In truck sleeping vs hotel

Discussion in 'Expediter and Hot Shot Trucking Forum' started by AndrewW, Aug 14, 2020.

  1. singlescrewshaker

    singlescrewshaker Road Train Member

    4,478
    38,067
    Dec 31, 2017
    Little Havana, FL
    0
    If you truly have the long wheelbase f550 crew cab, it's 200". Not going to turn much better the 210" wheelbase on my FLD..
    I asked you a few weeks ago about that because it looks more like a 176" from the pic you posted. Could be deceiving me with the under slung box in front of the drive axle..

    Did you put the 550 on the road already, or still running the 350.?
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. crocky

    crocky Road Train Member

    1,732
    1,575
    Jun 28, 2017
    0
    The toolboxes on the flatbed the ones up top are 8ft long to give you an idea of how long it is. It's the long frame. The flatbed was 10 or 11ft long I forget which

    here is a side view before I took the bed off

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Aug 16, 2020
    singlescrewshaker Thanks this.
  4. singlescrewshaker

    singlescrewshaker Road Train Member

    4,478
    38,067
    Dec 31, 2017
    Little Havana, FL
    0
    Oh dang, I didn't realize the reviews were so bad. Or return issues too. Was thinking I'd try one out in the manner we described, pre cooling, then after the suns down. If it didn't do what I was hoping, was gonna take advantage of that 30day return. Maybe not so much now if they are making difficult their return policy..

    That battery based power pack/gen set looks pretty interesting. I don't think I have enough alternator to handle my 4 batteries, & recharge that pack as well. Just found out Friday it's only a 130amp!! I think you'd be able to make that work with them twin 220amp deals you got. Looks like it only needs a little 160 watt inverter to recharge the 1500ah pack you posted in 9.5-10 hours. Pretty neat..

    One of the guys here uses a Pulsar pg2300is he paid ~$390 bucks. He says it's good unit, & online reviews are pretty decent for the most part also. Been using his over a year, runs a heater in winter, & a 5000btu window AC for summer. It a sweet little setup, if you don't mind walking to the gas pump once every 5days to fill a 5 gallon can. I love how his is setup, but won't work the same for my truck. I'd have to make something up to hang it out the passenger window someway, or remove my passenger seat & do a tower AC. But I hear towers are not all that great..
     
    24kHotshot Thanks this.
  5. crocky

    crocky Road Train Member

    1,732
    1,575
    Jun 28, 2017
    0
    I used to do the van life thing and a few people that I've seen who have tried those said they didn't work well. Just for the record, you guys realize they make electric APU's now?

    They are pricey new, but I've seen quite a few on ebay and other sites off wrecked trucks in the $1,5-2,5k range. You likely need to buy batteries for it but they usually use 12v deep cycles but you could run it off 6v batteries in a series to get 12v as well to gain more capacity. It's what I'm looking to put on my truck once I get a sleeper.

    There is of course always the generator & window ac unit set up you could build into a box to hide it but I hate the generator noise.

    Here is one ebay. Looks like a normal APU but the big box is just batteries instead of a diesel Genset. However, on a smaller truck you could simply do away with the single big box and straddle the batteries along the frame rail 2 on each side. You could also go away from lead-acid using AGM or even a custom nicad battery bank so long as they are in a series to produce 12v and cover the correct drain requirements.

    Idle Free Systems Electric APU W/ Piping, Wiring and Controls | eBay
     
    Last edited: Aug 16, 2020
    24kHotshot and singlescrewshaker Thank this.
  6. Corn-Fed

    Corn-Fed Light Load Member

    90
    252
    Dec 24, 2016
    Big Clifty, Ky
    0
    I've got a stupid question. Yall are talking about apu's diesel, electric, gas generators, window unit acs. Why not put a rooftop ac on it like a lot of o/ops of big trucks do and a small gas generator? I figure that would cost roughly 2 grand. If your work 48 weeks a year that's 41 dollars a week just to own it no manteince or fuel. Seems to me it would be cheaper than a hotel. It would only add 100 to 150 pounds to the truck. Just my 2 cents though.
     
  7. 24kHotshot

    24kHotshot Heavy Load Member

    801
    874
    Feb 19, 2019
    New York
    0
    I looked into that as well but the smallest roof top ac i can find is 13,500 btu. A small 2000 watt generator can't handle the load. Need a heavy 3000W+ generator. Would be awesome and I wouldn't think twice if I can find a 7,000ish btu one that also has heat.
     
    Corn-Fed and singlescrewshaker Thank this.
  8. singlescrewshaker

    singlescrewshaker Road Train Member

    4,478
    38,067
    Dec 31, 2017
    Little Havana, FL
    0
    Actually, no that's a great thought..
    I run this pile right here. I know it doesn't give off the 'I'm slightly vain' vibe, but I personally don't like how the rooftop AC unit looks..

    You did just get my mind turning though. I could do a back wall mounted maybe too. Something not real noticeable. And yes, I agree with a small whisper inverter generator. I like them too.

    20200814_103525.jpg

    Now one of these old school roof tops like this Pete has, I like these..

    bb71fad97ff84f93f218bc0ec87697b2.jpg
     
    feldsforever, Corn-Fed and 24kHotshot Thank this.
  9. singlescrewshaker

    singlescrewshaker Road Train Member

    4,478
    38,067
    Dec 31, 2017
    Little Havana, FL
    0
    Man that's a 84" cab axle, huh..?
    Boy do those boxes make it look short. That's the one to have though. Long wheelbase supposed to ride better, & like you said give that extra space to squeeze a bunk in there.. :thumbup:
     
  10. Brandonpdx

    Brandonpdx Road Train Member

    4,075
    3,835
    Dec 27, 2007
    Elkhart, IN
    0
    Looks like a nice truck from what I can see of it, but man that’s going to be expensive to put one of those sleeper units on it.
     
  11. Zonie

    Zonie Light Load Member

    84
    162
    Sep 14, 2019
    0
    Coleman makes an 9.2K roof air. Mach 8 Cub.
    2K Honda Genny may start it, but maybe not on a really hot day.
    3K Honda definitely will run it.
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.