ThermoKing TRIPAC APU

My favorite is the Chattanooga TK. Not because it's the closest to me but they really are nice and do good work. Over the years they have given me, 2 T-shirts, 1 hat and one Sunday I had an emergency repair, the guy come right in and even brought me a pizza.

I've been to some crappy ones before. That one in Gulfport, MS is a joke. He doesn't even have a garage but a big carport and carries a chip on his shoulder.

 

You still need california compliant apu if you want to use it there

 

I didn't have a 780, but my last company had them. They mounted it in front of the drives on the passenger side. I'm not sure of the Arctic Package? If that's just tying into the trucks cooling system then yes you definitely want that. The alternator you shouldn't have to upgrade as it's more of a battery maintainer. Then when you have that installed you want a good 2500 watt inverter installed.

 

Lots of dealers can do the job, but at what price. TK is expensive. I have a tripac on my volvo located under the passenger seat, so that the arctic package coolant lines tap relatively close near the heater core tubes. It's kind of crowded, and I'd have them put in extra valves to individually isolate the APU and heater core coolant lines. Make sure the brackets don't rub on the exhaust pipe--clearance is close under there, and any rubbing will mean an exhaust leak. Also dictate where you want the hardware placed inside the passenger side auxillary storage. Some installers have a way of placing the a/c and control box so that it fills up the entire space, others install with a mind toward need for spare storage space. OH! Make sure you get the bigger alternator--128 amp, I believe. You don't want the motor turning on just to boil water for a cup of coffee, but when it does, it charges and then turns off.

 

My favorite is the ThermoKings in Wisconsin. Othewise known as Transportation Refrigeration Inc. TRI is the home of the original TriPac. Originally made in DePere, WI. ThermoKing purchased the rights to the TRIPAC APU. I have had service in all 3 locations (DePere, Plover, Madison). The Plover location is very familiar with the Volvo.

 

I have the 730 which is the midroof version of the 780. My APU is off my old 2005 Volvo that had a nice spot for installation on the passenger side under the seat area. If you have 150 gal tanks mounting is an APU can be tricky. I have a 2011 with side skirts. My big side skirt is not one of the newer style (2012+) with easy removal but requires removing the bolts that hold it on. I had to push my driver side tank back to make room for the APU between the DEF tank and the fuel tank. Had just enough room to install it. The location makes it difficult to do any service without removing the side skirt that takes 2 people to do. Can check oil level but adding oil takes a funnel with a 18 inch hose. Location depends on the frame rail and where things can be attached. The Volvo DEF takes up the passenger side. If you get a Cummins engine in the Volvo the DEF on the passenger side is smaller. My friend has an identical truck but with a Cummins was able to put his on the passenger side to the rear of the DEF set up.

The new TRIPAC's can be purchased either with CA compliant meaning with DEF setup or without DEF. If you are going to run CA then you need one with DEF even if the truck is CA idle certified. Why do you want to idle when in CA when the APU saves you money in fuel? Purpose of having an APU is to save on operating costs.

The Arctic pack is worth it if you are going to be out in winter conditions. It makes starting up so much easier. I put one on even with being based out of Texas. Don't need to worry if you don't have electrical connections to hook to when home or sitting out a storm. Just leave APU on and it will keep batteries up and engine block warm when sitting for a period of time.

 

That "Certified Idle" sticker doesn't mean anything really. In many commercial shippers and elsewhere, any truck idling longer than 5 minutes is illegal. Contrary to popular belief. The exhaust from the SCR technology truck with DPF is not "clean". There are still toxic gases that pass the filter, and CO2, a byproduct of burning anything, is pollution.

 

According to CARB, the APU must be the same model year as the truck. So, I decided against moving the APU from my wrecked 2006 Volvo VNL780 Cummins ISX to my new 2015 Volvo VNL780 with Volvo D13. I had the same configuration on my 2006 that you had--placed it under the passenger seat--which was good location because the coolant lines for the Artic package were close to the heater core where they connect.

Now, I purchased on the quick a 2015 Volvo with Volvo motor. I really like the truck. As a California based carrier, I'm hoping the technology of the SCR emissions is more reliable than the old retrofit solution. I had actually tried a retrofit DPF made by Hug on my 2006, but between the dirty Cummins EGR valve motor and the "after burner" filter, I simply had too many troubles with high back pressure issues. Fortunately, the wreck, where nobody but truck parts got hurt, forced the decision for me to upgrade.

Problem with the new truck is the space limitations. I bought the truck on the quick and go burned by getting the aux "chicken lights", which the dealer tells me later prevents me from having the removable faring panel on the driver's side. I also have 150 gal tanks (don't want to give those up), so space between take and DEF is really short. Then, the fixed side faring has a support bracket that's almost the middle of the only potentially available space.

I want to learn more about what you've done to ease servicing of your APU with the fix side faring...