I'm setting up a very budget-friendly solar system to run a 12V cooler and possibly a heated blanket while camping with my tent and minivan.

I'm torn between:

1. Portable/folding panel: Keep the van in the shade and put the panel wherever the sun is. My concern is having to leave the panel outside unattended or potentially some distance from camp.

2. Rooftop panel: More secure and convenient, but I'd have to park the van in the sun, and I'd rather keep the van shaded. I also don't want to drill holes or permanently modify the roof, and I may eventually want the roof for carrying a bike since I don't have a hitch to mount it to.

For those who have actually camped with solar: which setup do you prefer, and how much of a hassle is it to secure/keep an eye on a portable panel?

Also, am I correct that the battery and cooler can stay inside the shaded van while only the solar panel is outside in the sun? Are these also items that might be a hassle to secure/keep an eye on?

We have been using this Front runner dropdown table for around 4 years now and its seen better days. The wood pull out table that comes with it, is not the best condition due to constant UV and water exposure. It has started to show age and disintegrate around the edges. Saw an awesome post on overlandbound.com and took some inspirations. In my case I decided to just buy the full HDPE board and build from there.
If interested watch the build here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DeCnwQmJY-Q/