Any alternatives to an APU or Tri-Pack?

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by pippinna, Oct 2, 2011.

  1. pippinna

    pippinna Bobtail Member

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    Any other alternatives to having an APU or Tri-pack? For what I have read and seen they are expensive and sometimes give a lot of trouble, seems not worth the money.
    Thanks!
     
  2. mgt1085

    mgt1085 Medium Load Member

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    opti -idle are u going to be an o/o or company ? or idle aire best i can do and they are alot better than idling besides u pay for it and breaks it should be under warranty
     
  3. THBatMan8

    THBatMan8 Road Train Member

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    It depends. If you want a APU just to run a heater during colder months then get a bunk heater instead.

    Personally, I have alot of electronics hooked up to a 2,000 watt inverter and no APU, so I have to idle regardless of the weather. If not, my batteries will drain in a few hours.
     
  4. ZippyNH

    ZippyNH Medium Load Member

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    If you just want power, you could get a few extra batterys, and a bunk heater....
    If you want ac for the summer or lots of power, a homebrew generator solution is possible....but since you saide the apu solution is mot worth the trouble, then i doubt you would want to rig up a gen an ac, and deal with running it...
    other option is the off brands, but much harder to fix/get parts for...
    or if just ac, some companies make systems that "store" cold in a big block of carbon or metal....than pump fluid through it to put it in the truck...prettt medoicare results for the $$ according to most users...
     
  5. YankeeTexan

    YankeeTexan Light Load Member

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    Why don't you just buy a small 2000 watt honda generator. They cost about a grand or so and run for hours on a single gal of gas. It will pay for it self if a few months. I've had mine for years and it has saved me a boat load of money.
     
  6. THBatMan8

    THBatMan8 Road Train Member

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    I don't have a grand to buy a generator. If I did, I would have had a generator a long time ago. Plus, I have no where to put a generator. England specs their trucks to the point your spare tire sits on the passenger side of the catwalk where a generator would normally go.

    I can't count how many times I was tempted to make the switch to Prime just so I can have a APU. The only thing stopping me is that fact that I have too much crap to move around and bunk in with another driver. Plus, making 35 cents a mile as a company driver doesn't hurt either. :biggrin_25522: