anyone interested in cheap a/c

That's what I did. Have a 5000 btu unit mounted through my sleeper wall. On a freightliner, it fights right between two joists. Have a 3500 watt Champion (need a new one, longer story) mounted where my spare tire used to go.

With the generator ($300), AC ($100), and various extras including wire, outlets, brackets, etc cost me just under $500 to modify my truck. The Generator lasted 1800 hours last year before started getting serious issues with running (lasted from May through end of October). I'm going to build a box for it to help keep road grime off it and help it a bit.

For 1800 hours, it runs an average of 20 hours on the four-gallon tank. Averaging about 2/10ths a gallon per hour. My truck uses about 6-7/10ths a gallon of diesel per hour. So, even at 6/10ths, and diesel currently averaging in my area about 3.88/gal and gas about 3.50/gal,

$1260 for gas or $4190 for diesel. Only issue is filling up the gas jug and keeping it full when needed. Get a bit of work out of it. But, the savings are apparent. Although, with diesel, I probably wouldn't have idled all the times I ran the generator. But, if I idled even half the times I would've ran the generator, I still am up about $900 for the year. And, I was comfortable all summer and legal in every jurisdiction other than California (make sure you get a CARB one if going into California).

And even if you figure I plan on buying a new generator every year (they don't last long when you use them as much as I did in one summer), I'm way ahead. Plus, saving the wear and tear on the truck engine. Well worth it. And much cheaper than an APU.

 

I think you deserve more credit than you think. If you go this route, the battery's would last 3-4 years. get a remote charger for the A/C batts. Mount the upright unit in one of the bunk cabinets, and WOW. The biggest gain is the engine life, you have to look at that. The engine wears more around idle than at running RPM's. I am definitely stealing these two when I get back to trucking latter this summer. Thanks!

 

I did not mean dead batterys for the engine, I mean a regulated charger for the auxiliary batterys so they dont drag your alternator down when you first start your truck in the morning. Its more of a system to tricle charge auxiliary batts. while you run normally.

 

I drive a Pro Star with the electric Air Conditioning set-up. It is OK for a 10 but it only cools the bunk. If you're doing a re-start it doesn't cool the cab and the batteries don't last . Still have to start the truck and idle it to re-charge.

 

Good 1000CCA batteries....@70-80lbs EACH. So 6 of those (not including a mounting box etc) is going to be @450lbs.
Doubt they would get over 10hrs of a/c out of them.
Here is a secret, the easier something is to use, the more you will use it.
I installed a Honda EU3000is generator onto the truck, which is about THE quietest generator out there period. Installed a remote start so it can be started from anywhere within @100feet.
Rooftop AC to keep me cool, along with the heater element in it and a small heater to keep me warm. You can also run the upright a/c units, @$250 and will work in a truck, I used one myself before the rooftop was delivered.
Battery charger installed, so when the generator is running, batteries are getting charged. Add on a GFI socket inside, and I am set to go for @16hrs between having to drop some gas into it. 10hrs of a/c or heat uses @2gallons of gas.
I carry a couple of 2.5gallong gas cans (legal BTW), and the generator holds 3.6gallons.
Do I have to walk to get gas when I dont have a pilot car? yep. Do I stop in truck stops at least once a day pretty much every day? Yep. Not a big deal unless you are just too lazy to want to put money into your own pocket.
Weight wise, generator, mounting bracket, rooftop ac = under 300lbs.
Cost wise, under $3000.
Warranty is 1yr on the a/c, 3yrs on the generator, both when mounted onto a truck.
Run time between running for gas depends on the gas you carry. I can go over 50hrs of ac or heat before I need gas.




And before someone says "I cant cut a hole in my roof" etc, remember you are in the owner operator forum!

Martin

 

if you have the EU3000 it has a option for remote fuel..... you could install a 10-30 gl. GAS tank and once a week just bobtail to the gas island and full it.....

I friend has this system in his truck
http://www.bestpriceminisplits.com/...0BTU-13seer&Category_Code=Ductless_Ac_Systems
he added 4 batteries plus the 4 he had will run everything in the truck for 16-24 hr's upgraded the alternator (truck must run about 8hr's to recharge the batt's.....) and he installed a ESM so even if the batt's go dead (must have enough power in the batt's to cycle the ecm) he can still start the truck.....

 

EU3000is does NOT have a fuel pump, so the only way to get it into a bigger tank is to install a fuel pump, thus voiding the Honda warranty. This doesn't take into consideration that 8 gallons of gas is the legal maximum that can be carried on a semi truck before hazmat rules come into effect. Maybe some light reading is in order before posting?
2000's do have a pump, thus can use an external tank.
And your friend can run ac etc for @16-24hrs, then has to run the truck for 8?
Like I said before, the easier something is to use, the more it gets used.
Having to idle for 8hrs every 16-24 doesn't make sense to me, but to each their own.
That AC lists as being 9000 BTU. I have 13,500BTU, and it can have a hard time in extreme heat (parked in the sun, 120 degree plus outside temps) keeping the truck under 70 degrees inside. Sorry, 9k BTU wont cut it on anything that is bigger than a Midroof in my EXPERIENCE.

Martin