Low voltage auto engine start for 75 bucks, who has one?

I don't have one, but if you get it you may have to install it yourself. I know some installers will not install a remote start system in a manual trans vehicle bc of liability issues. People like to leave their vehicle in gear, then forget when they try to start it and it goes through someone's front door!

 

ERM... isnt the APU already feeding your batteries?

 

you can avoid this by wiring it in a way that the remote start wont start the truck unless it's in neutral .

 

pulling your batteries down and recharging them like that all the time 3-4 times a day (every 3 hr's) will kill your batteries fast.... they are not made to take it....

you need to upgrade from AUTO/TRUCK batteries to AGM DEEP CELL RV/MARINE duel-purpose batteries..... they are made to take that kind of abuse.... with warranties up to 6 years...!!!

the batteries you have now are in the 650-925 cca range, you can get AGM's up to 1,150 cca, the higher the cca the less often you will need to rechange them..... 3hr's now, with the 1,150cca you may get 6-8hr's (1 recharge per 10 hr break)

your system will be hard on the alternator.... it's not really made to recharge dead batteries ALL THE TIME.... what the alternator is made to do is run the electronics of the truck and TOP OFF the batteries.... most are in the 140-165 amp range so when recharging the batteries it will be running at or close to max output and not for 20 min's but for 1-3 HOURS.... your gauge may show them charged after 20 min but a load test will show they aren't.... it takes time to fully charge them, when it goes out upgrade to a 250 amp, it will be less work on the alternator and it will recharge them faster.... if you have the room and can add 4 more batteries (total of 8 AGM) your system should run 12-18 hr's before you need to recharge the batteries

also think about adding a maxwel ESM (Engine Start Module)
http://www.maxwell.com/esm/
the ESM is what starts you truck not the batteries, as long as your truck batteries have enough power to turn on the trucks computer's the ESM will start it... it recharges from the batteries after the truck starts in 5-10 min... all truck dealers can get it and install if for you

 

why don't you forget the inverter idea because on top of toasting the batteries, your inverter will eventually go and take the ac unit out (which is not supposed to be on inverter power). Just make the investment into a good generator like a honda and solve a lot of headaches.

I take the 10k ac unit means 10,000 btu unit which really is too much, a 5000 btu would keep you cool.

 

gas generators are dangerous on a truck and in some states may be illegal...
GAS generator exhaust tends to float up and can enter the cab, diesel (apu) exhaust is heavy and floats to the ground.... a driver in AR had a gas generator mounted on the frame rail (same place a diesel apu would have been) he parked at a weight station to take a break.... dot found him dead in the cab 16 hr's later from carbon monoxide.....

some states REQUIRE a truck/rv gen-set (generator/ apu) to use a fuel pump and CAN NOT use a gravity feed fuel system, only the Honda 3000 uses a fuel pump and can be use with a remote gas tank think about it... do you really want to use a GAS generator that gets all the bumps and vibration of going down the road and get a little crack in some stupid plastic part and leak 5-8 gl.'s of GAS on top of your hot running gas motor...

per FMCSA reg's
393.65
(3) Fuel spilled vertically from a fuel tank while it is being filled will not contact any part of the exhaust or electrical systems of the vehicle, except the fuel level indicator assembly.... fuel tank CAN"T be mounted on top of the generator
(d) Gravity or syphon feed prohibited. A fuel system must not supply fuel by gravity or syphon feed directly to the carburetor or injector....... generator MUST have a fuel pump