Availability of Portable Solar System for Boondocking

Updated 05/18/2026 | Published 05/06/2026

Products Featured in This Question

Rich Solar Mega 200 Portable Solar Panel with Case - MC4 Connectors - 200 Watts

(1)

$319.99

Go Power RV SAE Port for Portable Solar Panels - 10 Feet

(15)

$23.99

Anderson to MC4 Cable for Redarc Solar Panels - 5' Long

(4)

$45.00

10AWG Solar Connector to SAE Adapter - Connects Solar Panels to SAE Plugs - IP68 Rated - 30A - 600V

(9)

$15.99

Victron SmartSolar 100/30 MPPT Solar Charge Controller - 12V/24V - 30 Amp

(6)

$135.15

Victron MultiPlus Pure Sine Wave Inverter Charger - 2,000 Watts - 50 Amps - 12V - UL Listed

$861.90

Question:

I have a 32 foot class A and we boondock in the forest in the summer at 9000 feet. I do not want to mount solar panels on my roof but would like a system I can place on the ground during the day to charge my house batteries, run the refrigerator/freezer, and run a television. When I am done with it I want to store it away underneath the motorhome. Do you have a system like this?

asked by: JAY

Expert Reply:

Hey Jay! We do have portable systems you can put together. However, it really depends on how much power those things draw and the size of your battery bank. For panels, you can use the Rich Solar Mega 200 Portable Solar Panel with Case - MC4 Connectors - 200 Watts # RS85FR. A 200 watt panel is pretty standard, and you can connect several together to build out your system.

If you're using a single panel the Go Power RV SAE Port # GP49QR is a simple way to connect to your RV. You will connect this to your solar controller and then you can connect to the panel using # RS39VR. If you want to run multiple panels, or plan to expand to more than one in the future, the SAE connector wouldn't be ideal.

For 2-3 panels I would switch to the # RED33VR with an Anderson connector and MC4 connectors to hook up to the panels. Then run additional cable with another Anderson connector to your solar controller for a quick connect setup. You will also need to install a solar controller like # VN62VR which is 30A so it can handle up to three of these panels depending on how they're wired.

Are the items you’re planning to run all 12V? If anything is 120V you will also need to add an inverter to convert 12V DC to 120V AC power. The Victron # VN69ZR is a great option for this setup. It is an inverter charger, and also includes a transfer switch so you don't have to add one separately.

What kind of motorhome do you have?

expert reply by: Robin H

Rich Solar Mega 200 Portable Solar Panel
(click to enlarge)

Herb

5/10/2026

I have not yet used the Rich portable extensively but am sure that it will work well in supplementing our TT rooftop (1200 w) array, especially when parked in a shady area.

Jay

5/16/2026

Robin thanks for the detailed response. The only 110 volt will be a television running with a Starlink mini. Other than that all is 12V. Only things running continuously would be an 8cu ft refrigerator/freezer. Of course occasional water pump, maybe an interior light and that’s it. I was just looking for a system that would keep my two house batteries at full charge so each evening we can run our central heat all night and refrigerator/freezer. We could always switch the refrigerator/freezer to propane at night but we really need the heater at 9,000 foot elevation. The motorhome is a 2013 Thor 32HD. I just don’t want to over buy a system and waste money on panels I don’t really need.

Robin H.

5/16/2026

@Jay you'll still need an inverter for the Starlink Mini since that runs on 120V AC power. The Victron # VN69ZR I mentioned above gives you room to expand later if you decide to power additional appliances. I generally recommend at least a 1,000W inverter like # PD94FR so you’re not sizing it right at the limit, plus it gives you the ability to power a few other things if needed. For your setup specifically, I actually think starting with two of the 200W panels would probably be the sweet spot. The furnace is usually the biggest overnight power draw because of the blower motor, especially at colder elevations. Running the refrigerator on propane overnight like you mentioned would definitely help reduce battery usage and make the system more manageable. I would still stick with the 30A Victron controller # VN62VR since it gives you flexibility to expand later without replacing components. You could start with two panels and easily add a third later if you find yourself camping longer in shaded areas or during cloudy weather. I’d definitely recommend running your exact battery capacity and estimated usage through our solar calculator. That’ll help dial in the panel quantity more precisely so you don’t end up overbuying equipment you may never need. I went ahead and linked it below.

Helpful Links

rv-solar-calculator

Jay

5/17/2026

Thank you Robin. This answers all My questions.

Jay

5/17/2026

Robin, after looking through all the data and videos I think I want to go with 4 Rich 100W panels. If I understand the system correctly I will need a VN69ZR Inverter, a PD94ZR Transfer Switch, and will the VN62VR controller be adequate or do I need and upgrade on that for 4 100W panels? I will install myself. Do I need any other connectors, wires, or ancillary equipment to make this work? I want to do this in one order so I can install once it arrives.