Solar Panels for RVs – Are they Worth It?

We don’t want to bury the lede, so here’s a cheeky answer to the question: Are solar panels worth it for RVs? 

Maybe. It depends on what you want to get out of your RV.

We’re called Grinning Cheek to Cheek. We’ve got to give cheeky answers every once in a awhile.

So how do solar panels improve RVs? Which RV owners should install them? Which RV owners should avoid them? How much do solar panels cost to install on RVs? We’re going to answer all of these questions – and more.

How much do solar panels for RVs cost? 

There’s no set cost for RV solar kits – it all depends on how many things you want to run off of solar. Let’s say you’re only looking to run a few things off of solar for a fairly small trailer  – TVs, LED lights, ceiling fans, and the like. You’ll be able to get away with a 400-watt setup – and that’s going to run you anywhere from $3,500-$4,500.

Have a bigger trailer, or want to run more appliances? You’ll need an 800-watt setup, which could run you anywhere from $4,500-$6,000. 

Moving up from there, if you want to run all of your appliances simultaneously, including your refrigerator, you’ll need a 1200 watt setup, which can run you anywhere from $5,000-$7,500.

Finally, if you want to run your air conditioner off of solar, too – well, things are going to get tricky. You’ll need a very large array – and unless you have a gigantic trailer, it’s simply not going to fit on your roof. Expect to need some pretty major modifications for a setup big enough to run your AC – it might end up costing you 5 figures.

Do I need solar panels for my RV?

Now that we have a better understanding of the cost of solar panels, we can try to assess whether or not they produce enough value to be worth it.

The answer to that question depends on how you want to RV.

Boondocking

If you’re boondocking all the time, and you want to have a constant supply of electricity for your RV, solar panels could be worth the cost. They are, of course, about 5 to 10 times more expensive than a gas generator upfront, but they come with a number of advantages.

First, the lifespan of solar tends to exceed that of a gas generator. Portable generators will typically last 1000 to 2000 hours. If you use them for 100 hours a year, that gives you a 10 to 20-year lifespan. 

Solar panels, on the other hand, typically last at high efficiency for 25-30 years – and they can continue to work at lower efficiency after that. Best of all, they don’t last for a certain number of “hours” – if you’re using solar panels for energy 1000 hours a year, they won’t stop working the way a gas generator might.

Then, there’s the cost of gas. Generators might use anywhere from .75 to 1.5 gallons per hour. As of the time this article is being written, gas costs about $6 per gallon. Over 1000 hours that’s $6,000 for the lifespan of a 1-gallon-per-hour generator.

All of a sudden, solar looks like an amazing investment, doesn’t it? You’re saving money in the long run in most cases.

Of course, gas generators have advantages that solar doesn’t. They retain their efficiency no matter what time of day it is. You can run air conditioners off of gas generators – they provide a lot more power.

So are solar panels worth it for boondockers? In most cases, we’d say they are. Now let’s take a look at another circumstance:

Tied-to-the-grid

When you’ve got shore power, the need for solar panels changes dramatically. How you’ll power your RV is one of the biggest differences in the consideration for on-grid vs. off-grid solar. 

We still think solar panels can be useful for campers who are accustomed to having shore power. The reason is simple: solar panels can provide emergency power when you can’t access shore power – or when there’s a power outage that makes shore power inaccessible.

Those of you who are expecting to use solar for emergency power can get away with a smaller grid than the folks who plan on keeping their appliances running day and night off-grid. 

You might, however, find that a gas generator is far more worth your while. You’ll probably get 20+ years out of your gas generator because you’ll only be using it for emergency power. What’s more, gas generators are much easier to get working in case of emergency, because weather conditions will only rarely affect how they function.

Solar panels for RVs can be worth it

With that, we hope we’ve answered your question – solar panels for RVs can absolutely be worth it if you’re boondocking regularly, but there are often better options if you’re simply looking for emergency power.

Enjoy your RV, and all the best!