Newer Cascadias Opti Idle System

Cheaping out? $20,000.00 for a product that may or may not be reliable is not how I would want to spend my money. Using the opti-idle allows for more functionality at a greatly reduced cost when paired with the auxiliary heater. With that said there are settings on the opti-idle (That the shop has to adjust.) that will increase the drivers comfort.

As for your comfort trying to sleep next to them, sorry about that. Park somewhere else? I try to get parked next to a non-APU, non-reefer when I have to park at a truck stop. That usually works the best for me.

 

Got me, I pull a flat or a van most of the time. When I do pull a reefer I can disconnect from it and not have to listen to it all night.

I always tell newbies to check what sleeping systems are on the truck. It is a big deal for many people, others, not so much.

A couple newbies I know bought a portable AC unit for the summer and use the auxiliary heater for the winter. So very little fluctuating noise and shaking of the truck. With that said, they learned from me where to park and where not to park.

 

You just have to get tired enough. Anyone that has trouble sleeping just needs to drop back to 4-5 hours a night. That has a way of fixing it really quick.

 

My company has the opti idle but they also have the 8 batteries powered a/c and heater. So you can run on batteries all night when sleeping

 

My APU got a hole in a A/C hose, so I had to use Opti-Idle during the daytime for 2 weeks in the 100's in August. It saves at least 50% idle time, so I can see why fleets want you to use it. It came on for 12-15 minutes and would shut off for 15-20 minutes. That's worst-case scenario. Never have used it in the 90''s but it would only run less obviously. It's like the one gentleman said, "If you're tired enough you will sleep through the Start/Stop shake and noise" It's not as bad as the guy with the purging air spitter, but what is...

 

Another driver I know who owns his truck. Got a new truck and put on new Thermo King apu. He said it was $14,000 so they are not cheap today. My computer truck with 8 batteries a/c and heater can go 10 hours then the opti idle will start engine to recharge the batteries for 2 hours. It’s good when sleeping but not big enough to A/C the front and sleeper. The heater works good but when you start getting to 5F and colder it has trouble keeping up. It also heats the coolant to keep engine warm.