RV solar panels are worth drooling over, especially if you like to “boondock” camp away from traditional campgrounds in areas that don’t have electrical hookups. Outfitting your RV with a solar power system will allow you to be “off-grid” longer while having use of your RV’s amenities such as the water pump, lighting, and maybe even air conditioning and television.

Our RV Battery Gave Us The Equivalent Of Electric Vehicle Range Anxiety

The battery in your RV will power your RV’s electrical accessories for a while but will eventually need a recharge. We’ve done quite a bit of boondock camping in our RV and prior to acquiring a solar power system we had the RV battery equivalent of electric vehicle range anxiety. During one memorable off-grid campout we watched our RV’s battery meter display fading battery voltage early into a multi-day trip. The result was that our battery barely had enough juice remaining to power the water pump so we could shower at the end of a long day in the Florida heat.

Once we utilized a solar power system to charge our RVs battery during the day we no longer had to worry about a dead battery in the evenings when off-grid. Photo: Ken Brubaker

In Went Solar, Out Went Anxiety

We learned our lesson, so we procured a small solar power system. With that system we were able to charge our RVs battery during the day and it was a silent, no-drama affair. The results included being able to use our RV’s water pump and lighting without worrying about the battery charge. We were sold on solar.

RV Solar Power System Considerations

There are many things to consider if you want to add a solar system to your RV. Do you want portable or fixed? If portable, do you have enough room to store the components safely and securely during transit? If fixed, are you comfortable with installing the solar panel(s) and associated components and routing the wiring? What do you wish to power with your solar power system and for how long? Which wattage of solar panel(s) do you need? What type and size of inverter do you need? Which charge controller do you need? If your RV is under warranty, will the solar mods void the warranty whether the work is done by you or a third party?

RV Manufacturers Offer Solar Power Systems

If all that sounds like more than you want to dig into, there is an option. Many RV companies are now offering solar power systems installed straight from the factory. And these systems have been designed by the manufacturers for the needs of specific RVs. These are not to be confused with “wired for solar” systems, which many manufacturers also offer.

Jayco Offers Four Overlander Solar Power System Packages

One RV manufacturer that offers solar power system options is Jayco. Jayco knows RVs. It has been building RVs for over 50 years and offers a wide range of products. The company offers the Overlander series of solar packages for almost all its towables and Jayco says that each has been tailored to offer the most hassle-free, safest, and efficient experience possible. The Overland series contains four packages ranging from 200W to 1,200W systems.

The Jayco Jay Flight is available with the Overlander 1 solar power system. Photo: Jayco

Jayco’s Overlander 1 Solar Power System

Jayco’s Overlander 1 solar power system is available for Jay Flight, Jay Feather, and White Hawk products. It includes a 200W solar panel and a 30-amp digital PWM (pulse width modulation) solar controller, which is perfect for keeping your RV’s house battery charged.

Jayco’s Overlander 2 Solar Power System

Bumping things up a notch is Jayco’s Overlander 2 solar power system. This system is available for Jay Feather, White Hawk, and Eagle products, as well as North Point, Pinnacle, Seismic, and Seismic Luxury Series. The Jayco Overlander 2 system includes a pair of 200W solar panels, a 30-amp MPPT RV-C solar controller, and a 1,800W RV-C inverter (Jay Feather products use a digital PWM solar controller and non-RV-C inverter).

The Jayco Seismic is available with either the Overlander 2 or 4 solar power system. Photo: Jayco

Jayco’s Overlander 4 Solar Power System

Jayco’s powerful Overlander 4 system is available on Eagle products and North Point, Pinnacle, Seismic and Seismic Luxury Series. This system offers a slew of components: four 200W solar panels, two 100Ah batteries, a 60-amp MPPT charge controller, 3,000W split phase inverter charger, DC to DC power converter, and soft start power saver bedroom and living room 15,000 Btu air conditioners with heat pumps (if optioned Eagle HT FW). The system also includes a battery monitor, energy management system, roof pre-wire for additional solar panels, and a heavy gauge steel battery enclosure.

The Jayco North Point can be equipped with the Overlander 2, 4, or EXT solar power systems. Photo: Jayco

Jayco’s Overlander EXT Solar Power System

The Overlander EXT is Jayco’s Big Kahuna of solar power systems. It’s available on North Point, Pinnacle, and Seismic Luxury Series products. This system includes six 200W solar panels, six 100Ah self-heated lithium batteries, a 100-amp MPPT solar charge controller, 3,000W split phase inverter charger, and DC to DC power charger. But there’s more. Lots more. The list includes a living room-located soft start 15,000 Btu air conditioner with heat pump, a 12V 13,500 Btu air conditioner in the bedroom, battery monitor, energy management system, and heavy gauge steel battery enclosure.

The Bottom Line

If you want a solar power system designed for and integrated into your RV by the manufacturer you have options. In addition to Jayco there are numerous RV manufacturers that offer solar power systems integrated into some or all their RVs as either standard or optional equipment. Here’s a few that caught our attention: Airstream, Black Series, Keystone RV, Sonic, Starcraft, and Winnebago.