APU versus Idleaire
 

Instead of highjacking Steve's thread all over the place I would like some of your opionions on which you think might be a better route to go.

In my situation running mostly in the nothern half of the eastern US,where the summers are not all that hot usually,I am beginning to think that an APU is not the right investment for me,I have maybe idled my truck 10-15 times this year and spent roughly $500 on Idleaire on other occasions.

I can't make the numbers work out where I would pay off a $7,000+ investment when figuring in actual number of hours I would actually need and run the unit,plus with more IA spots opening up it will become more conveniant to use,plus I have cable TV when I use IA and wouldn't have that with the APU.

What are your guys thoughts on the merits one way or another of an APU?

I also have issues with space and weight when considering adding the APU,I know you are supposed to get the weight allowance for it but I wonder if that is happening in the real world?

I am leaning towards IA and an Espar fuel fired heater,since I deal with more cold weather than heat.

I think the return on investment is inflated in the advertisments.
You can make your money back in the time period they claim - provided you idle 50 hours a week...

On the flip side, Walmart has installed APUs on their entire fleet. I'm sure they have a roomfull of corporate bean-counters, so it makes sense on a large scale, I guess...

http://www.cleantechblog.com/2007/01...ing-green.html

Go with the espar, I'm willing to bet you'll be more comfortable with one of those then an APU.

While you're at it, get an espar engine heater too. Heats better then any block heater can.

idleaire is overrated...

why??

1. the air flow stays in the front of the truck where the unit is at, even with the fan on high...

2. you have to unplug whatever appliances the idleaire is powering everytime you move.

3. you have to get up from your bunk to adjust the temp, fan speed, or tv channels, (yes i am lazy)

4. sometimes you can spend another $10-$20 more and get an actual hotel room, have a nice hot shower and your cable channels

there are more examples just let me think of them....

if i owned a truck i would definitely own an APU

I think one of the main advantages to having an APU is convenience. If you don't idle all that much, it may not be a factor for you. If you don't idle more than about 15 times a year, I would probably not go to the expense of buying an APU. Of course, you can always buy a gas powered unit and strap it on the catwalk. :wink: I met an owner operator in Texas last year who did just that very thing. For a few hundred dollars, he has a generator that does what he needs and for a lot less expense. I met another guy a few months ago who had a similar setup. It apparently works for him.

The generator-with-roof-air police should be along shortly.....

Didn't really want this to get into a pi$$ing match about IA,but I feel some people are just not gonna like it no matter what.And thats fine,I think it is pretty useful service.[/b]

Yeah thats what I leaning towards,plus I don't have a block heater at the moment.

I'm a gold member, and tried IdleAire, but i have one big gripe about it. For what i do, it's too damn expensive. I only idle the truck (that i drive for an O/O) when the temps outside demand it. bellow 50, and above 85. so not all that much.

but the worst thing about it is, that i'm a non-smoker. and there is virtually no telling if an IA unit was smoked into by the last user. and i can't stand the smoke. the filters don't take out the smoke. so my truck smells like smoke for two days after i've been there...

i have internet thru my Sprint Aircard, i have a laptop that i watch movies on, the TV is useless on the regular channels you can get free over the air, mainly b/c programming sucks, and I only see myself watching cable if at all. I'm still thinking of a satellite setup, but i'm debating the cost.

so the idea is pretty good with IA, but I won't use it again (and i have a 1yr membership) until they figure the smoker, non-smoker thing. maybe separate sections...

I like APU's because all the things they can do (heat/cool/charge batteries/warm block). Most of the newer APU's don't run continously they cycle on as needed like a reefer unit. But if IA is all you need/want, go with it. Its your money, spend on what makes you happy. :wink: