Ideas for your Expedition Defender

I'm over carrying a large solar panel in side my 110. 200 watt is heavy and cumbersome to handle.
Im looking at solar blankets, Amorphous being the latest tech.
Redarcs gear, whilst being very high quality and Australian made is silly expensive, at around $2000 for a 115 watt blanket (their top of the line red ones).
Are there other quality manufacturers who sell in the Aussie market, a similar product at a more affordable price or will I need to go the import route? (Noting the import tax duty changes in July 17).
Ken

Just get a 150ish watt fold up panel for a couple of hundred dollars. Would be a shame to have an expensive panel smash or be knicked

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Originally Posted by Baytown

I'm over carrying a large solar panel in side my 110. 200 watt is heavy and cumbersome to handle.
Im looking at solar blankets, Amorphous being the latest tech.
Redarcs gear, whilst being very high quality and Australian made is silly expensive, at around $2000 for a 115 watt blanket (their top of the line red ones).
Are there other quality manufacturers who sell in the Aussie market, a similar product at a more affordable price or will I need to go the import route? (Noting the import tax duty changes in July 17).
Ken

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I visited RArc office in SA. Fancy building $$$$$$$$$$$$$. Tiny carpark.

Another option is the semi flexible panels, basically a sheet of ally with the solar cells stuck to it, no glass. thin, light and fraction of the price of the blankets. I slide mine between the rtt and canopy roof.

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Originally Posted by Shingleback

Another option is the semi flexible panels, basically a sheet of ally with the solar cells stuck to it, no glass. thin, light and fraction of the price of the blankets. I slide mine between the rtt and canopy roof.

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I have semi flex as well...at 3mm thick they slide under the mattress just nicely.

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Originally Posted by Vern

Cool, was just wondering so i could see what size they were. Looking at putting lights on my roof rack, but am going with fyrlyts.

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Make sure you check your state regulations with regard to lights that are behind the front of the vehicle. In NSW for example there are few Police Officers with what can only be described as a raging passion for defecting 4x4 vehicles.

If you get lights that swivel, you can classify them as 'work lights' as long as you can't operate them from the normal driving position - this was advice I received from the RMS when I was defected for having 'driving lights on my roofrack'. If they are driving lights, they need to be in front of the driver i.e. at the front of the vehicle, to prevent glare. it's a little pedantic but might save you a problem one day.

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Originally Posted by Baytown

I'm over carrying a large solar panel in side my 110. 200 watt is heavy and cumbersome to handle.
Im looking at solar blankets, Amorphous being the latest tech.
Redarcs gear, whilst being very high quality and Australian made is silly expensive, at around $2000 for a 115 watt blanket (their top of the line red ones).
Are there other quality manufacturers who sell in the Aussie market, a similar product at a more affordable price or will I need to go the import route? (Noting the import tax duty changes in July 17).
Ken

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Projecta have folding panels, as do Jaycar, but I haven't compared the prices.
Travel Friendly Solar Panel Kits

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Originally Posted by Baytown

It really surprises me that this page is so slow moving, so let's see if we can pick up some momentum, as we're not all mud running rock crawling drivers.
Ken

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Im not sure this is the best place to start this but I'll give it a go....I recently read the 4x4australia article on the Alu-cab Defender, pretty sweet gig.

They mentioned mounting the gas bottle on the back for a dual burner stove, and stated it was "plumbed in with a quick disconnect gas connection." but didn't mention any details. This seems like a brilliant idea, love the idea of carrying gas on the back and not having to get it down every time or take long hoses in the back. Has anyone else seen this done before?


My initial thoughts were:
Gas Bottle > Short Hose (With Regulator) > Fixed Female Hose Thread mounted above window (roof panel) > Hose running above rear door, down along side window, just above the numberplate > Fixed Male Thread mounted between plate and reverse light (similar to a connection I saw another user use, attached) > small hose to Gas Burner.
Then the gas burner on a table (either near the rear wheel or a fold down table like the Alu-Cab one)

Maybe theres simpler ways to connect (Quick Disconnect rather than threads?). Anyway, any links, ideas, comments welcome!

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Originally Posted by In A Landy Down Under

Im not sure this is the best place to start this but I'll give it a go....I recently read the 4x4australia article on the Alu-cab Defender, pretty sweet gig.

They mentioned mounting the gas bottle on the back for a dual burner stove, and stated it was "plumbed in with a quick disconnect gas connection." but didn't mention any details. This seems like a brilliant idea, love the idea of carrying gas on the back and not having to get it down every time or take long hoses in the back. Has anyone else seen this done before?


My initial thoughts were:
Gas Bottle > Short Hose (With Regulator) > Fixed Female Hose Thread mounted above window (roof panel) > Hose running above rear door, down along side window, just above the numberplate > Fixed Male Thread mounted between plate and reverse light (similar to a connection I saw another user use, attached) > small hose to Gas Burner.
Then the gas burner on a table (either near the rear wheel or a fold down table like the Alu-Cab one)

Maybe theres simpler ways to connect (Quick Disconnect rather than threads?). Anyway, any links, ideas, comments welcome!

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Bayonet fitting like they have on caravans.

I used a quick connect fitting on the rear of my 130. (My Different 130) It was a Garth jobbie which I bought 2 of. Fitted one to my trailer build too. (MY trailer Build/Rebuild)

Unfortunately I haven't been able to find them since. Bought from the big green shed a number of years ago.