anyone interested in cheap a/c

Give up.....Has nothing to do with the size or weight, the FACT of the matter is, it's a permitted load, and permitted loads sit for extended periods at times. And it becomes who does or doesn't pull them, or those that can comprehend the job in general.
Like I've said for years now, there is no perfect solution to idling, they all have their drawbacks and benefits. It's down to the owner to get what suits him/her, their job, how and where they run, and so on.
My issue was with the "This is THE best solution" statement, which is obvious to most of us as being incorrect.

Martin

 

Here is what I found. It is the way I'm going to go. And it's only $1895!!!! If you go though the whole add at the bottom is a picture of it frame mounted. It should run. Roof top, and anything else you might want. And I am also one of the 5% doing OD it's where the money is. LOL.
http://www.truckgenerators.com/opti6800T.htm

 

He did not go on the offensive. He pointed out saying that one way is the best way for all trucks is wrong. And Martin is right. NO one way is the best way for all trucks, all situations. I wouldnt bother with your input, your just another guy that thinks he knows better than everyone.

 

Kilroy - I saw that setup a few years ago but it won't work for me with the headache rack and they won't fit on the frame. Also kinda heavy... but with the right truck and trailer it will be a good alternative. I thought about mounting one of these on the nose of the trailer and leaving it portable by forklift if it's in the way but 95% of the time my whole upper deck is clear of any freight. I rarely pull tow aways so it would have to stay at home.

I haul 95% oversize loads and I'd like to join in you're argument... hahahaha I sit for longer periods of time than most any other type of transport so it's doubtful that a battery powered unit would work well. The only idea I have for extended periods without idling using a battery powered unit is: could a small, suitcase style genset like an EU2000 be used to keep a charge in the batteries? I'm sure some smater guys than me know the physics involved...

 

You would have to measure the draw, in amps, of whatever the battery stuff is running, then get a charger of at least the same rating.
For a rough example, the rooftop ac units pull @20amps, with some pulling a higher load when the compressor cycles back on. So this would mean a minimum 20-25 amp battery charger would be required, just to keep the batteries from going flat from AC. This does NOT account for a fridge running, lights on and off, and any other parasitic loss of battery power. So you would be looking at hooking up a 30 amp charger to be safe, and getting one that is rated for pretty much continuous duty cycles to boot. A EU2000 would probably run one, but if you are running a generator, why not let the generator run everything instead of adding batteries etc?

Martin

 

I know this is an old thread from last summer, but it's warming up out there finally and this is the spring that I'm going to add the Coleman roughneck to the roof. Lots of great info in this thread! My question is in regards to the hole in the roof. I haven't yet started so I'm not sure what I will find underneath the headliner, but I'm wondering if a wood frame needs to be built? Surely the fiberglass roof itself wouldn't be strong enough to support the unit. Any info/pics, etc would be greatly appreciated before I tackle this project in the coming weeks. Thank you.

 

Seeing as my crystal ball is screwed up, how about some info on your truck first?
I have put them in on a few trucks, only thing I added to ALL of them was a nice piece of 3/4" beach plywood to spread the load out for the ADB and not sink into the headliner.
Some FL's get a 1x2 slid into the roof between the ribs, others dont. WS's get a 1/8" thick aluminum plate up top, and so on.
Martin

 

Thanks For The Reply, But I Installed This Awhile Back. I Should Have Done This Years Ago Btw!

 

Finally installed my 7 deep cycle batteries with Maxwell ESM and a 8000 btu AC unit plumbed through the floor in my closet. Works great for 10+ hours at night.

 

Why 7 batteries and not 8?