Centramatic APU

Id like to see that if you can find it, to me it seems like a pretty simple unit, Others seem much more complex.

 

the whole story on the apu is simple,i spoke for an extended period with a sales/mechanic on this subject. the apu is designed to run just like your truck,it has maintenance requirements. if you don't follow them the unit will not last,if you abuse it will not last,if you don't operate it properly it will not last. you must take care of it just like you do any other mechanism. they really pay for themselves with the decreased fuel consumption,i'm calculating up to $1000/month @ $4/gal.

 

I definitely agree with you there, also if you consider the cost of an overhaul, and how many more miles you will get out of your engine, that savings stacks up very fast. It in fact could probably give you an additional 1/3 if not 1/2 life to your engine.

 

So Just curious if anybody has found anything out on the Centramatic APU? I am liking the Centramatic APU better and better just for the Kubota engine. The hell with that YANMAR crap you see on the net.

 

I just purchased a Centramatic APU and so far so good. I had it installed at their home base in Alvarado TX and I really like the build quality. Its a little different from the Termoking as its a separate unit and is not plumbed into the truck. That was a feature I liked. It took them around a day and a half to install and so far at works fine. I had it mounted on the frame behind the cab. and it comes enclosed in a very elegant polish diamond metal "toolbox" with a lock. They had to discard the step up but thats OK.
List on these units are around $10500 but with some discount and a federal grant I ended up paying approx $8450. I didn't want to buy used because you just dont know the history behind the unit.
The footprint of the unit is bigger than a Thermoking as the Kubota engine installed front ways on.The Thermo is sideways on, so looks smaller. But weight is the same around 400-500Lbs The one drawback with the Centra is that the engine will not switch off when the required temp inside is reached. The AC or heat will switch off and is automatic, but not the engine. Something that the people at Centra perhaps need to address down the road, but for me that was not a deal breaker. Some of the inner components that go under the bunk does take up a bit of space but they do leave you some room. The control panel is located next to the bunk so its easy to switch on. I like the fact I can use my electric kettle as this unit puts out around 6000 Watts. also the Centra come with an outside shorepower and regular power inputs. The AC fan is installed on the back of the cab, like most others.
I think that as time unfolds these units will become more and more advanced to a point where you won't know they're installed as they will be hidden away. And eventually battery power via lithium will be so sophisticated that I feel that the end result will be that these units will be all electric and not diesel powered at all. But for the moment we have to enjoy this latest generation of APUs and it makes living in the truck much more pleasurable.
Good luck

 

I think that as time unfolds these units will become more and more advanced to a point where you won't know they're installed as they will be hidden away. And eventually battery power via lithium will be so sophisticated that I feel that the end result will be that these units will be all electric and not diesel powered at all. But for the moment we have to enjoy this latest generation of APUs and it makes living in the truck much more pleasurable.
Absolutely, within about 5 years we'll have fuel cell powered apu's. Swedish company is experimenting with them in airliners now. Delco is very close, and they will use diesel for fuel.

 

They've been working on fuel cell APU's over at Delphi. Haven't heard much about how they are coming along. I believe Peterbilt has been working with them on it.

 

Jimmbubs, you said, "The hell with that YANMAR crap you see on the net."
Those Yanmar engines have been around in sailboats for years, almost NEVER hear about problems out of them!
Jack

 

Any updates on these APU's? Are they still making them?

 

I know this thread is pretty old but....

I just called Centramatic today and spoke to the man at great length. I am VERY INTERESTED in hearing from anyone with direct experience with one of these units, (like maybe the poster above that said he had just gotten 1... A few years ago now)

Oh, and yes they still make them and if your like me and have a very large sleeper and like to be very cold, not just be un-hot, you can pay extra and get a complete second A/C unit as the generator will handel it and still have power left over to run other stuff..!

So... Let's hear from some owners.. Do they work? How do they hold up? Service/warranty/parts issues?