Best APU for a new Volvo

Ive got older Tri Pac unit and love it. It cools off my cab and charges batteries when needed and keeps coolant warm as it has lines that run to the engine.

 

Tripac and Carrier are the best APU. But if you open them you will see they are completely different equipments. Carrier is an easy APU. it is basically 6kw generator mounted on frame. Under bed unit has electric driven A/C compressor inside. carrier is little noisy(engine). tripack is not noisy but has too many parts. Tripack has engine driven A/C compressor, inverter, some models separate bunk heater, separate control module,...

 

I've had both a tripac and a carrier and I'd take the tripac any day.

The carrier's inverter relies on the generator...if the engine isn't running you don't have power. Also, the heater in the carrier has a high and low, but if you turn on the high, it disables the power to your inverter. When your APU goes out, you're screwed with the Carrier...can't run my computer or microwave which sucks. The carrier I have now isn't tied into the engine in any way so it doesn't keep the coolant in your engine warm. Also, the carrier is noisy as hell compared to the tripac.

 

You deed to check how much clearance you cave on the frame. I have a VNL 780 with a 229" WB the only think I could fit in the space allowed was a dynasys its 19" the carrier and tri-pac need minimum 22"

 

Like I said earlier, the old truck had a TriPac. It was 2006 TK on a 2012 truck. No telling how many hours were on it when I traded it a few months ago but at 11-12 years old it ran great.

The battery APUs or EPUs can be great but, like I said, you need the 7+1 setup I described. Most come with only 4 AGMS and are separated from the truck. In my opinion, under heavy load, you might get 7 hours out of it on the average. Not too mention with only 4, you're discharging the batteries far too often and reducing their service life. I was going to get an EPU on my International but they wouldn't do it how I wanted from the factory so I stuck with the TK.

 

Your Carrier was standalone unit. I have integrated unit which is tied to engne's cooling system.

 

Tie it to the engine, when you leave home both engines will always be warm, no cold starts.

 

+1 For the TriPac I have gotten so spoiled by mine. I could not imagine having to idle an engine again.

 

The tripak will keep your cab like a freezer even in summer time..