Truck Parking

Hey crew!

I have a question about parking. I live in between two truck stops and I can park there for home time as my driveway isn't big enough for the trailer. I live in Wisconsin and the companies I'm looking at don't have APU. So, my question is what do I do for the trucks to prevent battery draining and fuel gelling during my 2 days off? The company just says to park at a truck stop but it's also my responsibility.

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

If the temps continue to be as low as they are that will be a problem. If the fuel tanks have anti gel in them they will be good down to -20 as long as the truck is running. Never want to turn the truck off if the temps are going to fall below +20. If the company says its your responsibility to protect the truck during home time, and in truth it is your responsibility , then you will have to figure something out.

You could try dropping the trailer at the truckstop and take the truck home and plug it up to keep the engine warm but that will be the only way i can see it being done.

The company I'm interested in says that the truck and trailer must remain attached. Does the diesel 911 work? I know I'm not going to have my own truck until end of March with training but I am looking at ideas for next winter.

For the battery part of your question. I mean unless you leave a light or something on while on home time two days shouldn't drain the battery's. But there should be a battery shut off switch you can switch and it disconnects the battery. On my truck it was on the floor on the left side of the driver seat.

I've seen the battery shut off switch on freightliner. That's good to know, too.

Diesell 911 works just fine down to -20 IF the truck is running. There is no fuel additive on earth that will keep fuel from gelling up if the temps fall below -20.

The key to the anti gel additives working in super cold temps is keeping the fuel warm,at least a little, with the engine running.

Without the engine running the fuel additives only prevent gelling down to +20 degrees. But at that temp you not only have to worry about feul gelling up but you also have to worry about your coolant freezing up also.

One thing you could do throughout the day, is run your truck for a period of 10 to 15 minutes three times a day. I did that on my home time, and my truck did not gel.

Also, a question. My truck is equipped with a fuel heater. How does the fuel heater work. The manual says the switch is a fuel heater switch, but does NOT describe how to properly use it.

Dave

The truck stop is about 6 miles from my house. I just want to make sure I can start it in cold weather.

What does everyone else do for their home-time for parking?

What does everyone else do for their home-time for parking?

Park in my driveway.