No solar on a used van (1 Viewer)

[oldieish]

In 2019 would you expect to find a 2000s vintage A-Class motorhome for sale without solar panels? I was surprised. Not sure if I want the bother and expense of having them fitted.

 

[Robert Clark]

Solar is not a standard installation on an van
It’s an optional extra that some owners might decide if b based on how they plan to use the van

 

[Odd job]

It depends on use, if people mainly stay on sites with EHU why would you have a solar panel?

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[DBK]

Not at all surprising I think. Lots of MHs (probably the majority?) are only ever used on campsites where there is an EHU.

Whether you need solar just depends how you intend to us the MH although it is useful for keeping batteries topped up when the vehicle is not being used.

 

[Robert Clark]

.

 

[RogerThat]

..

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[Robert Clark]

Adding solar, extra batteries or an inverter to a van is not difficult
The decision on which to add is should be based on your personal requirements

 

[oldieish]

I was quite surprised. I assumed (foolish thing to do) that by now solar would be a standard fitting. I guess that's just me. Can't imagine doing without.

 

[ABZSteve]

Solar is not a standard installation on an van
It’s an optional extra that some owners might decide if b based on how they plan to use the van

Yip, standard on some Motorhomes

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[Robert Clark]

Yip, standard on some Motorhomes

A total waste of money for many owners

 

[ABZSteve]

A total waste of money for many owners

Yip, for me, that’s for sure

 

[Robert Clark]

I was quite surprised. I assumed (foolish thing to do) that by now solar would be a standard fitting. I guess that's just me. Can't imagine doing without.

Our new van didn’t include solar
Or an inverter
Or lithium batteries
Or a wine fridge
Or a washing machine

So I added these myself because I wanted them

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[Ivory55]

No solar but has it got a spare wheel, some new vans it’s the other way round.

 

[jockaneezer]

Solar panel output degrades over time, 19 year old panels could still be outputting a useful charge, but a smaller (80 watt was a common size at the start) panel would probably benefit from an upgrade to a lighter, more efficient panel if you relied on pv for charging your batteries.

 

[eddie]

In 2019 would you expect to find a 2000s vintage A-Class motorhome for sale without solar panels? I was surprised. Not sure if I want the bother and expense of having them fitted.

Depending on where a van is used, solar may be pointless to some owners.

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[tonka]

Solar is not a standard installation on an van
It’s an optional extra that some owners might decide if b based on how they plan to use the van

Standard on a lot of Autotrails now

Dont laugh..

 

[Eddystone]

Year 2000 is to early for general fitting. They were heavy and inefficient by todays standard .

 

[Lenny HB]

Standard on a lot of Autotrails now

Dont laugh..

Money would have been better spent making them waterproof.

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[Lenny HB]

Probably better off without then you can fit your own with a decent MPPT controller.
Also if you buy a van with all the bits on you miss out on the fun of fitting all the bits. We buy new vans, loads of things I don't specify as I like doing it myself and I know the jobs done properly.

 

[funflair]

You still see quite recent vans for sale without solar, it wouldn’t worry me that it was missing as long as the van and the price were right. Chance to fit modern panels and MPPT controller.

Martin

 

[vin0114]

In 2019 would you expect to find a 2000s vintage A-Class motorhome for sale without solar panels? I was surprised. Not sure if I want the bother and expense of having them fitted.

As said before why have them fitted if you don't need them. But if you don't have the luxury of hooking up on your drive then storing your van elsewhere without hookup could be problematic. We have friends who only use sites with hookup maybe 4 times a year. When the van is in storage they have to regularly take out the battery to recharge it to keep the alarm system active! Last year we had around 18 outings without needing hookup with 2x100w panels feeding 2x100a batteries through a 30a MPPT controller.

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[Pausim]

If you don’t need them they are just extra weight to deduct from your payload. Better to fit/carry things you are likely to use.