Apu decision time

Left, how are you gonna mount the genset....glad you pulled the trigger....I need to save some $$$ also because im coming off a tranny swap....blah!...gotta build that maintenance fund back up

 

Seeing as I dragged butt all week before pulling the trigger, I am going round to a friend of mine's place tomorrow, as he has steel etc in his shop. I used all mine up on the last couple of projects and no where open Sunday!
Think I will remove 1 of the steps behind the tool boxes and make brackets right there. Or I could cut the headache rack open a little and mount on the frame rails.
Will update tomorrow after we get some of it done. Only have a few hours though as I am supposed to load in Aurora,Il Monday!!!!!
See what I mean about last minute etc....
And I know all too well about money mate.
This past week, the rig has got a reman rear end, new wheel bearing, 8 new shocks, new muffler and clamps, and whatever other odds n ends. Then made the kids a big clubhouse which ended up being @$650 in materials, and so on.
Oh well, can't take it with ye right?

Martin

 

who did you talk to ? direct to dynasys sales and leasing?

i only filled out basic info and they may well have ran a credit check, but an ooida member is guaranteed approval regardless of credit score and i myself did not use the 2000 dollar grant, and i paid not one cent down. and was installed jan and made my first payment 1st of march.


they will be at mid america , talk to em there. i dealt with a gal named rebecca

 

Hi! How is the Soleus performing so far?

 

Looked good pulling it out of the box mate!
I honestly have not ran it yet. Got that in the truck Saturday, then spent yesterday making brackets etc to mount the genset to the frame rails, and today making the front door for it, as well as painting the brackets etc.
I think it will be fine, depending on how long the drain pan takes to fill. Hopefully it will be ok though, considering that the truck will already be cool and dry from having it's ac on before stopping.

Martin

 

I spoke directly with Hodyon and that is what the sales rep told me. I too filled out the online app and they called me and wanted my SS# and some other info. I told them I was going to hold off as I am going to MATS and want to get some more info on the system. I am deff interested in the Dynasys tho.

 

????? Its still $10,000 give or take..... The only thing they offer is no credit financing.....again 10gs over 3 years is the same ad 10gs today....and if your credit score is not high enough you have to add them as a lien holder ????? Dude got mad because I wouldnt let him run my credit....I was hoping for $4000-$5000 hell I can have my bank finance 10 gs for an apu at a lower %......no thanks

 

Sorry it took a few days, but here is the generator:





Mounted it higher to make changing the oil easier, and to allow me better access to the underside of the truck. Not a lot of room along the sides to get under there on a creeper before this!
The front door is a temporary thing, I ran out of time and materials! An aluminum diamond plate door will follow with louvers in it to let it get some cool air etc. New door will also go all the way down, with 2 breaks in it to follow the curves of the sides/top which is all one piece and attaches via 4 bolts with welded nuts on the inside. The front door is also lipped, closing the sides off too. I used some vacuum line with a slit in it to put over the metal edges. Will see how it goes, and if it doesn't hold up I will get some bubble gasket for it (no one local had any in stock).
The box on top of the enclosure is hinged like the front door, with a piano hinge. Lift that up and there is the fuel gauge and cap.
The brackets are 4x4 1/4" angle iron, bolted to the frame with existing bolts/holes. All gusseted too.
There is a 3/16" tray that the generator bolts to using the existing generator rubber feet holes, the rubber feet are still in place. The tray is broke to the correct size, with a cutout for the oil drain in the rear. 3/16" plates were then welded to the sides, between the front and rear uprights of the tray. One of those also has a cutout to give access to the spark plug and air filter.
The tray is secured to the angle iron brackets with 4 grade 8 bolts, nuts are welded to the inside of the tray.
Took a day to make the brackets etc, and then I removed it all to paint. The top and front are painted with high temp primer and paint. Everything else got hit with spray on bedliner.
Also ordered a pair of 250lb sliding hinges to enable me to unlatch it and slide it out for service etc. Right now I have to unbolt 4 bolts from underneath and then slide it out on the brackets. Maybe takes 3 minutes including finding the 1/2" socket.
I will end up wiring the truck for it instead of running leads. I am thinking of 2 block heater style plugs at the rear of the sleeper on the outside. I can then just run a very short extension from the generator to them and leave it, or use shore power to power everything inside. The ac unit will be on one plug, everything else or the block heater on another.
Right now I am just using a portable ac unit from Lowes and a portable Honeywell heater from Wally World. No one local stocked the ac unit I wanted so will order it via the internerd, along with the heat strip for it.
Figuring it added @200lbs to the truck fully fueled and with the brackets. Not bad when I can get a 400lb allowance in most states
Constructive criticism always welcome.

Martin

 

Forgot to add. I have under $2600 in it all right now including the generator, steel etc for the box/enclosure, the portable ac unit and the heater. Not bad considering EVERYTHING is under warranty (3 yrs on the generator itself, 1yr on the ac unit and heater).
Will be a little more when I get the rooftop ac unit, but that isn't needed for everyone.
The genset could have been mounted to either a catwalk or the frame on brackets along with a $30 Honda cover, but I have very limited room and wanted it done permanently. Brackets would cost @$50 to make IMO, using existing holes.

Martin

 

Does anybody know where you can buy just the A/C part of an APU? If this runs off of 110v, why not mount this on the back of the cab and run it with the generator?