Apu

[Dorsey]

Does anyone know anything about apu's. Do they all fit any make truck? I'm not interested in buying a new one, but looked on eBay for a minute and the used ones are at more attainable prices. $8,500's to much to pay to put on the old truck I got. I refuse to let my truck set there and idle all night. I'm guessing they all have ac, heat, warm your coolant up and oil, 120 volt electrical power, and charge your batteries.

[Tosch88]

I've heard not to get the 1 cyl. ones because they have a weird vibration that makes it hard to sleep. Just what I heard. Why not mount an ac/heater unit on the roof & use a Yamaha 3000 generator with remote start. Wire your block heater into it & I believe they have a dc converter to charge batteries. I have just about everything for this set-up now including a fuse box, battery tender. It cost about $2800 for everything plus a lot of labor. Yamaha generators are excellent on fuel, can't hear them run, easy to work on (never had to other than oil change & air filter). Apu's are a little pricey to work on & obviously they are very expensive upfront however there are grants avaliable for APU's.

[LBZ]

I like Tosch's idea as you would be able to change which ever part & would totally know the system.

But you can also check with these guys...

http://lindenengineering.com/index.php?mod=APUHQ

Check their site as it is full of info, just got the small part below for possible used options they have.

Costs
Since we trade in APU�s we often have good used, recon and NOS floor samples. Our stock changes regularly so call us for what�s going on the cheap. We have no problem with cash and carry U fits and even then we will give you instructions on DIY installs and over the phone help. Some of our APU�s start at $2500 for a used unit in working order need more info just call.

Also check with your home state as to what programs are available. Talked with Thermo King (http://www.thermoking.com/tripac/)earlier this year for something else & the girl said the rebate is 65% of the purchase of a new APU through some grant. HOWEVER, the key is when & how long it may take to get that money back. But a co. like that may have financing & as long as you use the rebate on the actual purchase the loan should be negligible.

[Dorsey]

Well I googled the apu grant in Florida and what I found was Florida had $300,000 for APU grants in 2009 on a first come first served basis. Had to be bought and installed in 2009. I've thought about the roof top ac mount before with a generator. That might be the best bet. I see quit abit of trucks with roof mounts. What's that add?.......About a foot to the roof?

[Dorsey]

By the way Tosch, you need to post up some pics of your truck. So does everyone else too. I'd like to see Cosgos new truck too.

[Dorsey]

http://www.a-chainsaw.com/yamaha-inverter-generator-ef3000isewfree-cover-and-charging-cables-p-243.html

This the yamaha generator you talking about? Geez 2 grand. They ain't cheap neither. A few years ago I bought a $130 portable ac unit and a $500 5000 W generator to put in my 7x16 cargo trailer. I'm thinking that generator would just piss people off though.:D It's pretty loud.

[short stack]

i use a 2000 watt honda. runs the micro and tv with an electric heater in the sleeper and i plug the block heater in. it maxes out the wattage, but the gen. seems to run better wide open when its really cold out. i don't have a aux a/c unit. i have to hook up the gen to a 5 gallon can of gas. i carry 2 on board. 5 gal last 3 - 4 nights if everything is on. i think it works out pretty good.
mark

[Buster]

I have a 13,500btu AC/Heat unit on mine powered by a Honda 3000 gen. It works great. It uses about 1.5 to 2 gal a night with the TV and ac on. I cary an extra 5 gal. The gen has a 3.5 gal tank so I have about 4 to 5 days before filling up again. The Yamaha gen is a better gen in my opiniun and I have had both. The yamaha is a little quieter and uses a little less gas. The AC units can be had online for around $600 and the generators with remote start and stop installed can be had for around $2k. The install on the AC is easy. Cut a 14 1/4" square hole in a flat surface. the gasket is sticky back on one side. Lay the gasket around the hole and set the outside unit on top of the gasket. Then you mount the inside piece to the outside part with 4 long bolts like sandwiching the roof between them. Wire it up and off you go. The gens are much quieter than an apu.

Will try to find better picks later.

[smr500]

Lee, is the gen wired direct to the a/c and the 4 receptacle outlet on the left side in the sleeper? Or do you have some sort of panel that the gen feeds that is not pictured.

[Buster]

The gen is wired to a circuit breaker. It is the gray box next to the 110 outlets. One breaker is a 20 amp for the a/c only and the other is a 15 amp for the outlets. The breakers are dual wired. One to the gen and one to the shore power outlet on the outside of the sleeper. Look at the pic of the gen and you can see where the plug is connected. The sleeper can be run from the gen or from a extension cord (I Carry a 25' 10ga. cord) to a outside power source just like a regular RV. The shore power was installed by AA but is not needed. I just did not want to mess with plugging it up. The circuit breakers inside is also not needed if you only power it from the gen because there are breakers on the gen. The orange cord is a 6' extention into the cab for running the copier, computer, camera charging, 12v ice chest etc.

[smr500]

I see. Thanks for taking the time to show your setup. Very nice.

[Dorsey]

How tall is that ac unit buster?

[Buster]

The A/C unit is 14" high.

[Buster]

You can get A/C units that are not as high. I think they are called "Polar Cub" and is 11" high. The one I have is WAY to much cooling! The 9000btu polar cub would be perfect for a sleeper and would use less fuel on the gen.
http://www.americanrvcompany.com/Coleman-49201-65381-Polar-Cub-Air-Conditioner-Upper-Unit-White-9000-BTU-Trailer-Camper-RV_p_1196.html

[Tosch88]

By the way Tosch, you need to post up some pics of your truck. So does everyone else too. I'd like to see Cosgos new truck too.

I don't want to show off my junk. Its not nearly as nice as the FL70. I'm trying to get it finished (in between running my ass off), so that I can show before & after pics. I've got finished ordering stuff today for it. I will have a week off next month to finish it before winter.