Apu decision time

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by papanuge, Jan 15, 2011.

  1. mosrock

    mosrock Light Load Member

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    I am looking at tri-Pack simply for the maintance of the unit. you replace the oil when you change oil in your rig, service is avialable everywhere, and they are proven to work
     
  2. Trckdrvr

    Trckdrvr Heavy Load Member

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    My apology...maybe you want to carry 5gallon cans of gas around on your cat walk.
    but meathead brings up a good point about the apu charging batteries as well as heating/cooling.

    I guess i will make my last post on this thread and say:after 6years of using apu units I would consider Nothing other than a TK tri-pac unit.
     
  3. Roadmedic

    Roadmedic Road Train Member

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    I would agree. It is a problem with the gas in my opinion. I have heard the difference in the units. The last one I had was a Carrier and it sucked.
     
  4. ETCH5858

    ETCH5858 Medium Load Member

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    If you can afford it, the tripac is the only real option.
     
  5. twolane

    twolane Medium Load Member

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    Sir it's apparent that you didn't READ my original post!
    I do NOT carry gas-cans on my catwalk!
    Nor do I have a danger of setting my truck on fire any more than yer ole-lady does filling her gas tank at a convience store. READ my post!
     
    JJ 501 Thanks this.
  6. skibum_63

    skibum_63 Road Train Member

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    TriPack.
    Every Thermal King Dealer can work on them.
    The one on my company truck, is plumbed into the truck's coolant, and 12 volt systems, starts up when it senses cold temps or low batteries, plus a 1,800 inverter that will stay working even with truck going down the road.
    From our shop and the TK dealers tells me, the unit only uses 1 gallon of fuel in 8-10 hrs,
    compare that to 8 gallons or more to idle your truck all night. No wear and tear on the trucks engine ,from idle your truck all the time
    Espar bunk heater will cook you out of the bunk. AC will freeze you. Mind you both are only recommended to work up to standards with the curtains closed. I have a wrap around curtain on the windshield and it works well with that.

    Only thing i had go wrong with mine , when Frieghtliner add the apu at the assembly line, they used the wrong wireing harness. Simple fix for TK
    8700 hrs so far on mine
     
  7. Hardlyevr

    Hardlyevr Road Train Member

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    I have 8200 hours on a ThermoKing. You could not get me into another truck without the bunk heater, love it. TriPac with the bunk heater does not need to run all the time to make heat, as most other models do. I just wish it had a bigger alternator and/or 110v generating.
     
  8. wndrwtr

    wndrwtr Medium Load Member

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    I have a Pony Pack myself. 9,500 hours and still going strong. Weight= 150 pounds
     
  9. bobeagle

    bobeagle Bobtail Member

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    chefbob2 QUOTE: I say make your own apu.
    Small generator and portable AC. much cheaper, lighter. easy to fix.
    I've had a terrible experiece with the Carrier product and the service was nothing short of extortion.


    i've been waiting, while searching to get an idea on how to build/make y own APU. chefbob2 please give me details of how to do it. TK , carrier,tri-pac or whoever are also inc guyz like you , who are ready to design applied technologies! chefbob2 please enlighten me. i need to stop burning my oney idling, but i' not spending 8k on a conventional APU, they're rip offs.
    i need your advice
     
  10. MeatHead

    MeatHead Medium Load Member

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    Where do you carry your gas, in the sleeper?