Bunk Heaters save tons of money

So this is more of a statement then a question.

If your an O/O and you idle durring the winter, a bunk heater is a great option. I looked into them, but never wanted to spend the 1000+ to get one installed. I finally found a wabasco on flebay for 800 and installed it myself.

Instalation wasnt hard, although the directions were a joke. The fuel pump gets mounted outside in line with you hose leading to fuel tank. The unit can mount under the bunk and needs 2 large holes (exaust and air intake) as well as 4 bolt holes and a small fuel line hose. Getting under the truck to hook this up was the hardest part. Also the included wire to the fuel pump was to short so i needed to make my own.

Now I never idles tons. Under 30 degrees i would turnt he truck on and off throughout the night. Under 15ish i would idle. Im rarely under 0 but am between 0 and 30 a lot. Since I installed the wabasco I have cut my ideling way down. Computer says 4% now. My mpg went up .75m/g. Yes 3/4 mpg!. It really does work.

I stay as hot as i want now (it can be turned down with thermostat). I sleep a lot more comfortable because i can make my sleeper 70+ degrees when it is 0 outside. No getting up to turn the truck off. No vibration and very limited noise. (the truck idling a few spots away is much louder.)

Now, you may ask, well what about starting the truck in the morn? I have 4 AGM batts. As long as i put additive in my fuel i have had no trouble starting when 0F or above. I drive a 2006 FL Columbia raised roof with a Detroit S60. Also my oil consumption went from 1 gallon/ 10,000 miles to almost nothing. Idling was what was using my oil. Clearly not idling is much better for my poor abused motor. Now when i service at 20,000 miles my motor has used about 1/4 gallons.


Now lets do some quick math. Idling your truck cost around a gallon/hour. Maybe less if at 600 rpm, but to prevent damage you should rev to 900+ depending on motor and config. cheap fuel is 3.5/gallon. That's $35/10 hour break. Now with a wabasco (or esbar) you use less then 1/2 gallon per 10 hours. That cost 1.75. The difference is $33.25/ night. Assuming your home every week-end and thus are in the truck 5 nights a week, a 1000 dollar unit pays for it self in just over 6 weeks. I don't know of many other investments that pay off that quick. Not to mention the reduced engine ware is major.

So my point of this post? Even if you have an APU without a bunk heater (tripack has bunk heater) or you just idle...if you dont have a bunk heater, BUY ONE. They are well worth it. Comfort, money, less wear on engine. Its WIN WIN.

If you have any questions about the webasco unit i just installed mine 30,000 miles ago and am very happy with it. (I'm currently getting unloaded staying nice and warm in my sleeper with it now.)

 

I would not drive a truck without one. If there was one law about air pollution in upper Midwest and other cold states that should be approved of is mandatory installation of bunk heaters.

 

Be careful bunk heater noob

Those things will actually melt a poly carbonate lense on your eyeglasses!!!!!

They get real hot air blowing

Keep everything clear and out of path.

Fire hazard.

 

FACT, #### near had a pee bottle explode on me once sitting in front of it. That would have been bad :/

 

fi you think a bunk heater is the berries your gonna wet yourself when you upgrade to an APU

 

that would have brought a whole new meaning to golden shower eh?

 

Agreed, Was playing X-box last night and listening to the radio while talking on the phone being charged and laptop was being charged while my 12v and 120v fridge were running and i had all the lights on inside. MIFI hotspot plugged in also. 20* outside, set my thermostat to 60* and never worry about the truck starting the next morning .

eerr,,,, yes

 

Um, thats true to any supper hot item on your truck. No i'm not dumb enough to leave a pea bottle in front of it, or my glasses on the floor in front of it lol....But yea, might want to use some common seance if you have one. The manual does state not to hang your legs within 20 inchs of it.

 

Could have just said you burned your leg.

I don't need any visuals of a truck driver banging around with his old lady.

 

100% agree with the bunk heater being the best thing since sliced bread. I never had one before and it's great. I'm paranoid about the truck not starting so I idle below 10 degrees or so. Now I just have to decide what route to go for AC this summer. I'm thinking about the old do it yourself APU. I can't justify spending $8000-$10000 on a brand name APU.