Do I need solar for the Tune M1?

No, solar is not required. The M1 battery can also charge via the truck's alternator (with a DC-DC charger) while driving, a shore power hookup, or a generator. For weekend camping with hookups, you may not need solar at all. Solar becomes worth adding when you're doing 3+ night off-grid trips where you can't rely on driving or hookups to recharge. Most owners add solar after their first extended trip where they ran their battery down.

What charge controller does the Tune M1 come with?

The M1 does not come with a charge controller standard. Solar, battery, and charge controller are all add-ons you source separately (or through Tune's factory add-ons). Tune's Solar Port add-on routes wiring through the roof but doesn't include a controller. Most owners add a 20A MPPT (Victron or Renogy) as part of their electrical build. The ordering guide covers what Tune includes vs. what you source yourself.

Can I charge the M1 battery while driving without solar?

Yes (the M1 battery can be charged from your truck's alternator while driving via a DC-DC (B2B) charger. The Renogy 40A (~$180–$220) is the most popular community pick; the Victron Orion-Tr Smart 12/12-30A (~$200–$250) is the premium alternative. At 30–40A output, a 2-hour drive can add 60–80 Ah to your battery) enough to offset most overnight usage. For weekend camping with regular driving, alternator charging alone can be sufficient. Solar adds independence when you're stationary for multiple days or camping in spots without long drives between sites.

Does solar panel weight matter for payload?

Yes, everything on the truck counts against your door sticker payload rating, including solar panels. A 100W flexible panel weighs approximately 4–5 lbs. The Tune factory 2-panel kit (2×220W) adds ~24 lbs. Add a charge controller (1–2 lbs) and wiring (~1–2 lbs) and the Tune solar kit brings roughly 26–27 lbs of payload cost. On a payload-tight truck like a Ranger or loaded Tacoma, every pound matters. Use the calculator to see the impact.

Tune M1 Solar Setup: How Many Watts + Best Panels

How Much Solar Do You Need?

Most Tune M1 owners need 100–200W of solar for weekend camping, or 200–400W for extended off-grid trips with a 12V fridge. A single 100W panel generates roughly 40–60 Ah per day in decent sun, enough to offset overnight fan, lighting, and device charging. A practical framework by use case:

Weekend warrior (1–2 nights, no fridge). 100W. On a typical sunny day, a 100W panel generates 40–60 Ah, which replenishes most of your overnight fan and device draw.
3–5 day off-grid (no fridge). 100W with a 100Ah battery is a reasonable pairing. You'll be net-neutral or slightly positive on most sunny days.
Running a 12V fridge. 200W is the practical minimum. A fridge adds 25–40 Ah/day of draw, and you need enough solar to cover both fridge and other loads.
Extended off-grid (7+ days, fridge, cloud country). 200W+ paired with a 200Ah battery. This combination handles multi-day cloudy stretches comfortably.

Solar output varies a lot by location and season. Plan for 3–4 peak sun hours as a conservative assumption if you camp in mixed conditions. Desert camping in summer often delivers 5–6 hours, but don't size your whole system around that.

Roof Mount vs. Portable Panels

Factor	Roof Mount	Portable Panel
Setup time	Zero, always collecting	Requires deployment each stop
Shaded campsites	Stuck with shade	Can reposition to sun
Wattage potential	Limited by M1 roof area	Expandable: bring more panels
Payload weight	Permanent load	Optional: leave home if not needed
Driving charging	Charges while driving	Only at camp
Durability	More exposed to elements	Can store protected
Cost	Higher (permanent install)	Often lower, more flexible

For M1 owners, roof-mount flexible panels are the most popular choice. They collect while driving (useful for charging between campsites), don't require deployment, and keep the setup clean. Portable panels are preferred by owners who camp heavily in shade, value flexibility in panel placement, or don't want to deal with a permanent roof install. Many M1 owners start with a portable panel and add a roof mount later once they know their camping patterns.

