Is it worth it to get an APU (Auxilary Power Unit)

The TES system is what you are talking about. They're obsolete. Most are just hanging there or being torn down.

 

To whom is this intended as a response? If it's for me, I am absolutely not referring to those.

 

I've been in trucks that had them and trucks that didn't.

I liked that I had aux power for my fridge, microwave, etc. I hated the noise.

My current truck has an 8 battery bank that powers the AC and heater system when the engine isn't running. With fully charged batteries it will keep the truck warm all night long for a full 8 hour rest. AC only runs about 5 and a half hours before the low voltage alarm comes on.

Other than the noise, I guess it's worth it. If you get a unit that gives you a lot of trouble I think it will take you a long time to break even. They are expensive to repair. We had one that ate a fuel pump. It was ugly.

The way I look at it, and it could be wrong, is simple is best. One engine is only one engine to maintain. But even without a diesel APU I don't idle much. Unless I stop in the Mojave desert i don't need the ac to run much past 10pm anyway. In the winter the heater is fuel fired so it uses very little power and makes a tremendous amount of heat.

But without the electric powered hvac system I guess you'd have to idle more than I do. I will say I was stopped at a travel plaza in NJ and had an APU. A bear came in from the BACK of the plaza parking lot from a neighborhood and snuck around giving all trucks idling tickets. He walked right past mine and my APU was running.

 

Thats what the dealer told me when I inquired about a Tripack Evolution.

 

I'm looking at buying a used truck right now. I won't even consider one that doesn't have an APU. The trucks of 500,000 miles and no APU, might as well have a million miles with all of the idle hours. We only drive 11 hours a day the other 13 is spent idling. That really adds up over 5 years. I would say easily engine hours will be half on one with an APU. And this is why I will not buy a used truck with no APU... Unless it has one of those fancy battery no idle systems like the peterbilts have.

 

Are you still allowed to be 400 pounds over gross (80,400) if you have an APU?

 

Depends on where you are. There is a state by state breakdown. It's not as cut and dry as people think. Also while Federal it's NOT binding on the states!