UMRT Docs

United Mobile RV field guide — adapted for docs from unitedmobilerv.com/guide/best-solar-panels-guide/. Full library stays on the main-site hub. Questions? Forum.

Owner guide

Best RV Solar Panels — Buying Guide

The “best” solar panel depends entirely on your roof space, mounting preference, and how the rig actually gets used — rigid, flexible, and portable panels each solve a different problem, and picking based on price alone.

Active corridor: Montana · Wyoming · Idaho · Washington — case-by-case beyond.

Field notes

The “best” solar panel depends entirely on your roof space, mounting preference, and how the rig actually gets used — rigid, flexible, and portable panels each solve a different problem, and picking based on price alone usually means picking wrong. Rigid panels, typically aluminum-framed, deliver the best efficiency and longest service life but add weight and roof penetration points for mounting.

Rigid vs. flexible vs. portable

Rigid panels, typically aluminum-framed, deliver the best efficiency and longest service life but add weight and roof penetration points for mounting.

Sizing before shopping

The right total wattage depends on your daily energy draw and available roof space, not a generic “more is better” rule — work through the math in our solar sizing guide before choosing individual panels.

Our Picks

Renogy 100W/200W rigid panels — the most common RV rooftop choice, good value, easy to source replacements.

When to book

DIY ends at sealed systems, gas work, and inverter commissioning. Diagnostic $175 applied toward repair.

Related: Docs guides · Book · Pricing

Pricing teaser

Trip fee $75 within 30 miles, then $1.50/mi. Labor ~$150/hr (1-hour minimum, billed in 30-minute increments). Diagnostic $175 applied toward repair if you proceed.

Active corridor: Montana · Wyoming · Idaho · Washington — case-by-case beyond. Credentials (text): Victron Professional Certified Installer · weBoost Authorized Installer · Peplink Certified Associate · Dometic Professional Certified.

From the live Field Guide

Flexible panels conform to curved surfaces and weigh less, but generally run less efficient and shorter-lived than rigid options, and their lighter build can be more prone to hot-spot damage without adequate airflow underneath. Portable/folding panels move to follow the sun and don’t require any roof mounting — the right call for occasional boondockers who don’t want a permanent install, less so for full-timers who want max passive output.

Pair panel choice with the right charge controller — see MPPT vs PWM and solar sizing — since an undersized controller wastes real capacity even with premium panels. Flexible arrays on curved or skoolie roofs often pair with a Victron SmartSolar MPPT for Bluetooth-monitored charging.

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