Taking the plunge. My journey as an O/O.

Even the nickel and dime stuff is cheaper than a new truck every 5 years. My 20 year old pos has coat me less than 1k$ in maintenance so far this year. Much less actually. 1 oil change at about 150$, replaced both alternator belts at under 20 each, a case of grease for 25$ of which is still half full and about to put a set of front shoes on it which should run 50 or 60 bucks a side. They have plenty of meat on them but longs like i didn't to much time up north in the winter and the riday jacking is getting to them. Might as well do it now before they get worse. Coming due for another oil change soon so will pick up another case of oil and fuel filters for 150 while I'm at the parts store. Oh and i need a couple jugs of windshield washer fluid so another 7 bucks. The love bugs are horrible this year.

 

Unless you plan to keep the truck another 500k I don’t see a apu being that great of a investment.
I would do a gas generator and a/c unit.

 

I believe that one box replacement will up the resale more than a apu.
I’m not sure exactly how long it works take to remove and install a apu,but I’d guess 6-8 to remove and 8-10 for install. Shop rates around here are creeping up on $100hr dealers are $150+

 

Important thing is to avoid dealer shops at all costs. Unless there is warranty left. They're good at making a good face over a bad game. Such merciless bandits. I can't imagine not having a befriended and trusted shop while using an old or used trucks. Even if the truck breaks 1000 miles from home, the plan is to rent another truck, borrow a tow bar and haul it back home, then go back and haul the trailer. This is part of the reason, I don't go much beyond 1000 miles from home. If I were to do even half of repairs at Volvos, Cummins and the likes, I could not afford a pair of shoes.

 

As a trade in to a dealer having the APU will not get you any extra value on the truck.

For Dynasys APU they charge $1700 to remove APU from old truck and install on another.

 

Never dealt with a dynasys is the cooling system tied into truck or stand alone?

 

here's a good article about Electric app's vs diesel apu's apus-electric-versus-diesel.

 

Stand alone.