumber with a couple of those L brackets.

[@getaway_man]

Funny, this is so close to what I decided to do. Working on it right now. Should have it done soon!

[@ericmattinen4728]

Maarkstar sells aluminum planks 1 X 6 by 5 foot long for $40-$60 depending on mill finish or anodized. For a quarter of that price I think I would still go with wood. It would save having to mortgage a horse or a couple of chickens...lol

[@getaway_man]

Yeah, I would have loved to do aluminum planking but everything is so crazy expensive these days. Wood is cheaper and easily replaced if need be.

[@CatHound]

That will work but fuel mileage will be a problem

[@ShawnNicholas09]

Yeah, definitely not as efficient as a stock trailer but less drag compared to most rvs with all the stuff they typically have on the roof.

[@michaeltichonuk2176]

I binged on your series... Have you ever used or heard of 8511? I just used some to fab up roof rack. I used it at a employment place before I retired. It's extruded aluminum...FYI. I'm pretty detailed oriented myself so...😁

[@getaway_man]

Thanks for watching! The only extruded aluminum I know of is 8020. Well, I know there are other brands as well but I can't find much on 8511. Is 8511 similar to 8020 or unistrut in that it has t-slots? I considered 8020 but it's expensive these days. I’m going with unistrut for the cross-bracing since it's a little cheaper and I can buy it locally. Hoping to get the deck up in the next week!

[@michaeltichonuk2176]

@@getaway_man I may have the numbers wrong. It's 1" square and slotted on all four sides with a hole down the length of center beam. It's T tracked on all sides I should say. I prefer local sourcing too! 😁

[@getaway_man]

That definitely sounds like the 10 series 80/20 but there’s other brands that offer basically the same thing. Super fun stuff to build with. If it wasn’t so expensive, I would have used it for my deck. This whole build is getting expensive fast so I have to be careful 🤑

[@michaeltichonuk2176]

@@getaway_man I Google it to learn where I got it wrong...and learned it's 58 bucks for a stick...back when it was 14 dollars a 10' length!!! Crazy! It is great to work with though.

[@Stealthbobber06]

Great video! Could you explain how you made the mounting legs for the ladder rack? Or if you purchased them? Thanks

[@getaway_man]

Thanks! Check out my previous ladder rack video. It has all the info including a link to the vevor rack in the description. kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6qyZKWYatiqjKs

[@themusclebob23]

Good video doing this right now lol where did you purchase the L brackets those look cool?

[@getaway_man]

I guess I forgot to add the brackets to the description, my bad! I got them on eBay. www.ebay.com/itm/184292646521?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=3ODL3w-WQZa&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=9dmKOXaFSiG&var Those were the ones from the video I believe but they come in different sizes as well. They’ve worked out great.

[@themusclebob23]

@@getaway_man I purchased ladder rack to cut I ran into the same problem EVERYTHING is to tall and I didn't want a ton of holes in the roof. Your top molding is a dream..... mine has different top molding I have to mount over molding vs recessed in the molding thanks for the tips. Mounting solar almost sucks more then hanging panal to the ceiling. Thank man

[@getaway_man]

@@themusclebob23 Yeah it’s a big project for sure! Buying the right trailer and or ladder rack can help, a little haha

[@dougyoud5944]

Do you have a link for the L-brackets you used?

[@getaway_man]

Sorry I forgot to add that. Got them on eBay. www.ebay.com/itm/184292646521?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=3ODL3w-WQZa&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=9dmKOXaFSiG&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[@dougyoud5944]

@@getaway_man appreciate it! Doing the same mounting system for my 7x16, but with 12x 100w panels. (Wish I got bigger panels, but had 6 of them already from another install).

[@getaway_man]

@@dougyoud5944 No problem. The L brackets are slick. I think I mentioned it in the video, I would also suggest adding some angle iron or angle aluminum to the ends of panel groups. Might make installing or servicing them easier and will make it all more rigid. Good luck!

[@honeybadgerbob9427]

Why not double your capacity by adding sliding panels above the fixed ones. We hen you park you pull them out like a drawer.

[@getaway_man]

I guess one could do that but 520w is more than most people have/need already.

[@honeybadgerbob9427]

@@getaway_man true, batteries are really to issue over the watts of your panels in the long run. It if the goal is boondocking, then I’d go for it.

[@getaway_man]

@@honeybadgerbob9427 Exactly. If it’s sunny you don’t need much for the basics. But with more loads, more inverter use, weak or low sun etc. , I could totally see needing more, especially in an indefinite boondock scenario. I would probably add panels that I could easily move to chase the sun throughout the year.

[@brianrothenberger817]

I hope I’m not insulting you. How much did it cost you for the whole project

[@getaway_man]

Hey, not insulting at all. I always try to be transparent with what I do on the channel. So the trailer was purchased new for about $11k and so far I have about $6k into the build. Some of that cost is not yet showcased/installed as of today. I still have to install the insulation, flooring, and wrap up the electrical. I've got a few builds under my belt and I've found the average cost is around $8k, not including the vehicle/trailer so I'm still on track with that average. Hope that helps!

[@brianrothenberger817]

@@getaway_man sorry for the misunderstanding i meant just the solar project

[@getaway_man]

X2 Ladder rack sets plus brackets/hardware was about $300 and the solar panels were about $550. If we are including the other solar components (not including battery) it's another $200 or so. It's all broken down in the description with the various components and the links where I bought them.