Why isn't everyone using the bunk heaters by now?
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Diantane, Feb 24, 2016.
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BigRigBillyTrucking, cnsper, Pmracing and 2 others Thank this.
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I don't understand with all the technological smarts in the industry, nobody can make an APU that is truly quiet. The Carrier and TK APU's are both entirely too loud. I've heard cheap Sears lawn mowers that ran quieter.
Last edited: Feb 24, 2016
alds, Blackshack46, Lepton1 and 2 others Thank this. -
I don't idle till it's about 10 degrees out. Use the bunk heater and a good sleeping bag. I cant even run my 12 volt cooler all night with the bunk heater on. The electric igniter and cooler will drain the batteries enough after 7 hours that it sets off the alarm and I have to start the truck. Cooler stays cold unplugged at night since it's about 40 degrees in the truck.
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My last company had trucks that were 1998's that had bunk heaters in them from brand new.
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If it gets between 20 and 30 I close the divider curtain and turn off the 12 volt cooler up front. It's near freezing up front anyway. Keep the bunk heater set at 65 when I'm under a flat sheet, blanket and comforter. As said before I crank up the bunk heater to 75 a few minutes before I get out from under the covers.
Read somewhere that the bunk heater (Espar) pulls only one amp from the battery. Hell, my cooler pulls 4.5 and I've had that run all night in the Spring and Fall without the engine running.
There's a battery APU called Idle Free that is totally quiet. It will run your AC up to ten hours if you have a white truck. Same goes for the Park Smart system. The Idle Free system can hook up to shore power so you can run your AC for an entire 34 hour reset. Tri-Pac APU's only come on to charge the battery. -
I have a bunk heater in my truck that usually works. I tend to use that. BUT I also have to run my CPAP off of an inverter which drains the battery. When that happens the OptiIdle kicks in and my truck idles for a bit off and on throughout the night. Not much of a choice... Idle off and on or wake up to dead batteries. That being said I usually park near the running reefer units and idling trucks that nobody else wants to because that noise doesn't bother me (whether my truck is running or not). Once I'm out nothing short of my alarm clock (my iPhone) is gonna keep me from sleeping.
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dngrous_dime, Blackshack46 and tucker Thank this.
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Big Don Thanks this.
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I have both the bunk and an engine heater. I use a pair of auxiliary batteries to run the bunk heater so I don't have to worry about the main batteries. I also have the Maxwell ESM.
I only idle if it's below -30c (-22f).not4hire Thanks this.
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