Power off the hood. No drilling.
Cascadia 4x4 builds solar panels that mount to one specific vehicle's hood — not to a roof rack, not to a folding stand next to the tent. The panel sits where the vehicle sits, and charges while nobody thinks about it.
- Authorised distributor
- Shipping from Warsaw
- EU invoice and warranty
- Advice before you buy
Start with what you drive
A panel is matched to a model and a year range, not to a hood that looks similar. Pick a make or type your model into the search — you get the part number and the price.
A battery drains even when nothing is running
Alarm, dashcam, telematics module, fridge on a stop — the vehicle draws current all the time. A hood panel works while the car is parked in the sun, which is exactly when there is no alternator.
A vehicle parked for weeks
A seasonal 4x4 or a second car on the drive. The panel keeps the battery up instead of a trickle charger nobody plugs in.
A base camp
Roof tent, fridge, lighting. The stop lasts longer than the drive, so the alternator never catches up.
Work vehicles
Bodied vehicles and auxiliary batteries topped up without starting the engine.
We do not quote energy yield — it depends on the season, parking angle, dirt and shade. The manufacturer does not publish such figures, and we do not invent them. We publish rated power and the electrical data from the manufacturer's datasheet; ask us if you want help working out the rest.
The panel flexes with the hood
The cells sit in a flexible laminate rather than an aluminium frame, so the panel follows the pressings of the hood and does not need a flat surface.
No drilling
The panel is held by SolarClasp™ fasteners. On the vehicle side you apply a protective film and the mating half of the fastener — the bodywork stays intact.
Off in seconds
Car wash, selling the vehicle, winter storage — the panel comes off without tools and goes back the same way.
Tether backup
CascadiaTether™ holds the panel if a fastener is opened by accident, or by someone else.
A panel on its own is not an installation
Every VSS System™ 2.0 panel needs a charge controller. This is not a comfort upgrade — without it the set is incomplete and must not be connected to the battery.
Panel
Chosen by model and year. One panel usually covers several models.
CHF149CC MPPT controller
15 A, Bluetooth, live readout on the phone. Required with VSS System™ 2.0.
Optional 12 V outlets
CHF300: USB-C 65 W, USB-A and a cigarette-lighter socket fed from the same circuit.
Older VSS System 1.0 sets run on the CHF100CC controller (10 A, IP67). The controllers are not interchangeable between systems — check which version you have before ordering.
Flipster V3 — a plate that does not hide the winch
A hinged licence plate mount fitted in front of the winch. Up, the plate is displayed as the law requires; down, it clears the rope and the fairlead.
Torque hinge
The mount stays where you put it — vibration does not drop it.
Parts sold separately
Plates, hinge, spacers and the bolt kit can be replaced individually.
Aluminium
Cut aluminium plates, CNC-machined components.
Frequently asked questions
Does the panel have to be bolted to the hood?
No. It is held by SolarClasp™ fasteners whose mating half is bonded to the bodywork together with a TPU protective film. There is no drilling and no riveting.
It is still not a place-and-go job — the surface has to be prepared and the film applied exactly where the instructions say. The manufacturer's instructions come with the kit.
How much power will it make in northern Europe?
We do not publish that number, because the manufacturer does not, and any such figure depends on the month, the hour, how the vehicle is parked, cloud cover and how clean the panel is.
We publish rated power together with currents and voltages from the datasheet at STC. If you want to know whether a panel will hold a specific load, write to us — we will work it out on your numbers rather than print one on this page that will not fit your case.
Will it fit my vehicle if the hood looks similar?
Do not assume so. The year ranges in the catalogue are closed and follow the shape of one specific hood. A facelift of the same model can have different pressings.
For the 2005–2015 Toyota 4Runner and Tacoma there is a further condition: the panel fits only versions without a hood scoop.
What is the warranty?
Panels: 2 years, extendable to 5 as a separately purchased item. Charge controllers and the 12 V outlet kit: 5 years.
We are this precise because the shorthand "5-year warranty" circulates online and is not true of the panel itself.
Can I leave the panel on while driving?
Yes — the system is designed for it and the CascadiaTether™ adds a second line of defence. The manufacturer does not state a speed limit in the product datasheet, so we do not invent one; if in doubt, ask us before buying.
Do I buy from you or from the manufacturer?
From us — Szekla4x4.pl is the authorised Cascadia 4x4 distributor in Poland. Goods ship from Warsaw, the invoice is a Polish one and we handle warranty claims. No shipment from Canada and no customs clearance on your side.
Not sure which panel?
Tell us what you drive and what it has to power. You get a straight answer — including when the answer is that this panel is not worth it for you.