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Parksmart, good, bad ???

Discussion in 'Freightliner Forum' started by KANSAS TRANSIT, May 4, 2012.

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May 9, 2016 #22

Cory Cross Bobtail Member

5

1

Jan 3, 2016

0

toughnight said: ↑

Hmmm....In 2007, I added four batteries and wired them in parallel with the other four batteries on my 1998 International condo cabover (ex-Schneider truck). I used deep cycle/starting dual purpose batteries. I added a 2000 watt inverter and an 8,000 BTU portable room air conditioner with an insulated exhaust hose attached to the window adapter that was cut to fit in the passenger-side window. With the curtains closed I get 8-10hrs of cooling until the low voltage cut-out circuit in the inverter shuts the system down. I've ALWAYS had plenty of power to start my engine after the inverter has powered my aircon for 8-10hrs and I NEVER have to worry about dead or low batteries because the inverter cuts out before they get too low to start the engine. The cost of my ENTIRE system was $900 for the eight new batteries, $300 for the portable room aircon unit, $300 for a 165 amp alternator (which fully charges the low batteries in 5hrs) and about $500 for the extra battery box/addtional wiring. Total cost of my A/C system was about $2,000. Add $75 for a 1200 BTU Mr. Heater unit, $50 for a BBQ propane tank and $25 for a CO detector and it comes to $2,150. Add another $850 to replace all of the batteries this year, 2012, and it comes to $3,000 for a "ParkSmart"-like system that I designed five years ago that is now good for another five years of dollar-free use (except for the occassional Rhino-Propane tank exchange for $20 at Walmart or Pilot). I guess I should have patented this system years ago; and my system ACTUALLY works. Email me for additional info, if you need it. God bless all of us truckers.

PS. A 2,000 watt portable gas generator ($400) bungee'd to the back platform or a cheap motel room gets me through the long breaks I occassionally take during the months of June/July/August.
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I use same kind of set up but with generator. Problem is for company drivers its too complicated. You would be surprised. They need something installed. That they cant mess with.

Cory Cross, May 9, 2016

Cory Cross, May 9, 2016

#22

OSCBRADLEY Thanks this.
May 9, 2016 #23

Cory Cross Bobtail Member

5

1

Jan 3, 2016

0

carrkool said: ↑

i just idle my truck...........................................
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Bad for engine ,your wallet our country lol shame on you.

Cory Cross, May 9, 2016

Cory Cross, May 9, 2016

#23
May 9, 2016 #23

Cory Cross Bobtail Member

5

1

Jan 3, 2016

0

Robtail said: ↑

Great response from everyone. Thank you. The local Freightliner salesman just brought in a 2013 Cascadia for us to look at with the ParkSmart unit. We currently run TriPac apu's with Wabasco diesel fired heaters. We're just waiting for an economical/user friendly and durable option to become available and it doesn't sound like the ParkSmart is the answer.

Thanks again,
Rob
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Why not use better or more batteries? I heard you can have a battery custom built litium ion battery like a cell phone but alot bigger. They are expensive but work the best. I would think it would be better in cost then tri pac apu. Just a thought.

Cory Cross, May 9, 2016

Cory Cross, May 9, 2016

#23
Aug 14, 2016 #24

OSCBRADLEY Light Load Member

99

11

Jul 8, 2010

Houston, Texas

0

Cant you use a small gas generator and just plug it into your shore power outlet? I took my truck home and plugged it in to an outdoor outlet, turned on the Park Smart and it ran forever, Im thinking a portable generator ought to provide the same.

OSCBRADLEY, Aug 14, 2016

OSCBRADLEY, Aug 14, 2016

#24
Aug 21, 2016 #25

OSCBRADLEY Light Load Member

99

11

Jul 8, 2010

Houston, Texas

0

Cory Cross said: ↑

I use same kind of set up but with generator. Problem is for company drivers its too complicated. You would be surprised. They need something installed. That they cant mess with.
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What kind and how big (wattage) generator are you running?

OSCBRADLEY, Aug 21, 2016

OSCBRADLEY, Aug 21, 2016

#25
Sep 13, 2016 #26

Shawn benton Light Load Member

58

17

Jun 17, 2015

0

KANSAS TRANSIT said: ↑

I have come to the conclusion that the later ParkSmarts (condenser/fan setup on back of cab) are doing well, and better every year newer you go, however the earliest ones like my 2010 (built in 2009) with the condenser/fan under the sleeper will always have issues.

At this point I would probably order a new truck WITH ParkSmart, BUT, I would sell it before I had to put an alt. on it, or carry a spare in the truck, on the road it is 2,000.00 to replace that alt.!!!
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I have a 2016 with 200k miles my parksmart quit I have no a/c. Gotta get it checked out when I have time it's under warranty. New ones still have issues too.

Shawn benton, Sep 13, 2016

Shawn benton, Sep 13, 2016

#26

KANSAS TRANSIT Thanks this.
Sep 14, 2016 #27

KANSAS TRANSIT Road Train Member

4,080

6,842

Jul 28, 2011

Glasco,Ks.

0

There are a couple of easy checks you can do, first if you haven't already check that Megafuse that runs the PS, also, do a load test on your PS batteries, even thou it is a 2016 I have heard of cell dead batts.

KANSAS TRANSIT, Sep 14, 2016

KANSAS TRANSIT, Sep 14, 2016

#27

Shawn benton Thanks this.
Sep 14, 2016 #28

Newbeav Newbie Medium Load Member

356

205

Jun 3, 2011

0

Park smart is better than nothing but nowhere near as good as a diesel apu

Newbeav Newbie, Sep 14, 2016

Newbeav Newbie, Sep 14, 2016

#28

bzinger, nickst and KANSAS TRANSIT Thank this.
Sep 14, 2016 #29

KANSAS TRANSIT Road Train Member

4,080

6,842

Jul 28, 2011

Glasco,Ks.

0

Newbeav Newbie said: ↑

Park smart is better than nothing but nowhere near as good as a diesel apu
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It depends on which side of the fence you are on, IF you are a driver, yes the diesel apu in most cases is superior, however, if you are a fleet owner, and you are dealing with drivers that can not seem to check things on a regular basis like engine oil in apu, change air filters etc, then the electric system is better,

KANSAS TRANSIT, Sep 14, 2016

KANSAS TRANSIT, Sep 14, 2016

#29

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