Charge Controller: MPPT vs. PWM

Use MPPT. The efficiency gains (notably in partial shade, early morning, and late afternoon) are worth the modest price difference for any system over 50W. MPPT controllers also handle higher-voltage panel strings, giving you more wiring flexibility if you add panels later.

Controller sizing: match your controller to your total panel wattage. A 20A MPPT handles up to ~260W on a 12V system. A 30A MPPT handles up to ~400W. Community-tested options:

Victron SmartSolar 75/15 or 100/20. Community favorite, strong Bluetooth monitoring app, very reliable, ~$80–$100.
Renogy Rover 20A MPPT. Lower cost, good for budget builds, solid reliability track record, ~$50–$70.

Mounting on the M1

Tune Outdoor offers a factory Solar Port add-on that routes wiring from the battery compartment through the roof with proper weatherproofing. If you order the Solar Port, third-party panels connect via standard MC4 connectors. Tune's ETFE flexible panel kit is sized for the M1 roof and connects via Anderson PowerPole.

For DIY roof mounts without the factory port: many owners run wiring through a weatherproof grommet through the roof edge. Flexible panels adhere with VHB tape or Z-brackets. Keep panel weight distributed evenly across the roof surface and avoid sharp edges that could damage the M1's canvas pop-top.

Community Picks

Community Favorite

🔨 Direct from Maker

Tune Outdoor 2-Panel ETFE Flexible Solar Kit

440W mid (2×220W) / 530W full (2×265W) ~25–30 lbs (2 panels) Roof mount MC4 + PowerPole connectors

Tune sells flexible ETFE solar panels two ways, and the difference matters. Ordered with your camper build, Tune mounts the panels and wires the Solar Port at the factory, so the camper arrives finished, no roof-cutting or DIY mounting. Bought later as a standalone accessory ($749 for the dual-panel kit), it's panels only and you install them yourself. The panels are sourced rather than Tune-made, though Tune grades them above typical commodity ETFE for durability and lifespan. Mid-size trucks get 2×220W (440W), full-size gets 2×265W (530W), enough to run a fridge, fan, and devices through most sunny days.

Best if you want solar done at the factory with no DIY install. If you're adding panels after delivery, weigh it against the Renogy option below: similar cost per watt, but you handle the mounting either way.

$749 standalone kit; factory-install pricing set in Tune's configurator

View on Tune Outdoor →

Best Roof-Mount Alternative

🏭 Manufacturer

Renogy 200W Flexible Solar Panel

200W ~10.8 lbs Monocrystalline MC4 connectors

If you want to roof-mount your own panel instead of buying through Tune, the Renogy 200W flexible monocrystalline panel is a close match to Tune's per-panel wattage: bendable flexible construction and a single 200W panel where smaller flex panels top out at 100W. At ~10.8 lbs it's a bit lighter than Tune's 12 lb panel. Two of them gets you to 400W, close to Tune's 440W kit at a noticeably lower price. Bonds to the M1 roof with VHB tape; wires through the Solar Port add-on with MC4 cables.

Best DIY alternative to Tune's factory kit. Two panels = ~400W for less than Tune's 2-panel kit.

~$280–$320

Check Price →

Best Portable

🏭 Manufacturer

EcoFlow NextGen 220W Bifacial Portable

220W ~15.4 lbs Bifacial, foldable MC4 connectors

If you'd rather not commit to roof-mounting, the EcoFlow NextGen 220W folds up, stows in the camper, and deploys at camp with a built-in kickstand. Bifacial design captures reflected light from the back side, so real-world output runs higher than a comparable 220W rigid panel. Heavier than a roof-mount flex panel because of the folding case and frame, but you keep the option to chase the sun or leave it home for short trips. Same wattage as Tune's per-panel spec without permanently mounting anything.

Best for owners who want serious wattage without modifying the roof, or who camp in the trees and need to chase the sun.

