Alright this may be a silly question but.....

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Tonythetruckerdude, Jan 14, 2013.

  1. Tonythetruckerdude

    Tonythetruckerdude Crusty Deer Slayer

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    I recently retired from a 33 year career driving and I thought I had a grip on most things trucking. Granted I was in the food service side (read day cab) of it for 30 years so I'm not too schooled on the newest technologies....but would someone please explain to me what APU's are...
     
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  3. pokerhound67

    pokerhound67 Heavy Load Member

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    apu stands for auxiliary power unit. it allows for heating/cooling the sleeper/cab as well as providing electricity to use laptop, tv, refrigerator, etc.

    oops...left out that this happens without idling the truck, thus saving a ton of fuel (for an average otr driver). as my math says they pay for themselves inside of 1.5 to 2 years, i dont understand why they arent on just about every truck in the large otr companies.
     
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  4. Tonythetruckerdude

    Tonythetruckerdude Crusty Deer Slayer

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    Thanks pokerhound67....may be silly But if ya don't know....a type of generator then I assume?
     
  5. Bent Wrench

    Bent Wrench Medium Load Member

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    A small power unit instead of idling the truck motor.

    When you figure the cost of purchase, installation, maintenance I'm not sure there is much in the way of savings.

    Only real savings is emissions because you are not idling a 14L motor (which is not efficient at that small of a load)
     
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  6. drvrtech77

    drvrtech77 Road Train Member

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    The apu's generally burn .1/gal of per hour of usage...that's big $$$ saved for companies and o/o's a like.
     
  7. pokerhound67

    pokerhound67 Heavy Load Member

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    a type of generator, yes. and i hear .1 gallons of fuel per hour as well, so even when you figure the cost of (8k?) it would take a savings of 2000 gallons of fuel to pay for itself. not including maintenance of course. or just about 2200 hours of idling. not even considering the environmental impact, like i said my math puts that at around 2 years or less. probably a bit more for an o/o. and only considering otr drivers, that live in the truck for weeks at a time.

    and of course its not a stupid question. no one knew what they were til someone showed them one or told them about it.
     
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  8. windsmith

    windsmith Road Train Member

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    An APU is a small diesel generator with a belt driven A/C compressor attached to it. That's a simple as it gets.
     
  9. fisher guy

    fisher guy Road Train Member

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    we got 5 trucks with apu's i dont think any of them work were taking them off next month not everyone believes theyre worth it one of these days i'll ask the boss how come he's taking them off instead of fixing them
     
  10. jess-juju

    jess-juju Road Train Member

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    Are they Thermoking APU's?
     
  11. windsmith

    windsmith Road Train Member

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    I'll buy one, maybe 2.
     
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