Well, I paid in 2018 for my APU, new, $12,000.. It broke in 2020, cost 3200 dollars, they repaired it, and in 2023, it broke again... and now it costs $4,100 to repair it. I'm the owner opereitor. I can't pay that. . I'm planning to do something else.. Honestly, good job, Sr
I have the Same set up my ac is a Toshiba 8000btu I’m currently in Fort Stockton,Tx and it’s over 100 degrees and it works perfect,I just close my my front blinds and the inner ones as well in my Cascadia and 🥶😴
Great information. I drive a hotshot and seeing your setup just adds to my information. From exhaust (carbon monoxide) to setting up a generator. Good shit. 👍
Nice setup, When I bought my truck it’s Tri-Pak was set to 68 at the coolest in 80 at the hottest and literally would not cool my black truck at all until I found the software to go in and monitor/edit all the settings now it works great. Changed the low to 55 and the high to 75 and changed temperature fluctuation to 1°, set it to run for one hour after first start mainly to maintain/charge the batteries longer between start ups and shut off after 15 minutes of not being used to give time for the condenser fan to kick back on before shut off. I was also having to manually turn it on from the inside controls so I changed it to key off automatic start on whatever the last setting was
APU vs Predator... I’m getting the Portable generator, had the same setup a few years ago Cant beat it small space heater for winter... Good job Sir...
well said brother, for the past 3y, I invested 2k each year to keep thermo king runing, this year repair quote was 5700$. Said fuck no!! Gonna get me a new gen/portable ac for 1k and done deal. Now that thermo king is just taking up space.
My brother and I have been running the 2000w predators for 3-4 years for our trucks, almost zero issues, spark arrester clogs after a bit. Runs 11 hours + with ~5000 btu window a/c' in 90+ degrees. Might want to bolt a cut mud flap over your fan hole that you could put over the quarter fender while running.
I'm doing the same thing for over 2 years. Never had a problem with the generator or AC. Guess what eventually if i have one ,its under a $1000 to replace generator and AC. The goddamn TriPack APU cost me already over $2000 to maintain and it's only the middle of the summer. By the end of the year I'm sure we'll cost another couple of thousands
Im with you man I did the same thing the dang apu kept giving me problems last thing it did was cost me 1300$ i said nah remove it and did it just like you
Careful with the chains in that box with the electricity from the gennie (I'm sure I don't have to tell you, but maybe some others aren't thinking about it arching if a plug rattles loose)
Running the same set up love looking at other people's set ups an im getting ready to upgrade to a generator that has remote start for 800 bucks An still cheaper then buying a tk or makes
@@jayhughes3064 sold that truck, currently have an electric Chinese ac for trucks installed. I run it with truck 4 batteries for about 8 hours without killing batteries.
Nice job ! I’m going to do the same thing ! Have you considered installing a mini split a/c unit ? I’m looking at a Honda generator with a remote control starter .
Dude! Everything I said about an APU u said as I was thinkin it! Touche my friend! Look people,...... An APU is a great idea 💡 without a doubt BUT,........ the reality is THEY ARE HORRIBLE! Especially for o/o's! Now if your a company driver, whatever, just get the company to maintain it (if they even will) but most companies out there nowadays won't BECAUSE THEY'RE SO DAMM EXPENSIVE! Had one for 5 month's, took it in for maintenance, got a 3100$ bill and sold that useless anchor ⚓ weight that following week to someone that was more than happy to buy it for 5 grand! My opinion, they're only semi worth it "new" and a brand spankin new apu is like finding a unicorn 🦄! In layman's terms: You now have 2 diesel engines On your rig you have to maintain. One of which you actually need, While the other is a miniature version Of the 1st one and cost almost about as much And does nothing more the 1st one can do idling! But n-e wayz, Long story even longer love the generator man! Your right, it's your fuckin truck! Do what u want! Stay safe out there driver!💯
I’m buying a predator too for a portable ac , I think I’ll pay for it self in a month or less by not idling my truck every night I spend out on the road
I just purchased a generator and a AC unit at Costco under $1000. I’m going to buy a box off of Amazon for about 300 bucks. This thing will pay for itself in one month. The rest of the time the money you will save on fuel will make your truck payment.
I have 2500 champion generator dual Feul gas and propane I used the unit in Las Vegas and Phoenix no problem in 115 degrees no problem for 10 hours for another night 10 hours same propane tank after that need to refill the propane for 15 $ with Toshiba 8000 I use the electric heater in the winter and I charge my buttery thermo king ask me for 14000$ my set up cost 1000$ Also I have dual Feul champion 3500 watt for emergency if the 2500 stops
where did ur first inverter generator get stolen? at a truck stop? im planning on setting up an predator inverter generator to power up my mini splitter and few other little electronics in my truck. the mini splitter that i am lookin to getting is a 9000 btu, with 110v, 7 amps, 970 watts. do u think the 3500watt predator would be enough? ill probably only run it while asleep and during my breaks
I just installed a portable ac and 3600 electric generator but my ac is not strong enough I got an 8000 btu but it seems not to be enough. I'm getting a 10000 BTU ac maybe that will do it.
