Financing an APU

For my son's '04 Century, I considered the Dynasys, even went through the application process and only needed to schedule and make the install. I ended up deciding not to. Not because of anything negative about that particular apu. I just decided I didn't want to commit to two years of payments on something going on a million mile truck that I'm not sure about keeping more than another year or two. Instead, I purchased the Honda 2000w generator and a portable ac/heat unit, about $1300 all in.

Another reason I pulled back on the Dynasys was my T600 came with a Tripak that was probably on it since new, since the apu is coming up on 26k hours while the truck has just over 15k hrs at 730k miles. c-15 cat that today puts down rated power and might use one or two quarts of oil on a 15k mile change interval. I did have to spend close to $1000 on misc parts to fix up the a/c lines and fittings, also minor repairs to the Espar heater.

If I do take the step to equip the Frieghtliner with an apu, I'll at least find a used Tripak if I don't get a new one. I've seen them around, offered $5-6k installed. The Tripak only runs when the a/c is on, battery low, or below freezing. So the apu engine running maybe only half the time it's active, if that. Definitely an understated feature of the Tripak, versus another model that runs all the time. Probably doubles maintenance intervals on time (more weeks to reach the 1000 hour service). It's also about the quietest running unit on the market.

 

red, the dynasys and the tripak have the same yanmar engine, the dynasys also doesn't run all the time. I set the temp and it cuts on and off , just like a central unit. the dynasys isn't tied into the trucks water lines or a/c system, its got a dometic heat/ ac unit , that runs off the 6500 watt generator, I also added a inverter , I run the tv, printer and such off of it so the main unit doesn't even run constantly for that, I installed min jan 2012 and just hit 3000 hours on it.

in the past couple years dynasys changed the intake ( the intake pulse creates a good bit of noise) and uses a different muffler. I had a pulley kit installed on mine that lowers the engine rpm while letting the genset turn at the same rpm as before.

that's basically why the tripak is quieter , it operates at a lower rpm just driving a a/c compressor and alternator, while the same engine in a dyansys drives the alternator and a 6500 watt genset.

either way the number of hours on your cat states proves a apu is cost effective, I do my maintenance at 500 hour intervals, though instead of the 1000 recommended

 

skateboardman thanks for the extra detail on the Dynasys. The engine run for all HVAC is what I was getting at. The tripak uses the Espar heater for cold weather, so unless it's below freezing or I'm drawing my batteries down with appliances, the apu engine stays off. Last year I've put about 1,200 hours on mine. That's with me being a climate control wuss. 68º and cloudy right now and I've got the ac running LOL. Seriously tho, if it weren't for the dust and chicken plant stench, I'd probably open the windows instead.

I actually like the cooling system being tapped into the main engine. I don't do a lot of sub-zero travel, but the couple of times I did this winter it made for an easy start and shorter warm-up before getting on the road.

I also understand the Dynasys genset has to be running to power the equipped ac outlets - is that accurate? I suppose if you had an inverter set up it would run just like the tripak only when the voltage drops below a set threshold, excepting any ac demand.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking it. I was --><-- this close to buying one. In fact, it took having to live with the Tripak that was "free" with my truck to appreciate it a little more. Well that and a bunch of dollar bills and cussing during the summer bringing the 26k hour unit back to life LOL.

 

to me the tripack is like a cell phone
once you have one you dont want to not have one

i dont see any of the naysayers saying i am glad i got rid of mine
I miss mine but not enough to go back driving for Trans Scam

just sayin

 

red, the genset has to be running to power the a/c outlets, which I use for the microwave or running a power tool. I installed a inverter to run the other accessories like printer, tv and such, so the engine runs like the tripac when it needs to charge the batteries, and the dynasys also will power the block heater, you can set the controls to maintain a certain coolant temp.

the unit runs maybe 10 to 15 minutes at a time when it does a heat or cool cycle.

and you are right, different units have different features, and a genset and portable a/c and small ceramic heater , will work just fine also.

either way the unit will pay for itself no matter which way you go, the guys who say they aren't cost effective cant do math.

 

Seems like a good investment, but how do you run those generators? Do you put them out of your truck and run seperate AC unit inside your truck?

 

The guys that run those little generators normally have them in a side box or mounted up on the catwalk if there is room. I have seen some guys that have built a platform on the back of the cab and secure it with a log chain. As far as AC, I have a friend that bought a split air system, one that you would install in your house. I have seen quite a few guys running those out here as of late. Here is a link to those Ductless Mini Splits - Air Conditioners - The Home Depot

Myself, I will stick with my Tri-Pac, easy to obtain parts and service. And I do use mine, especially now having the ELD, I spend more time in the sleeper than behind the wheel. And, I just replaced my 11 year old Tri-Pac with a new Evolution.

 

Dynasty is junk-stay away. We have trucks in fleet with dynasys-nothing but problems.

 

My buddy bought some mom and pop APU, I forget who makes it, but they advertise it... They sent it to him, he installed. Finding parts for the thing is darn near impossible and it is not reliable. He got the unit and wound up having to reengineer the unit before he hung it on his frame rail. Better off going with something proven, ThermoKing.

 

$14,000 for an APU? LOL

No thanks! Anyone ever ask why they cost so much when you can buy a used JEEP for that? Or better yet as others have mentioned an AC and a generator for $1200. Nothing about an APU should make it cost 14k. And $420/mo.? That’s insane. You can lease a Porsche for $699/mo. Drive around in style when you’re home. Of course you aren’t home much because...keep reading.

Let’s go over what our government has done. They forced all this emissions crap on trucks which can’t idle due to DPF issues, etc which added thousands and thousands to the price of a truck which then forced companies/individuals to buy APUs which cost $14,000. (No way Schneider, Walmart, etc are paying $14,000. Or $149,000 for a new truck which brings up the fact big companies should be split up or smaller companies should get some kind of assistance to compete with larger companies that can buy in bulk. Or better yet pass a law every truck must be an owner operator. Nobody can own more than 10 trucks. Watch how great trucking becomes if you do that!)

You wonder why pay hasn’t increased in 20 years? They put all their money into emissions crap and APUs! Look on the back of trucks. A lot of companies advertise .42cpm. 42cpm was starting pay 20 years ago! A few pay .51, but that’s no where near what it should be after TWENTY YEARS.

You are getting screwed truck drivers. Rates stagnate. Truck prices through the roof. They got you buying APUs. Your health insurance now has a sky high deductible and sky high max out of pocket. They limit how much you can work with the 14 hour rule, diesel is up, parts up, shops are $135/hour while the mechanics get $20, the PA turnpike is .60cpm to drive on, no pensions, no retirement if you have one it’s a 401k which is saving your own money maybe with a company match which tells you how much they’re really making, etc etc. The deck is stacked AGAINST you. Big corporations control the industry and YOU.

But hey, Trump and guns are our problem. LMAO It’s your world I just live in.