Finally a APU

magoo68 · May 28, 2014

Cowpie1 said: ↑

Though an APU is a good idea for many folks, I just can't justify the cost. I have run numbers dozens of times, and the ROI is so far out in the future to be virtually non existent. But then, I stay primarily in the upper part of the country. A webasto heater does me just fine. To keep batteries up, a Yamaha or Honda portable does just fine. I ordered every insulation package I could get on my 2013. It is good enough that, even with the nasty winter we just had, I never even had to turn the coolant on to the bunk area all winter long. The cab heater kept the cab and 70" mid roof very comfortable when running, and the Webasto did a great job when I was on a break. For AC, I think I idle, at most, 7-10 days a year. Would not benefit much from a $10,000 investment in an APU.

I do hope the APU you got does a great job and saves you some green!
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i always loved it this winter when i got up to IA the temps there typically were 10 to 20 degrees warmer .if i lived there i wouldnt consider a apu as well but up north here after minus 25 or so which we had often.. bunk heaters and engine heaters get risky and its your life at risk so you run truck or a good apu .. i run reefer so i can go lower if i hook a jumper wire to keep batteries fully charged last winter i gave 2 boosts to guys in pullouts up north due to dead batteries from espar draw in severe cold due to their companys no idle policy and cheapskates using 3 batteries

vitaly2007 · Jul 3, 2014

Hi wich version of webasto you got ? Mine air top 2000 is not strong enouf any temps bellow -15 c and its a freezer inside! I got a 7500btu. Maybe my truck to big. Double bunk high roof coronado 2003

Cowpie1 · Jul 3, 2014

That could explain things somewhat. I have a mid roof single bunk 70" sleeper. The Webasto does a great job for my ride. They do come in different output ratings. i really am not sure off hand what mine is. I ordered it installed at the factory when they built the glider body. I also order the Arctic Insulation package and the premium noise abatement insulation package for my truck. Combined, they make a nice package with the Webasto.

vitaly2007 · Jul 4, 2014

Cowpie1 said: ↑

That could explain things somewhat. I have a mid roof single bunk 70" sleeper. The Webasto does a great job for my ride. They do come in different output ratings. i really am not sure off hand what mine is. I ordered it installed at the factory when they built the glider body. I also order the Arctic Insulation package and the premium noise abatement insulation package for my truck. Combined, they make a nice package with the Webasto.
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Yes agree mine is very old its a 2003 and barely have any insulation there! In winter my floor becomes like in a freezer hehe. Once I forgot my food neer the share on the floor and tha next morning was about to have a nice breakfast and surprize its all frozen and iced!

I was sleeping on top bed so all the heat gos there.

terryt · Jul 4, 2014

These dealers are wrong about idle timer. Anyone that has a PTO to run a compressor or to pump off a load knows this. Run mine at 1000 rpm for over hour it will run till it runs out of fuel.

Straight Stacks · Jul 28, 2015

SKL Trailers said: ↑

After freezing many nights this winter I got a APU installed on my truck, I have a 2014 Coronado with all the clean idle BS on it and there is no way to idle it higher than 700 RPM, doesn't cut it in -30c to -40c like we've had so much of this year, I've stopped at many dealers and asked if there was anything I could do and they all said no, they all say get a APU, it also has to be at a certain temp to regen which it would drop below so I would have to wake up and start a regen manually when the truck shut down, I even tried a stick on the pedal to speed it up and after a few mins it shuts right down because it thinks the throttle is stuck, usually after a few hours the engine temps drop so low that the heat just starts to blow like A/C, I've even got out of bed and drove a 1/2 hour just to warm it up and then try to go back to sleep, not a good plan and always tired the next day.

About a month ago I went to my Boss and told him my dilemma, he was great about it, just said go get him some quotes which I did and then let me decide which one I wanted, it was between the Carrier comfort pro and the Thermo king, I decided I liked the Carrier better because it doesn't need a inverter to run truck electronics and its electric heat and sometimes when it was very cold even my webasto heater would just blow cold because the line would freeze, this way I also still have my webasto if I ever need it, also still have my inverter plus the power from the APU.

I went to Tereck Diesel in Winnipeg last Monday to get it installed because there was no one in Saskatoon that does carrier, dropped it off at 9 am and it was done the next day at noon, pretty quick service and they did a very clean install, I then went to Iowa and back to Saskatoon, most comfortable rested week I've had all winter, I love this thing! it will be nice to have A/C in the summer too.

I let it run here Friday night while I was at home just to get the break in hours out of the way so I can get it serviced tomorrow, I went and checked on it yesterday and after a night of -42c and -51c with the wind the interior of the truck was +26, pretty impressive, heres a few pics, it was a pretty tight fit.

two of the vents

3rd heat vent on the left, APU plugs left, inverter plugs right, excuse the mess on the floor, my 5 year old went to Iowa with me and I never got a chance to vacuum yet...

the panel, that blue cord hanging there is just for my microwave

down side is I lost my luggage storage to the heat\AC unit

A look under the hood

I had to wash the truck so it matched the shinny new APU, haha, still looks like crap because everything froze as soon as I pulled out of the wash bay.

Just thought I'd post this up for anyone who cares to look, I know I've been driving for 6 years and never seen how one worked before, they are pretty sweet!
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Thx for sharing the helpful info a great pics! I'm buying mine next week and look forward to the savings and comfort!

mhyn · Jul 29, 2015

FYI people if your truck has Nazi clean idle BS sticker on it you can easily remove 700 rpm idling restriction by using diagnostic software. I am from Cali and I have removed 700rpm idle restriction. I just have Airtronic heather inside for cold winter nights.

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