Best APU To Buy That Does It All ?

One of the biggest savings you can do for yourself is to get an Espar heater. The problem with those small generators like a Honda is that they don't monitor your batteries. If it's really cold out like 10 degrees I would run the generator non stop and the Espar heater.

 

I saw on YouTube that wabasco(sp) has an iPhone app to start it. I don't know how the wabasco connects, is it just blue tooth? Or can you get to turn on five miles away.

If I had an apu I would keep and use it. If I start doing overnight at any length I would prolly go down the gas gen path. Apus heat up the coolent too, which is nice.

 

Not many do. If I had an APU that did I would not connect it to the trucks coolant system. Just one more point of failure. There really is no need to keep the engine warm unless your batteries suck. If the temp is below zero you should be idling the truck anyways.

 

2 or 3 winters ago the Espar heater buzzed out. My dog and I suffered through two 9 degree nights before I could get down to a Home Depot and pick up one of those $50 heaters to run off the Honda. Keeps everything perfect temperature in the truck unlike that old Espar which would intermittently cook me out then shut down and freeze the truck then turn back on and heat up to 100 degrees.

All the Espar needed was a $10 dollar new screen. In order to get to the screen you have to buy a $243 glow plug that comes with a special socket to remove the glow plug. I got all the stuff to fix it just never felt like tearing the bottom bunk apart again.

 

Routine maintenance. Now is the time by the way. I have a spare. When my current one screws up I put the backup in then service the other one.

 

It's my own fault, I remember driving through some minus 20 degree road and had every heater on in the truck full hot blast including the bunk heater (which I heard is bad to drive with it running) and still my left foot was going numb from the cold.

 

Ha ha ha ha ha ha

 

I just got the fuel pump screen and glow pin screen for $17, that included shipping. You don't have to replace the glow pin, but you do need a slotted 12mm socket. I just took an angle grinder to a cheap deep socket and boom. $20 annual maintenance for the espar bunk heater. Really is a great unit when it's working.

I really like the complete backup unit idea.

Here's the best video I found for those that want to service their own espar.

 

Why do you say that?

 

If your batteries are good a truck engine can start at any temp if it can turn over. Does no harm. Thousands of trucks in Williston, ND that start every day at temps way below zero.