Question on Not buying a APU???

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by smugglinggoods, Jul 24, 2010.

  1. smugglinggoods

    smugglinggoods Light Load Member

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    Jul 22, 2010
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    I have been looking at APU's and obviously they are very expensive. So I have began looking at buying a diesel generator and building my own. I have found several places I can get a 6500watt unit that will run a 13000btu air conditioner for around 1500 bucks. I also looked at several portable ac and heater pump units that are very small and would take up much room. Most of these are around 4 to 500 for a good brand. Seems to me this would save alot of money and according to the specs on the unit they burn very little more fuel then the apu I have seen. Has anyone done this or have any good info on it?
     
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  3. HEAVY DUDE

    HEAVY DUDE Road Train Member

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    I had a portable diesel gen and did what your thinking of doing. It burned 2 gal. in 10 hrs. but, it was LOUD. I now use a honda gas gen. and you can stand beside it and talk just fine. My advice is go with the honda.
     
  4. smugglinggoods

    smugglinggoods Light Load Member

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    Thanks for the info. What kind of fuel you buring in the honda? That was my main reason for thinking diesel was fuel saving and the eaze of using my truck tanks. However a gas Honda in much cheaper to buy
     
  5. HEAVY DUDE

    HEAVY DUDE Road Train Member

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    The honda is gas and I carry a 2 gal. can and walk to the pumps. The diesel gen I just siphoned the fuel tanks on the truck to fill it. The honda is a whole lot better system because it has a fan to keep it running cool on hot days. The diesel would get so hot at times it would shut it self off. If you buy a honda ask to hear all the models run as some are very noisy.
     
  6. phroziac

    phroziac Road Train Member

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    Don't run a heater off the generator. Carrier APUs do that, and its a lame setup. Sure, run your ac off it, get one of those portable units that hooks up to the window with tubes and an adapter, and make an adapter similar to the old idle aire setup.

    But for the heat, get a webasto or similar. It's a small furnace that directly burns diesel fuel for heat, just like a furnace in a house. It uses an electric fan, but it can run for quite a while without the truck running. My current truck has a webasto but i havent used it yet. Anyway, this is much more efficient than a generator...and SILENT...
     
  7. HEAVY DUDE

    HEAVY DUDE Road Train Member

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    Webasto heater = $1,000+ a small heater = $15 Very easy to say its a lame setup, you didn't write the check.
     
  8. mslashbar

    mslashbar Medium Load Member

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    What are you using for ac?
     
  9. HEAVY DUDE

    HEAVY DUDE Road Train Member

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    A small AC unit under the bunk vented out side for the hot air to escape.
     
  10. phroziac

    phroziac Road Train Member

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    Consider the fuel spent as well.

    i didnt know webasto was that expensive. There are other brands though.
     
  11. HEAVY DUDE

    HEAVY DUDE Road Train Member

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    Also that webasto won't run my fridge,laptop,printer,ect. My honda will and with my $15 heater I can stay warm.
     
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