Solar Panels for boondocking

Hi there. I'm a backpacker too, but now that we're retired we've been camping in an RPOD 178.. We bought a RENOGY portable panel (suitcase style) for our old popup and now we use it for the POD. WE found it on Amazon about 3 years ago and paid about 80 bucks. It comes with a controller, 2 mono crystalline panels and I think we bought the 50 (or thereabouts) watt version. It recharges our battery pretty quick. A half day of full sun brings us up to 12.6Volts (we have a battery monitor too...well worth the few bucks). WE did the southwest parks last summer...North Rim of Grand Canyon, Canyonlands, Zion, Arches, Mesa Verde. We were on the road for a month and the panel served us very well. Mind you, it will not run your AC or any other big electricity users, but for bringing your 12 volt system back to full charge in a pretty short time-span, whether you have two batteries or 1, that system works fine. It folds up into a suitcase that is about 3 inches deep and about 3 feet square. The controller is attached to the back of the panel and the stands/cables and connection are all included. 

Hi all, we bought our 179 last fall and have only used it once. We are looking forward to a full season of mostly boondocking, and solar is the way I want to go. Our Pod has the Zamp connector installed, but I'm leaning towards a Renogy 100w panel. I like the idea of using the prewired Zamp connector and have research ways to use other brand panels with the connector. If I were to connect the panel directly to the battery, would you all recommend clamps, or is there another connection type? I have two batteries so I'm guessing I will need to connect the panel to each one, right? Or will I only have to connect the panel to one battery and the juice will flow between the two? 

Thanks CharlieM. My two battery's are 12v in parallel. Thanks for the info!

We also have the Renogy 100 watt suitcase system.  We love it! It is simple, effective and they work. we were out for 3 months and it kept our batteries fully charged .  The only suggestion I have is if you leave in the morning to set the panels so that the sun will be directly shining on them mid day to get maximum solar input.  Otherwise, if you are still in camp, during the day you can move/adjust their angle every few hours to maximize solar gain.  I also suggest that you attach a short rope to the panels and tie it to a strong tent stake so that it will not turn over.   I saw one panel that had been blown over by the wind--they are glass and they will break.

Renogy has a very good customer support group-lots of answers to my questions. I had a warranty issue with the controller and Renogy sent a new one out immediately.  

I would recommend them without reservation. there is a post of my installation somewhere in the archives that probably could be found by searching.
Vann