Maxwell Engine Start Module

That works out real nice (except you did not factor the fuel and maintenance of the APU itself), but in my situation, my average idle time is between 5% and 10% which include idle time at stop lights and such, without an APU. I might actually idle for creature comfort maybe about 14 days a year, cumulatively. It would take an exceptionally long time, after factoring this and the maintenance of the APU itself to break even on the cost of putting one on. But, I can have a coolant heater to warm engine at the end of breaks during the winter, along with a webasto heater in the bunk and a Yamaha portable generator to keep power up if needed for one heck of lot less than an APU, and a heck of lot lighter. I could also install a Coleman Roughneck roof AC unit and still be far below the cost and weight of an APU setup, both in initial cost and cost of operation. A setup like I describe could have components incrementally installed as one needs things. Like in my case, it is not real cost effective to have AC most times I take breaks. I primarily operate in the upper midwest and take my 8 or 10 hr breaks at night. Most nights, screens in the cab door windows, windows open in the sleeper, and a DC fan does the trick.

Now it is true that those that have other operational considerations could benefit more from an APU, but it is not the great cure all for everyone that it is made out to be. Company drivers are one thing. Those of us who pay the bills, quite another.

 

To take this debate one step further with maybe 10 weeks at most idling in a year the $3.80 x 45 x 10 = $1710 that when considering ROI $8700 + $1710 = 5.09 years to get money back that does not consider the maintenance cost of the APU and I still burns fuel.

 

How much does one of the Coleman Roughnecks cost? Just curious, though I'd have nowhere to install it on my condo sleeper.

I wasn't saying that an APU was a cure-all. But I've logged 4000 hrs on mine in the 1st year that I've had it.

And the whole setup is under 500lbs.


Oh, I guess I did leave the operational cost. Ok, so if my APU runs fulltime under a heavy load for a full 10 hr. break? It consumes maybe 1.5 gallons. But ya set it auto and monitors coolant temp, battery charge and cabin temp and settings. Then it starts/stops as needed.

Oh and I have a Webasto under the bunk too. Like I said...redundancy.

 

You only work 10 weeks out of the year?And your math is wonky! Why would you add $1710 to $8700?

The equation totally depends on your normal idle time. Does your engine idle for your full 10 hr breaks? There's 60hrs. How often do you take a 34 in your truck? And does it idle the whole time? That could easily add up to 94 hrs per week! And that don't include idling at shippers/receivers, etc.

 

So you have run your apu over 10 hours a day, every day for the whole year? Poster child for global warming.

 

That was the "+" aka division symbol and no you have read comprehension problem because I posted only need to idle 10 weeks out of the year. Why idle at all unless temps are over 85 degrees or under 20 degrees that pretty much covers 10 or fewer weeks during the year where I run in the Southeast. Most of the time those 10 weeks is idling to cool truck off for about an hour and cutting off for 3 or 4 hours, so I don`t idle the entire 10 hours even on during the 10 weeks that could very easily make it less than 45 hours per week. I always take my 34 reset at the house.

That was the way I used to idle before I added more batteries that I don`t idle at all now. Maybe that is why my 30 day average is over 10 mpg.

 

Dice, those are some great numbers. I am happy if I see 5.5mpg on average for one of my trips to Alaska in the truck I drive. Unfortunately, we are not given the opportunity to drive for good fuel mileage either due to weight, terrain and time to get there.

 

Home IS the truck until its paid off!

 

I bought one on ebay for $500 usd new, works great so far..

 

The Boss Shop at Laramie, WY had em on the shelf for $990.