The one I had on my WesternStar, before it was stolen, I had for over a year. Running it an average of 30+ hours a week. Changed the oil every few months. The thing wouldn’t die!! I hope I get as good of life out of this one.
I have a predator 2000 that i ran 60+ hours a week from may until last week when the pull cord broke. No issues. They replaced it for me and I'm onto the new one.
@@DrivingByBraille the new predator 2000 they gave me was a dud. It would damn near stall when the compressor kicked on my AC. My AC is have issues shutting off with an ES on the display 🤦. I returned it and upgraded to the 3500. What a difference. Electric start and handles the AC with no issues. I may actually upgrade to a 12,000 BTU for next summer. Do you run the Generator to power a heater in the winter or use an Espar or webasto?
The new bigger AC I bought has a heater too. Last winter, I just used a little space heater that worked really well. Im curious to see what this will do. I think next year I’ll be installing a rooftop AC with a heater pack installed. I loved my rooftop ac when I had one. It would snow in my truck.
@@DrivingByBraille I have been thinking along the same lines. I drive a 2006 Pete 379 car hauler, my space is limited . The RV and boat industry achieves a lot of creature comforts in a small space. The folks that build trucks for whatever reason have not caught on.
I think it’s 6000BTUs, it don’t work too well during the day with the sun beating down on the truck. And the morning sun in the summer time in Arizona or Nevada will usually wake me up around 9am from the heat. Think on the truck I just purchased, going back with an RV rooftop unit. That thing would freeze me out!
I think it’s 500sqft. Keeps it nice and cold at night. I run the desert. As soon as that sun hits the tin can we call a sleeper. It’s worthless. But even when I had a carrier APU, it couldn’t keep up. Only A/C that could keep up with the desert heat was my 13500 rooftop RV a/c I had on my Mack.
@@DrivingByBraille I hear ya. I usually drive by day so it shouldn't be an issue. What about for a heater? What do you use? I'm in the process of building a box for my generator and then get that sucker mounted on.
Amazingly a little space heater is more than capable of keeping a truck warm. I ran one with temps as low as 5-10 degrees. But I like it cold in the truck. If you’re expectation to keep the sleeper at 80. Probably won’t keep up. Good thing with a generator in the winter, get a oil pan heater. Easy to stick on and will keep your oil at 100-110 degrees all night even when it’s 10 outside. The heat of the oil also keeps your coolant warm. Around 60 degrees. So no need to run a block heater, which in my opinion is useless. Heating the oil is way more important.
Indoor A/C unit, the ones that has a hose to vent out a window. I've never used one like this. This will be the first spring/summer. As it starts warming up. I'll make a video on how well it works.
4000 BTU SACC old standard 7amp starting Works good at night. When that sun hits the cab though. It’s hard for any portable unit to keep these things cool. When looking for a AC. Get the highest SEER rating you can afford.
Just a small room A/C. I think it’s like 6000btu. It’s worthless as soon as the sun comes up. But if it’s 100 at night outside, It will keep the cab cool enough to sleep comfortably.
I have a similar setup on my current truck yes. Run it everyday I’m out. I love it! Would never buy a $12000 APU that cost $500 to do a damn oil change.
@Driving By Braille LOL....Thanks,I have an in/op apu on my truck. It will cost me almost the same price to repair it as a new one. So I will be utilizing my generator!! 👍🏿
Are you got to do what you got to do Alyssa unless you a multi-millionaire truck you can't afford to go pay entry and $4,000 for a brand new APU and a generator in the box works just as good because all it is is a homemade APU instructors nowadays got to do what they got to do to be comfortable and make money and so I don't blame you for doing what you doing there's nothing wrong with it how you got motorhome it's going down the highway with generators mounted in their belly and there's no difference and the people in the motorhome to use the generator 2000 driving down highway or sitting at a truck stop 38 no difference so there ain't no difference or have yourself a good day until those people to stick it in your ear alright man I get out of here
I have 2017 Tripac Evo APU and I hate it because it keeps on breaking down all the fucking time and they are extremely expensive to fix it. So I’m just going to go the poor way, I bought generator and portable ac
You don't want an APU that requires an after treatment DEF system? Big surprise!!! By the way, stupid regen issues had my ThermoKing in the shop 4 times in 8 months on a new Volvo.
When I bought the truck.. the APU had a DPF. No DEF. Wouldn’t surprise me if the new APUs had a DEF system on them. I removed the DPF when summer came around and the damn thing kept clogging up. $1800 to “bake” the DPF.. or $2000 to completely remove it. I removed it.
@@DrivingByBraille Ouch! What a headache! I worked for an o/o using a poorly suited 6x2 T660 for lowboy work, and we had nothing but hell that year with DEF and EGR issues, on top of countless other problems. I don't know who was more relieved to let it go and walk away between my friend and myself. 😆 That's trucking.
