New To APU Life

So I don’t post a ton, I read a lot and chime in once in awhile. I drove with Swift for a little over 2 years, last October I made a switch to a small company that is where I live. The company is phenomenal, out and back runs, weekly at home resets. They pay great, and their bonus structure is super different. I can get 1-8 cents more per mile, paid per week on top of my usual base pay. That 1-8 cents is on a scale that is weighted on Idle, and cruise control usage. It took awhile to get used to cruise control and not overriding the ridiculous e coast function, but it’s easy to achieve and I’ve actually slowed down, the no idle isn’t terrible. Unless it’s night and I want to sleep.

Most people I hear, say all the time that they want APU’s. I’ve never used an APU , I always met my fuel bonus at Swift and I idled a lot, full AC blowing just not out of the vents right on my face. I struggle to sleep at night because I get hot when the cab is reading 65 and the APU is running full speed. The APU only cools down to 65, I drive with the bunk curtains closed and AC blowing back there all day, and at night at some point i just wake up hotter than heck. I always thought maybe an APU would be great, I’m slowing thinking that I’m not a fan. I’m just wanting to see some input from others. Do you enjoy the APU if you have one? Do you prefer idling? Who likes the winter temperatures but hates the winter weather? Safe travels to you all.

OWI:

Operating While Intoxicated

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.

A couple things will set you up for freezing yourself out! I have a temperature sensitive dog, and routinely freeze myself out, while he is happily snoring in the refrigerated sleeper!

First, get some USB powered/ rechargeable fans from Amazon. Moving air helps.

Second, I use Zen Eclipse brand quilted and insulated window covers for the front and door windows. It makes a HUGE difference, especially in conjunction with the regular window curtains in the Pete. Creating that air gap between the cover and the curtain makes a difference.

Cover the upper bunk windows with the rolled silver insulation (thin, can be cut to shape with normal scissors) and close the sleeper curtain if necessary. That additional curtain would allow another buffer layer between your sleep space and the giant fireball in the sky.

Bottom line with the zeneclipse truck window covers my dogs water didn't freeze in -14 Wamsutter, and didn't get too hot in 104 DFW

What brand is your APU?

I have an old Thermoking and it goes down to 55 deg. It will freeze me out of the bunk. This may just be a setting that needs adjusted. Also if it is low on freon or the filter is dirty your cooling will be diminished. I would check the filter first and go from there.

I had a terrier on the truck for awhile and she shed so much I had to clean the filter once a month.

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.

Thanks NaeNae, I’ll check out those window covers out, I do close the curtain and run AC all day back there.

PJ, it is a new carrier unit, has only 800 hours on it. I’ll check and see if the setting on it can be lowered. Thanks for your help!

Didn't get the chance to experience APu use, and my brand new truck, had 1. It might have worked once, then nothing. Besides, I didn't wanna hear it running anyway lol....... Sleep is too valuable out on the road

I inspected all the curcuits, fuses, and the power connection, under the bunk with my test light/digi meter. Somehow was no power going to the main unit. I just used the opti idle system and didn't worry about the APU working. Informed the shop when I turned in my truck, so they could fix it for the next driver getting my truck.

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.