$299 on sale as of June 2026 (list $649; EcoFlow sale pricing swings often)

Check Price →

Best Rigid Mount

🏭 Manufacturer

Renogy 200W Rigid Solar Panel (N-Type)

200W ~23.4 lbs N-type mono, 49.7 × 30.1 in MC4 connectors

Flexible panels keep weight down, but rigid glass panels take hail and dropped branches better and run cooler, which means more output on hot afternoons. Renogy's current 16BB N-type line is the one to buy: 20.7% module efficiency at $0.90 per watt list. Two catches on the M1. A rigid panel needs a rack or Z-bracket mount above the roof rather than VHB tape, and the 200W is a 24V-class panel (37.4V open circuit), so check your controller or power station's input limit before wiring. The 100W version ($109.99, 13 lbs) stays 12V-class.

Best if your panels live under tree cover and scraping branches, or you just trust glass over ETFE film. The tradeoff is weight: 23.4 lbs vs 10.8 for Renogy's flexible 200W.

$179.99 list; Renogy runs rotating sales (single panel seen at $153 in June 2026)

Check Price →

Best Suitcase Style

🏭 Manufacturer

Renogy 200W Solar Suitcase Kit (N-Type)

200W ~28.5 lbs Folds to 34.3 × 22.8 × 3.2 in 20A PWM controller included

The suitcase format solves the camping-in-shade problem: park the truck under the trees, carry the panel to the sun, and aim it. Two rigid N-type panels hinge together with kickstand legs and a pre-wired 20A controller, so the kit clips straight to a 12V battery with no roof penetration and no extra parts to buy. At 28.5 lbs it's the heaviest option per watt here, but it's also the only one you can leave in the garage on trips that don't need solar. Zero permanent payload.

Best for shade campers and payload-tight builds that want solar to be optional rather than bolted on.

$322.99 (100W kit: $166.99)

Check Price →

Suitcase for Yeti Owners

🏭 Manufacturer

Goal Zero Boulder 100 Briefcase

100W 25.9 lbs Tempered glass + aluminum frame Folds to 26.75 × 21.75 × 3.75 in

Two 50W glass panels hinged into a briefcase with a kickstand and canvas carry bag. The natural pick when a Yeti power station is your battery: it plugs in through Goal Zero's connectors with no charge controller needed. Charging a standard 12V battery instead requires Goal Zero's separate 10A controller kit. Ground-deploy only (Goal Zero says it isn't designed for permanent mounting), and the dollars-per-watt math is steep next to the Renogy suitcase: $4.00/W vs $1.61/W.

Best suitcase panel if you already run a Yeti. Everyone else gets double the watts for $77 less with the Renogy kit.

$399.95

Check Price →

Solar Payload Impact

Solar adds weight to your payload budget. Don't forget to account for:

Panel weight. Renogy 200W flexible panel = ~10.8 lbs; Tune 2-panel kit (2×220W) = ~24 lbs; rigid 200W glass panel = ~23.4 lbs plus mounting hardware. Portable options (fold-out 220W bifacial at ~15.4 lbs, suitcase kits at 26–29 lbs) only cost payload on trips you bring them.
Charge controller. Typically 1–3 lbs for MPPT units.
Wiring and connectors. ~1–2 lbs for a typical M1 install.
Mounting hardware varies widely. VHB tape adds almost nothing; a full rail system can add 5–10 lbs.

Use the payload calculator to add these items to your build and see the total impact on your truck's margin.

SOLAR PANELS
FOR THE TUNE M1

How Much Solar Do You Need?

Roof Mount vs. Portable Panels

Charge Controller: MPPT vs. PWM

Mounting on the M1

Community Picks

Solar Payload Impact

M1 Solar Questions

SOLAR PANELSFOR THE TUNE M1

How Much Solar Do You Need?

Roof Mount vs. Portable Panels

Charge Controller: MPPT vs. PWM

Mounting on the M1

Community Picks

Solar Payload Impact

M1 Solar Questions

SOLAR PANELS
FOR THE TUNE M1