I picked up my solar panels from a company that does corporate installs in Austin. They had a few leftover, and when you're selling 200+ at a time, selling leftovers can be difficult. I got 5 panels @325w for $750. I went with monocrystalline 72 cell panels. 1.6kW of solar power will be more than enough for sure! I'm also happy to provide more information for those that are curious.
I measured the inside of my Subaru Outback and knew that they would fit and I'd need to keep the hatch open partially for the drive. Unfortunately, mother nature decided to bring rain into the equation and I ended up having to shove the panels all the way in. I had to move the seat ALL the way forward. My knees were 6" away from my chest for the entire 5 hour drive. I drive a manual, so I was using my toes to operate the pedals. Since I left after work to pick them up (shout-out to Annie for letting me pick them up from her house at 22:30 on a Friday!), I originally planned on pulling over to sleep when I got tired. As there was now no room to recline my seat, this presented a possible challenge. Fortunately, I was in enough pain from my knees, hip flexors, and ankles, to keep me awake for the entire night drive back to scenic Del Rio, Texas.
So I started scouting out the areas on my bus that would be ideal for the panels. The front of the bus is where the solar panels will be located. I'll have all 5 laid out perpendicular in length to the length of the bus. This will leave extra space for what will eventually be the rooftop patio.
Further, I started prepping the roof for painting, mostly because I want to get my local welder out here as soon as possible. There are a couple of reasons for this:
1. I'd like to get the solar panels out of my bedroom.
2. I'd like to have shade over the roof of the bus while I'm still working on the inside, since Del Rio summers can become extremely hot as early as March.
3. Before I insulate the interior ceiling, I need to cut out my skylight areas. The emergency hatch is approximately 2' wide, so I'll use that as a base for the next ones towards the back of the bus. I'll be doing them Sojourner style with a removable wooden panel on the rooftop deck rack.
You can't see it, but her roof all sanded and ready for oil-based latex in flat white (Sherwin Williams' Rustoleum knockoff).
... 'dat ass...