Tilting panels on RV 5th wheel roof

[RoadTurtle]

Currently 2 strings - three panels of 200w on each string mounted flat to the roof. Roof curves both laterally and longitudinally, making using mounting rail challenging. Currently have common z-brackets mounted on the end of the panels. 5th wheel is facing due west, and this is our permanent snow bird home. Late Sept to late Apr.

As I've been pushing my system beyond my original design constraints... I need MOAR Unfortunately do to a lot of junk on the roof, I'm very space constrained, and already at legal height, so can't go over the junk either.

Two questions, and I prefer to reuse existing roof holes, rather than creating more potential leak points.

1. given my winter latitude of 34.5N, does a panel angle of 45 degrees make sense? If I used the exact same configuration, drivers side would be an estimated 50 degrees, pass side would be estimated 40 degrees. Is this a good plan to carry through the deep winter months?

2. Thinking about getting right angle aluminum and drilling holes in it to match the existing roof holes spacing to replace Z brackets. South side attachment would be set up as a pivot, north side, would either be flat on the roof for travel, or boosted 45 degrees with either flat stock (small angle aluminum). The right angle pieces pieces mounted to the roof would probably need to be 2" raising panels up slightly so as it pivots, the edge will clear the roof.

Below is the current configuration

 

[WorldwideDave]

I think you may have trouble finding panels that are the same dimentions and are a higher spec/output panel. But maybe.

your roof is very busy. Some skoolie type conversions have a big flatter roof with no obstructions, so they get more panels OR a roof rack with panels and a lower tray that slides out with more panels on it. Like a kitchen drawer, you pull some pins and slide out the massive shelf/tray that has a 2nd row of panels mounted.

The only time I've seen RV panels tilted were a.) when someone mounted to the side of the RV, with a piano hinge on top to pivot, and a pair of prop rods on the bottom to hold it up once arrived at campsite, and b.) when using a mini-array (ground mount usually) located next to where the RV was parked. I have not seen tilting ones on the roof of an RV before - most do not like to climb up and down the ladder to 'break camp' and pull away.

by these pix, you can clearly go wider and longer on the panels. Maybe you can fit six (6) 545W panels that are bigger vs. trying to fit the same size but slightly larger than 100W on? In other words, why do 5 panels the same size for a max of say 1000W when you can do 6 panels at 1200W (200W ea) or even better get 3200+ from 6 panels? Guessing cost.

 

[RoadTurtle]

When I did this, I didn't go with wider panels, and I had access to takeoff commercial panels, because getting close to the junk on the roof creates shadow devestating solar collection. Notice how far outboard they are? 250w panels weren't available at the time, or I'd have those.

Because it's a curved roof, slide out panels would have been more challenging

I'm not looking to replace the panels, they are paid for and they work. By adding some sort of pivoting, I'll get them better aimed for solar collection, and should gain me quite a bit.