APU or something else

most apu's on the market run your a/c, heat and shore power

a regular generator will only run shore power, to which you can hook up a el cheapo a/c from wally world

 

That works tho. I saw one guy had a Honda generator mounded between his frame rails underneath his headache rack with an extension cord going to a battery charger mounted inside his battery box. Generator and cheapo AC window unit cost under $800.

 

you may also find some good info in this thread

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...wheelers/82129-increased-milage-apu-idea.html

 

There is always the rooftop RV A/C unit that would work, especially if you have a midroof tractor. They can be had for under a grand, mounted. Even some ThermoKing dealers are offering a brand of rooftop AC unit for installation on tractors. An Espar heater can be had for right around $1200 installed in my area. A Honda EU2000 portable generator (which is CARB legal) is around a grand, to power small to moderate roof units. The total cost is W..A..Y below the cost of an APU. For someone like me, that doesn't spend a lot of time sitting around and operates in upper Midwest where temps are not terribly hot at nighttime, it is a more cost effective option. An Espar heater will blow me out of the cab even on the coldest winter nights, and the Honda generator will keep a 250 watt oil pan heater and a couple of 250 watt fuel tank heaters going. I just can't justify on the books getting a full blown APU. There are really nice units out there, but won't use it enough to justify shelling out close to $10 grand to put one on. I know, some units area little cheaper, but still not nearly as cheap as going the way I mentioned above. This is just one of many options.