Kohler APU's. Anybody Running One?

ALL i know is,

Kohler-like most companies-have really gone downhill.

In the 1960's they built engines that are still running today.

Now they are building more, if not most of their engines in china I believe.........

 

I'd probably trust an engine built in Japan or China before one made in Detroit. Let the hating begin.....

 

I drive for Prime and saw one on a company truck about a year ago. I know they were testing out some lighter options than the tri-pac for some of our lighteweight-Pete's.

I havent seen another since... All the newer trucks at the terminal have Tri-pacs so I guess management didnt see a benifit. Now whether it was cost or operational expenses, I dont know

 

The big advantage TriPac has is that just about every ThermoKing dealership will work on them, and has parts. If you go with a Kohler where will you get service, warranty etc.?

 

I have very limited space along rails so one of the "normal" apu's is really not an option. I have been looking at the kohler unit also. Someone mentioned about "where are you going to get it serviced?" Kohler has almost as many outlets for service and repair as Thermoking and they are nationwide unlike some of the other APU brands.

I like it because I can mount it on top of the frame rails right behind the sleeper and it is slim enough to not interfere with trailer and I don't have to slide the 5th wheel to compensate (which also keeps it safer from road debris, salt, etc). And since it is roughly half the weight of a standard APU brand and uses about half the fuel as well, makes this interesting. One small self contained unit with no underbunk space being used, keeps the batteries charged, easy to service, with similar warranty as the other units.

If I wanted to light up a small town and have to sit for 34 hr restarts, etc then maybe this might not be the best choice, and I can understand some individuals needing a larger unit that does more. I only need heat or cooling for a 8 hr sleep and occasional sitting at a dock for an hour or so, and I go home on the weekends and holidays. And I have a mid roof sleeper so I also do not have to heat or cool a small apartment. Why pay for more than I need?

 

You might want to look at what they have listed as service places. Sure many businesses might be authorized Kohler shops, but, and I'm just guessing, maybe a lot of them are small engine repair shops, or lawn and garden type places? Can you get 70+ feet of tractor trailer in them?
Yes the Tripac takes up a fair amount of side box space, but having the seperate bunk heater allows it to run and keep you warm without having to run the unit. The unit only cycles on and off to keep the main engine block warm, and to charge up the batteries. So during the winter the TriPac units run time is relatively low. The other brands with eletrical based heat must run just about all the time for you to stay warm.
But the downside of the TriPac is that with only a 75amp alternator, it does not create enough power to run even a small to medium microwave. I wish somebody made a unit with AC generation, 12volt charging and had the integration with a fuel fired bunk heater.