How do you prepare for the cold without idling.Genset , electric blanket etc.

I know i wasnt supposed to use the APU word but I am a former genset guy right down to the window air unit I had In my fld along with a portable electric heater .
Last winter I bought a carrier apu and almost took the electric heater out of the truck but as tug toy said these things work great in a truck and I dont even use the heat side of my apu until its pushing 0 ...just the cheap heater ...I think it was 50 bucks at ace hardware .
I grew up and learned to truck in north dakota 30 years ago so I'm acquainted cold .
I have an isx which puts back plenty of fuel so I dont use any additives until temps go below -5 and that's only if the engine will be off for the night or home and depends on where I last fueled .
I will idle it up past -15 especially if the wind is roaring and auxillerie heaters dont work well beyond that anyway .

 

To hell with all that. I got wise and moved south!

 

I use a good sleeping bag, down to zero temps, my trucks never had any problems starting at or a little below zero. I would also warm it up good before killing it and it would be 4 hours or more before it gets intolerable in it even at temps in the tens, then crank it for an hour or so if needed.

 

Blanket is just the Walmart sunbeam twin size. I don’t know the watts but the little generator doesn’t even flinch with them on. The blanket is on like click 2 and the heater on the low setting I think is 800 watts.

The summer generator is a champion 4000 w with the remote start

The winter unit which I’m just now starting to use is a Pulsar 2300. Only holds 1.2 gal on fuel. If you can keep it on low idle it will run all night no problem. If your working it hard it will be empty in 4 hours.

I run just a standard battery charger hard wired into the system. I keep it at 10 amps and it just keeps everything up to snuff anytime attached to the generator. I would never expect it to bring them back from the dead.

When I’m home I plug it into the shop and I know my fridge and batteries will be up to snuff on Monday morning when I head back out again.

 

@speedyk mentioned about wool bed items. A mattress from natural wool is an amazing thing... love it.

 

I used to be brave almost froze to death in my truck lucky, I woke up. So now I idle...Sorry Op just fact you could be preparing for death..

 

There is no reason to ever worry about freezing to death. For about 130 bucks you can get a sleeping bag good for down to 30 below temps at sportsmans and probably many other places. Why anyone who runs in cold country wouldn't have one is beyond me, sometimes trucks break, and you don't have the choice to idle or not.
I have spent the night at 30 below in some serious wind, and been toasty until I climbed out of my bag. lol

 

I have a Maxwell Engine Start Module so i know the engine will start.
I use a decent sleeping bag during the colder nights, so i only run the bunk heater near it's lowest settings so it doesn't have to work too hard.
I replace all four batteries every fall. I have seen morning battery voltage as low as 11.8 volts, but usually stays above 12.0 volts.

 

Make sure you insulate the inside of the truck to. Check your weather stripping. Get a draft in through a hole and your fighting a battle harder then you need to.

If parked...a good curtain to keep the warm air back with you in the cab. A sleeping bag as one mentioned, an good long johns can keep you nice an toasty. A heated blanket works to as others mentioned. Could always get a Snoogie...

Go with the adult footie pj's....


Not a fan of Vodka unless i"m really freezing...whiskey though, warm ya right on up! Folks might get mad if they see ya chugging on a handle of whiskey or vodka while driving down the road. I'd love to be in the courtroom when someone tells the Judge they were only doing it to keep warm. Heh.

I've done winter camping..horrible idea in a tent. I lots of whiskey though, so I didn't freeze. Toss in wind...grand old time. Freezing, drunk an the tent is bucking like a pissed off bronco. Dear Amazon: Thanks for the memories. LOL

Sirscrapntruckalot - It's so cold I just farted snowflakes. - The internet

 

I have 23 years of my life left in Siberia. I know how it can turn deadly if you are not prepared.
Equipment can fail even brand new.
I have set of diver underwear, camel wool.
Socks and mittens my wife knitted for me from dog wool.
I have Airtronic heater, home made diesel generator plumbed into fuel tanks to provide 120 volts for all appliances, block heater and charge my batteries 100 amp if needed.
In summer time generator run my split system AC. Under full load 5 kilowatts fuel consumption is 0.3 quart per hour. So with full fuel tanks I can stay till summer.