Diesel bunk heaters

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Gumper, Sep 30, 2018.

  1. Gumper

    Gumper Road Train Member

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    Started snowing today here, so it’s time to look into installing a bunk heater. Thought I’d have to the end of October to get it done, but Montana decided otherwise. What have been your experiences with various brands of diesel fired heaters? I was looking at a Webasto brand heater, but open to suggestions.

    I also see there’s engine heaters that keep the coolant warm. How well do these work? Is it worth the money? I’m deathly afraid of the truck not starting when it’s -20* when I’m hundreds of miles from home. Also puts less stress on things.
     
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  3. mhyn

    mhyn Road Train Member

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    Espar airtronic has good heaters. I have seen them cheap on ebay.
     
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  4. Justrucking2

    Justrucking2 Road Train Member

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    I love these units... Espar Airtronic D2 Bunk Heater...



    I have been running these for years in multiple trucks. ThermoKing installs and services these units. Fire them up every month, and you will get many years of service out of them. The one I just replaced was 9 years old. I believe, depending on the TK dealer, they are around $900 installed. Well worth the money.
     
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  5. STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

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    For bunk/cab heat only and if money s a concern, webasto/espar fuel heaters provide a big benefit for the buck but lack other benefits such as keeping batteries charged while running inverter, providing block heating, cooling in winter etc.

    APU's are expensive but today, they are becoming just a normal cost of doing business. Many trucks have them, and in another 5 years, trucks bought for OTR work (new or used) will be expected to have one or the ability to have one installed. Those trade in trucks later, without a well maintained APU, will be farther down the list of those looking to buy used. I'm convinced you'll get all of today's investment cost of a new APU, 3-4 years later at trade, and save lots of fuel and idle time wear and realize many other benefits in the mean time.

    You can accelerate the depreciation I think, and the APU cost can be a tax benefit just as the costs associated with buying a new truck, are huge tax write downs. Some of the tax benefits are related to anti-idle measures and exempt from Excise tax

    Attention Truckers: Investment in Auxiliary Power Units Reduces Fuel Consumption and May Provide Tax Credits
     
    Last edited: Sep 30, 2018
  6. Long FLD

    Long FLD Road Train Member

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    Cliff runs Webasto bunk heaters and the coolant heaters on all his trucks. They run the bunk heaters in the shop during the summer when they service the trucks, seems to keep the heater working good compared to not turning it on at all for a few months.

    With the coolant heater he also puts filters on the coolant line going into the heater, and any small particles will clog up the screen inside the heater and cause the element to burn out. Make sure to put shut offs on the lines to the heater Incase of a leak.
     
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  7. Justrucking2

    Justrucking2 Road Train Member

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    If you have a truck with emissions, you need an APU. These EPA motors are not meant to idle, at all. Google "Carbon Packing". Not pretty. I run a ThermoKing Evolution, which replaced a 10 year old ThermoKing Tri-Pac. The Trip-Pac was still running, but was rotting out, or I would not have went and bought a new one. If you have emissions, seriously consider biting the bullet. Much cheaper than an in frame, trust me on that.
     
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  8. Justrucking2

    Justrucking2 Road Train Member

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    You have to fire these things up, the Espar units, every month. Run for a half an hour, keeps the unit clean and carbon free. Money in your pocket.
     
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  9. mhyn

    mhyn Road Train Member

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    if you put kerosene instead of diesel it will generate more heat and will clean inside carbon.
     
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  10. Justrucking2

    Justrucking2 Road Train Member

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    Many of the guys up in the ND Oil Field would run a separate tank of kerosene to use with the bunk heaters. The temps would get so cold up there in the winter that the diesel would gel, no matter how much additive you had in it, as the fuel line to the Espar unit is tiny. Kerosene was the only way to keep these units in operation.

    I just remembered that with your post mhyn, forgot all about that fact. ;-)
     
  11. mhyn

    mhyn Road Train Member

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    freightliners also have Espar heaters parts and compared to TK have cheaper price tags. up to 20% cheaper.
     
  12. skellr

    skellr Road Train Member

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    The first one I had was an Espar, that thing was a fricken flamethrower. I was in WY in the winter loading up some dirt with both windows halfway down, that thing would run you out of the cab in about 8 minutes on high I remember it had a "turbo" setting or "turbo mode".

    The next was a Webasto. It didn't put out the heat like the Espar but the guys in the shop said it was alot cheaper to fix/maintain than Espar. Had alot of trouble with Webasto sensors getting plugged up with dust so it would think it was overheating and start blowing cold air. Would be a good unit if the intake air was filtered a bit better.
     
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