mercer transportation

Nothing serious I hope

 

So... Just had a "discussion" with my friend. Hes a strong proponant of APUs...me, not so much. I run an Espar on a seperate battery during the winter, so i dont idle. Our talk was about the summer months. I fail to see where hes saving money, so tell me if im missing something on the numbers..... (and we both run pre egr so no idle issues affecting filters)....

Apu..... $10,000
Maintance per year....$600
So that comes to $3100 per year based on 4 yrs

So, we both live in northern WI and agree we both idle about 5 months out of the year May-Sept. Figure 3.5 weeks per month at about 14 hrs per night. Comes out to 1750 gallons for me, about 500 for him. Another $1250 per year for him based on $2.5 per gallon.

So...he pays $4350 per year
I pay $4375

Where am i going wrong? Not an argument...just throwing out some numbers and deciding if i should apu or not

 

There has to be a ground in the circuit but, the switch does not have to be grounded

 

In this case length of ownership and overall maintenance costs for the APU will determine ROI.

I don't see that your "going wrong" at all.

Now if you have an SCR engine that would be a different story. An APU is a must with them unless your application allows for no idle time.

 

I don't think anyone is paying $10k for an APU...more like $12-15k+ after financing and installation.
We had this discussion last year, I personally think it's silly to spend that kind of money for a Diesel engine when I got a perfectly good alpine green one under my hood.... If my engine broke down as often these Apu's did, I'd be out of business.
@TruckerPete1990 your brand new one working again???

 

It needed a PM. I was told its 2,000 hours but its 1,000 hours services.

 

I paid almost 10k for a Carrier but once u add interest if u don't pay cash its around 13-15k. A APU if u are out in a newer truck is needed if you ask me. Idling is the devil for these DPF filters also every hour = 60 miles.. So keep that in mind ur adding wear and tear on a 50k Engine compared to a 10k APU and if u need to replace the engine its like 4k Lol

 

I’m probably different than most but I like it cold in the summer an warm in winter and with my dog all ways with me if my truck is not running than my apu is

 

$9500 out the door on mine. Should add that the price includes installing.

Like has been said idling these newer trucks is no good unless your going to dump it off at 500k like lots of these companies do.

 

Don’t forget you can’t idle the big engine in a few states. That bit me in the rear a few years ago in Buffalo.officer was nice but I had to leave and find a hiding spot.