Anyone rolling in a 589 yet?

I've heard great things about Green APU and it's built with universally available parts so you can get parts and get it fixed anywhere. If I stopped long enough to need an APU it's the one I'd get.

 

Take a run to Chicago to get it put on. Maintenance on them can be done by anyone anywhere since there's no proprietary parts or software. I was watching a video where they were saying they can do a quick 1-2 day turnaround for guys coming into town to get them installed.

That's what I'd do at least. I'd hate being stuck paying for overpriced parts and service for the rest of my life with a Thermoking or Carrier APU.

 

I've only had a TK Tripac Evolution but its been pretty solid for the past 4 years. Had it installed at the factory when I ordered the truck. The fuel pump died after 2 years and was $400 from a TK dealer but that included a new mounting bracket since they updated and improved the pump from a plastic piece of junk to all metal. Also replaced a belt once and threw a spare in the truck. So maybe $500 in repairs over the past 4 years. I did all the repairs myself with nothing but simple tools in a parking lot.

About 5,000 hours on it so far which comes out to about $20K in fuel savings along with minimal idle time on the truck. My last truck had 55% idle time on it after 8 years when I traded it in.

It gets serviced twice a year and has no major issues. The belt is starting to squeal sometimes on initial startup so I should probably change it again.

The only downside for me is TK parts are stupid expensive if you just walk in off the street to a dealer. Their labor rates are stupid high too if you don't do the work yourself. They aren't that complicated though and there are online sources for parts at better prices if you can wait for shipping.

I will never have another truck without an APU. The fuel and engine wear savings are worth the frame space and weight.

 

Got my alternator replaced on APU today. Gotta agree on the TK prices bein a bit crazy high. It was like $400 for the 120 alternator and like $400 for the diagnosis and labor. I probably could've done it myself for like $230 buying an alternator online and installing it myself but I just need to keep rolling, didn't have the time, especially to have it down with these fuel prices.

The tech said he would see units from time to time with 40,000 hours that are still working with the same original injectors and major components. mine is at 5100 hours... I think I'll keep fixing this thing until the end of time. I got it relatively cheap, since it was just kinda on the truck. If an APU maths out paying $15k for a brand new one, it definitely maths out paying virtually nothing but maintenance on a used one.

Anyways, I looked into the Green APU recently. Personally, I think it badly needs some software/management updates to be competitive. Specifically, if you put a Green APU into "battery management" mode or whatever it's called, it just runs continuously. To be fair, I REALLY wish the Thermoking had a Continuous option, in case I, for instance, in the future get a PC and starlink in the truck or something like that. However, TKs cycle on and off to maintain the temp/batt/etc. That saves a ton of fuel, because while the APUs may get similar economy while running, and the Green APU has pretty nice specs, it's not opti-idling itself, essentially. That right there is the deal killer for me.

I really want TK to add more modes where you can intentionally run the APU on continuous and generally improve the level of control and freedom, and I want Green APU to add those smarter automated modes. I don't know much about carrier.

 

That's the one thing Freightliner did right...

Their Battery EPU/APU is awesome, no moving parts, no oil changes, no belts, no techs, etc.

Just change a couple of group 31's every 4 years. Heat and AC and you still get the APU exemption and it's silent. Mine heats the coolant also, some models don't.

I upgraded my EPU bank from original lead acid to Lithium, went from 390 AH to 600 AH with Lithium batteries. Same alternator, no wiring changes.


Green APU's are obnoxiously loud while they run.

 

Theres a hack to running the TK in continuous mode. Set it on the A/C setting just dont turn the fan on. It will run until u turn it off. Obviously if u need the bunk heater setting it will no longer be continuous

 

They’re going to be updating the dash.