No APU - A/C options??

This is the inverter I have. I'm just listing the Amazon link because it's easy. I think they can be had elsewhere for about $500. Pretty sure these are no longer being made.

https://www.amazon.com/Xantrex-Schn...ntrex+hf+2055&qid=1562080188&s=gateway&sr=8-2

 

Refrigerator doesn't even cause the generator to idle up. I have a 3.4 cubic foot Magic Chef.

The microwave and coffee pot are the power hogs and the generator runs them no problem. On my other truck, you have to start the main engine to run the microwave.

 

What do those numbers represent?

 

Fuel mileage in miles per gallon.

 

The difference between 5.8 mpg and 7.5 mpg is about $1400 a month at pump price.

 

The only problem with that setup is that those PTAC units are not designed to be beat up the way the cab of a big rig will beat them up. Their connections, compressors, hoses, etc are not designed for that. That's a motel room unit. That thing is basically a plastic wonder. That's designed to be installed in a motel room and never touched until service day. You also have to cut a huge hole in the back of your cab for that thing. Nobody will want that later if you try to sell it.

Also, those gas generators run at 3600rpm. They are enormously loud compared to a dedicated diesel APU that runs at half that speed. I had a guy with one of these contraptions pull up and park on the side of me. That POS was so loud I had to move my truck. There was no way I could sleep. It sounded like a lawnmower at full throttle just on the other side of a thin cab wall.

So before installing something like this, think about what you're doing and how it will effect others.

 

@lilillill correct me if I'm wrong, that's an inverter style generator, correct? So, @drivingmissdaisy you would be wrong in assuming that his generator is loud. Most of those inverter style gens are almost comparable to a car idling when it comes to noise.

 

It is very solidly mounted to the back of the cab. The lines run though rubber grommets and have no movement whatsoever. The evaporator is directly on the other side with 12" of line between the two.

There are no "huge holes" in the back of the cab. The holes for the lines are drilled, with the largest being 1/2". All could be covered with body grommets if the unit were removed.

As for the noise, the inverter generator is quieter than a TK APU, especially with the exhaust piped above the cab. I'm sitting here parked on the street right now. I can barely hear the thing running.



As to your last point, yes, I did think about others when I designed this system. You just assumed I didn't.

 

And I had to look up what a PTAC unit was. This is a mini-split, not a PTAC. It has one electric line and two refrigerant lines and a drain line between the condenser and evaporator.

Even if I had to replace the unit once a year, I still come out ahead.

 

You definately did you’re homework, planning the system. My only concerns are, I’d like to get a gen. With remote start. That doesn’t need to be manually choked, if possible. Or I can run a manual cable if needed. Don’t want to get out of Truck in sub zero temps if possible. Also a larger gas tank. Run time being a big factor. I’ve read something about a 12 gal. Legal limit. Along with an auxiliary container limit of ? Seems a remote generator is only available in 3500 + ratings. That would be good. Anything larger burns more gas, defeating the cost saving and run time, tank capacities etc. any thoughts on this? Any other criteria you considered, when planning your set up?