A simple question to all truckers with APUs

Apu's don't make more noise than idling a truck. And I've never had a knock complaining about truck idling. As a general rule tho, I don't answer unwarranted knocks. Maybe if I'm questionably parked, but in a legal space...shove it!

 

I hate parking next to diesel apus. Maybe they're not louder then a truck but I just don't like the noise they make. I go out of my way not to park next to one. However, if one parks next to me then I get over it. It's a fact of life out here and I choose to be in this industry.

I have an electronic apu and it does struggle in the worst summer heat. If it's really hot I try to face away from the sun and I have to close both curtains to keep the sleeper cool and then it does fine.

 

Those tripacs really are quiet. Sometimes you have to really pay attention to even hear the thing start.

For some reason most APUs don't burn clean at all, lots of fumes and lots of smoke on startup. Just the nature of small motors.

 

They complain when u idled your truck years ago now they complain when u conserve fuel and use an apu. People will always complain because it's always about them.

Tell em to kiss ur arse.

 

The dumbest thing about commercial truck APUs is they insist on using the piece of crap 2cyl motors that are inherently noisy and rough.

The Kubota 3cyl diesel motors are a whole different world in terms of smooth compared to the pos 2cyl.

Maybe someday they'll have a truck APU with a 3cyl diesel like the Onan 8Kw quiet diesel genset. The Onan quietdiesel genset should be used to set the bar for APU noise levels .. or lack thereof !!!

 

In my first company truck I had a noisy Rig Master. It really was. A driver once complained about it in the morning, it was in a 'No Idling Truck Stop'.
The next one was a Carrier unit, silent, and installed under the cab. Very little noise.
The third comany truck had electric APU. Except the van, it was silent. I missed the sound of the diesel engine, the noise of idling truck around me was unbearable.
One day I parked next to a truck with his diesel APU running and I was in heaven. The next morning this driver apologized for the noise. He was surprised that it didn't disturb me.
Now I run a Tri Pak on my own truck and love it. The muffler might need replaced after six years now.

A town in northern Ontario has put a sign at a fuel station saying "No truck idling".
I once parked there with the APU running and was chased away by the police. It's a nasty old resident down the road who calls the cops if they just hear any noise from the parking lot.

 

I have never had a problem using my APU anywhere I park. I run a Tripack Evo. Problem is no matter what you go there will always be that one person who will ##### about anything.

 

I always keep my truck on high idle. You could be doing the same next to me with straight pipes and it won't bother me any.

I don't want my windows open, bugs and lot lizzards will try to get in. Fuel savings don't matter. I work for a fuel company, we got trailers full of bad fuel. A little idling or 70+ mph cruising is nothing.

 

Ok good I thought it was just mine. My reefer will be back there singing away defrosting on a -10 load and my apu fires up and that's all I can hear. And rattly as heck. Gone are my days of settling in for the night with the reefer humming knowing it's doing its job, or at least on, now I wake up paranoid because I can't hear the reefer over the fighter pilot of an engine bolted amidst my catwalk steps.

 

There is a company that uses the the 3 cylinder Kubota, Willis apu. I've got a freind that bought a used older model, he likes his. Thinking I may get one when I buy my next truck.