How much fuel does an APU use?

Then you have to add in maintenance or repairs.
And Swift only keeps the trucks for 4 years.

Doesn't seem cost effective for Swift.

 

With thermoking repairs are free. For X amt of years .As long as you keep to the maintenance schedule. The cost of the maintenance was negligible. So yes, they are cost effective..

 

Dont forget that 18k or whatever is a 1 time cost. You can put the APU on multiple trucks. I know guys who are going on year 20 with only minor repairs and are on their 3rd or 4th rigs. But to each their own. Im an O/O and it saves me a stupid amount every year so i will keep using them.

 

I left mine on Standby mode while I was away for a month dealing with a very ill mother. Truck had a bit less than half a tank of fuel when I left. Fuel needle had barely moved when I returned.

I have a refrigerator that I turned to the warmest (or least cool) setting. But that was it.

 

Bingo. Companies with no apu’s and idle timers/ trucks that only idle above/below a certain temperature don’t give a #### about driver comfort.

 

I’ve never had one. Closest I got was a 2000 watt gas generator and a 8000w portable single exhaust hose A/C that wasn’t very good. That set up lasted one summer. Got so aggravated, I literally threw the generator in a dumpster, after the carb started leaking, and I couldn’t acess it due to the plastic case. My 99 BK 12.7 burns 1.2 gal per hour on high idle. It’s a mpg killer. Last 98 PK 12.7 wasn’t bad at .8 gph. Different pistons, injectors, and low nox program on current BK 12.7. I’ve yet to find a simple cost effective solution. An APU will pay for itself quickly over time. I need one. I don’t need another headache to deal with. Till I find a simple low upfront cost solution, I pay more, just a little at a time. The numbers don’t lie. I’m Leary about investing a lot of money on anything in this industry, counting on future savings. I may make less, but I keep more, compared to the past when I had equipment debt. With fuel at $5.00+ an APU is a no brainer. Cost and maintenance is easily worth it. I can’t see spending $10k though. Financing it into the loan of a new Truck, results in immediate savings that can go towards the slightly higher payment. For myself, I paid $22k for my Truck 15 yrs ago. Recent inframe with lots of extras was less than $20k. The savings on payments, insurance, and Shop costs is just as real as fuel costs. Current fuel price, makes an APU almost a necessity, instead of an option. Hard to argue against.

 

Buy used. If you install it yourself you can get a decent used kit for $6000 or you can individually buy the parts with the single big ticket item being the actual engine. If you make someone else install it same thing just add about 1-2K for them to do it.

 

I had my choice of 2 units on wrecks. $1000 each. No guarantees no returns. Tough choice. One was from AZ, on an old Classic, probably worked. Other was on a newer Cascadia. I think they’re both available. At this point, probably be worth rebuilding or replacing the engine, and any or all the components. I’d prefer a brand new diesel generator with electric start, plumbed into my fuel tanks, a mini split a/c unit, and a bunk heater. Finding the generator at a decent price is the problem. Still looking, occasionally. Fuel prices have made it a priority. The savings will return the cost quickly now. I also only have 100k on an inframe. Idling being a big cause of blow by on 12.7’s, Is like to limit idling. Already idled it more than I’d like.

 

I leave my park lights on at night and use my APU. This shouldn’t put to much strain on alt would it or cause it to consume a significantly more amount of fuel?

 

My first year with a Tri pac I saved 900 gallons of fuel. It took about 2 years 8 months till it paid for itself that was in 2010 it still running today. That's staying out three nights a week. The best part for me was the artic package. Keeping the engine warm up in the north is real important to me.