apu's

For the Winter time a lot of the companies do have Bunk Heaters, they will keep you pretty warm inside the truck.

The Problem is the only way to stay cool in the Summer is an APU or EPU, or idling the Truck.
Lots of companies are pretty picky about Idle time.
Also more and more places have Anti Idling restrictions.

So...my advice..try to find a company that has APUs on their Trucks.

 

I have a 1800 watt inverter run my microwave on it , have the tripac APU

 

I finally found a company that supplies AND encourages the use of apu's for driver comfort and power needs. Do I feel spoiled and appreciated? You bet!

 

I have a tri pack. I have a refrigerator. I have a TV. A laptop, a tablet, a cell phone, a dash cam, and a microwave.

Do I feel appreciated? NO. I have a Steer tire that has just lost a lot of tread. I need to limp on for about 5 miles to a Goodyear Store at Loves in Kankakee, IL.

I also have a stinger. I am not sure how many of you know what they are but it is a curved piece of metal that you plug in and drop in liquids to heat them up. Tonight, I am having chicken (canned) and Ramein Noodles. Not bad for once in awhile. High salt.

 

Dude, ya got 9 years of mold on yer butt. Find a company that treats ya like a rock star if only for the supply of penicillin!

 

Trucks are made of metal and glass. So basically its like living in a greenhouse. Hot in the summer cold in the winter. So your only option to stay cool in the summer without an APU is to idle the truck. An APU uses a third of that the engine does idling. So I have been told.
As for inverters, that's for high draw electronics that you cant plug into a 12v. Laptop, microwave that thing. No way in heck is that going to keep you cool, and I don't really suggest shacking up with a floor heater, truck is just too cramped, burns are imminent.
Most companies dictate what size inverter you can have installed to the truck. If any. And almost always insist its done by their mechanics.

 

To answer your question, yes. You can be comfortable with an apu. Mine can burn me out in the winter, and in the few 80 deg weather days I've seen this year, it can freeze me out. Luckily it has a thermostat to find a comfy temp. I have a 1500w inverter that runs everything I need fine.

Like has been stated, idling your truck is highly frowned upon these days. Also not idling helps your fuel bonus. I wouldn't drive for a company without one these days.

 

I've had an apu for a few months and all I have used it for is to charge the batteries when it get's a little low, and once for a few hours in Cali, when it got super hot. For the most part I always hear of them breaking down. A 500lb piece of junk. They can take mine off so I can get my fuel bonus and use my turbo fan like real truckers do. I'll get comfort when I go home. This is a job not a cruise.

 

i miss my apu was never hot or cold
always cook in the truck with a 200 watt inverter
crockpot microwave etc
cant eat that TS crap
money i save on food gets me a room whenever i feel like it
i was over camping 25 years ago