What the best APU

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by JPK, Mar 30, 2011.

  1. JPK

    JPK Bobtail Member

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    Oct 15, 2010
    Dallas, Georgia, USA
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    Hello O/O and Drivers! I,m a starter O/O, and I wanted to get a APU. I need your advice please: wich one I should purchase.:Compass: Thanks!
     
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  3. Cowpie1

    Cowpie1 Road Train Member

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    Man, that is a loaded question! Some swear by Tri-Pac, some swear by Carrier, and the list goes on.

    Dynasys is making a pretty good APU. They now have a financing program I recently heard about. I got them to mail me a copy of what their financing options were, and it seemed to be pretty legit. At least one would not have to shell out all the money up front and the payments are reasonable. I am not sure, but I think they were doing this for OOIDA members.
     
  4. The Challenger

    The Challenger Kinghunter

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    Cowpie,

    I was looking at the specs and was if the 6000W is for the inverter?? The engine is pratically the same as the tri-pacs. The carrier has a kubota.

    KH
     
  5. Jfaulk99

    Jfaulk99 Road Train Member

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    Not trying to hijack the thread but I've never actually heard a straight answer if an APU is actually worth owning. I mean they make sense on paper but do they actually pay for themselves after you factor in the initial purchase price plus added maintenance?
     
  6. Kansas

    Kansas Road Train Member

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    aircap, Ks.
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    I am into month number two of owning my TriPac. My first fill up was 13 gallons less than normal. I have saved approximately the same number of gallons every night im on the road since. My first 8 day trip out with my apu, I saved about $400 in Fuel!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thats #### near one fill up!!!!!!!!!! That's some happy math right there. I am definitely a believer.

    8 nights on the road. 13 gallons saved a night x $4.00 a gallon = $416. Now start doing the savings per month, and then a year. Wont take long at all to absorb that $10K in apu cost, and put me in the black on this deal.

    I do expect those numbers to go down some as summer gets here, and the Tripac engine has to run more to spin the AC compressor. In winter you're only using the bunk heater, and the tripac engine only starts about 3 times a night to keep batteries charged.

    Something else to ponder. Every time that crankshaft goes around, thats one last time it will ever spin. I think I have added a whole bunch of extra life to the big engine. In other words; as an O/O listening to the truck engine running all night, I always slept with "one ear open" every time that engine pitched changed I would wonder "whats that gonna cost me" Maybe I was just being paranoid, but I sure sleep a lot better at night now with out that worry.

    Also, since owning the Tripac I have never seen the oil temp gauge on the truck engine below 36F in the morning. That includes a couple of below zero Wy. mornings. No more cold engine starts for my truck!!!
     
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  7. Kansas

    Kansas Road Train Member

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    aircap, Ks.
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    While im thinking about it...

    Carrier units have an on board generator that converts 12v to 120v. I thinks its good for 4000 watts, which will run just about anything you want including a roof top AC unit.

    Tripac has an alternator to charge the truck batteries. I purchased the 1800 watt inverter that Tripac sells with their APU's, its actually a relabeled Xantrex unit.

    Both have an upside and downside. Obviously the Carrier makes a whole lot more electrical power, but any time you want to use 120v that apu engine has to run sucking fuel, putting hours on your unit, and making noise. On the tripac unit you can watch tv, use your microwave for a few minutes and surf the internet on your laptop all day long with out the apu engine ever starting. But, battery condition is going to be critical with the Tripac. I would also assume replacement cost for the Carrier generator would be much Much more to replace vs. the alternator on the Tripac.
     
  8. Jfaulk99

    Jfaulk99 Road Train Member

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    Oh I'm sure the higher fuel prices go the faster it will pay for itself but I hear a lot of guys who have a lot of issues with them. I understand that less idling means less wear on the engine but for someone who trades trucks often the "saved wear" would be little benefit in their cost of ownership.

    I found an interesting link. Sorry to hijack.
     
  9. JPK

    JPK Bobtail Member

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    Oct 15, 2010
    Dallas, Georgia, USA
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    I want thank to every body who responded to my request to get info or recommendation about to choose the best APU UNIT. You guys were very helpful. Thanks again, Julius:biggrin_25514:
     
  10. Panhandle flash

    Panhandle flash Road Train Member

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    So, guess what it all comes down to is, how long do you plan to keep your trk? Going to do a lot of trips to places with anti idle laws? I'm just a company drvr but do love my Tripac. Able to keep fairly cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Will advise this tho, keep up on the maintenance and definitely change the air filter on a regular basis. Really hard to cool that trk if the filter is all clogged up.
     
  11. Krooser

    Krooser Road Train Member

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    An APU wouldn't save me much $$$ because i seldom ever idle even without one...

    For the past three winters I have used my ESPAR bunk heater with good results... before that I'd maybe idle a few minutes each hour just to keep the cab warm when just sitting around... when I slept I'd fire up my tructy mattress warmer and climb under three conforters (if needed).

    During the summer I idle more than at other times of the year... up to about 80F I simply runs two 12v fans and keep the windows and bunk door open. After 85F or so I fire up the engine...

    This year I'm going to try a swamp cooler and see how that works... I'm a cheap ###.
     
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