Portable generator instead of APU

They are custom made to specs I asked for. Guy I know owns a metal fab shop and he is a perfectionist.

I tried to find a cheaper way looking at boxes already made. They wanted over $1200 for what I needed and they werent exactly how I wanted them to be. He made them exactly how I wanted for $750 including the steel rack that mounts them to my frame as well as a custom made window rack to hold my window AC in place.





Hurst

 

That is a sweet setup Hurst !

 

One thing I need to point out is when I put my set up on a couple months ago I went straight to Laredo and put it to the test for a few days with temps pushing 105 during the day and upper 90s at night .
It ran non stop other than to fuel and check oil .
I quickly figured out in those temps all the windows must be covered in the daylight and even then it barely kept up .
My truck is a mid roof and I ? How well this would work in a raised roof .
Only when the sun went down did the ac unit start cycling on and off .
Back down here now with temps in the low 90s and will freeze ya out .

 

@Hurst How is it mounted to the frame, U-Bolts?

Ya got my wheels turning, I smell a winter project coming.

 

I cringe at the idea of tossing my generator if it ever quits working for me. Through research I have read of people having this model working flawlessly for 7 - 8 yrs in everything from RV's to homes using them for alternative power for their furnace and fridge during snow storms to truckers like us.

The biggest problem I have read about them is the carb jets getting gummed up from dirty fuel or from lack of use. Honda sells a gasket and jet kit for $35. Plus these things come with a 3 yrs warranty. Thousands of cycle shops and RV centers across the country that service them. Much more convenient than an APU in that regard.

Plus realistically,.. for how long will most APU's provide trouble free usage? I've read a few posts here on TTR and they were not happy with the costs associated to repair and or service an APU. $2000 - $3500 was a very common price point. For that much money I can buy another generator. Other guys could buy 3 or 4 generators for that much money.

So its not like I would want to throw it away,.. just that for what an APU costs just to keep it going,.. I could theoretically,.. toss mine and buy another.

At current fuel prices and the way I operate out here,.. I am saving on average $275 - $300 a week by not idling my truck. Roughly $10,500 annually. The Honda will start on the turn of the key every time. Sub zero temps in the Dakotas to triple digit temps in Arizona. 20ft elevation in Fla to over 7200 ft elevations in the rockies is where I have used this thing. Never even a studder.

I'm pretty much an anti import kind of guy. If it aint American I dont want it. Honda has me sold on their generators. They do exactly what I need, trouble free, efficient and even though I bought an expensive model,.. for what it is and does I dont feel I paid too much. It paid for itself and everything I bought to use with it inside of 3 months. After that I look at it as money saved in my pocket.

People can go out and finance a $10 - $12k APU plus install. Pay for insurance on it until they finish payments. I have less than $3000 in my whole set up,.. that includes my Honda, AC, heater, Fridge, TV, Satellite dish, hot plate, microwave, grill,.. plus I can plug in anything else I need to use,.. drills, jig saw, sander, battery charger, the options are endless. I am very comfortable and content while out on the road.









Hurst

 

With remote start and stop!!!!

 

4 bolts drilled directly through the frame. Rubber gaskets on the rack side. Nuts and large washers on the inside.

Hurst

 

Spot on ! Did the math on mine and paid for itself in 18 days .

 

I will never own another condo roof. Even my 8500 BTU struggles at extreme temps like you are describing. I close my curtain and set the fan speed to medium and make it run at max cooling. I have the vents blowing directly at the lower bunk and for the most part I am pretty comfortable. I can definitely feel the heat baking up in the upper bunk area.

But agreed,.. soon as the sun goes down,.. it will freeze me out too and I like it cold when I sleep.

Hurst

 

Don't forget to adjust your valves like I did , I caught that at 670 hrs but they were barely out of adjustment
Super easy too.