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-   -   Making some changes to my generator's appearance (https://www.classadrivers.com/forum/owner-operators-forums/34561-making-some-changes-my-generators-appearance.html)

Rev.Vassago 07-12-2008 01:07 AM

Here's what I have invested in the system at this point:

Generator - $809
Air Conditioner - $216
Box - $600
Misc parts and labor - $300 (approx.)

______________

TOTAL - $1925

It should take me between 1 1/2 - 2 months to recoup the costs of this system.

Rev.Vassago 07-12-2008 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hamboner
To have such a nice truck that exhaust pipe looks pretty hideous!

Considering the exhaust pipe is completely hidden, I don't see where the issue is...

Quote:

Is there not a way to dump the exhaust where it will be hidden?
There is. Along the frame rail, where I have it now. I may end up painting it with high temp black paint, at which point it will blend in even better. With a trailer hooked to the truck, you'd have to climb underneath to even see it at this point.

Quote:

I just can't see someone screwing up the good looks of a truck like that by jamming a window unit in a sleeper window!
It's hardly "jammed". A lot of planning went into the placement of the AC unit. I chose the location because of the fact that I could put it back to stock quite easily.

Quote:

You never cease to amaze me Rev. at some of the $&!+ you come up with! With as much money as you spent on that truck a couple a months ago you could have the best APU on the market and could have probably put a big sleeper on it too!
Really? Here I thought that the "best APU on the market" cost about $11,000, and large sleepers cost between $80,000 and $100,000. I wasn't aware that I spent between $91,000 and $111,000 on the work I had done.

Quote:

If you put a louvered cover on that condenser you are going to drastically reduce the cooling suface area of that unit and it is not going to work half as good as it does now.
Considering the cover will be approx. 2" away from the unit, I fail to see how that is possible.

Quote:

I hate to be so critical, but IMO you just ruined the looks of that truck. I would hate to hear that thing rattling in the window going down the road.
I'd hate to hear it rattling in the window too. It's a good thing that it doesn't, but rather is secured with 8 bolts, and is mounted to a 1/4" steel table.

As I've stated on several occasions, this is the solution that works for me. I don't have $9000 - $11,000 to invest in an APU system at this time, but I still needed to come up with an idling solution. This idling solution works for me. Will the window unit become permanent? I don't know. I've already taken the AC apart to see how it is put together, and have contemplated separating the condenser from the main unit, so I can install the condenser on the back of the sleeper, and the main unit under the bunk. But I lack the time to do that at this point.

One thing I pride myself on is the fact that when I experiment with things like this, I make sure that they are capable of being disassembled and returned to stock. This is no different than when I installed the seats from a 64 Impala. I could have this entire APU system off the truck in about a half a day, and you'd never know it was ever there.

Doghouse 07-12-2008 01:35 AM

You could get an exhaust elbow that has a 1&1/4 fitting welded to it , then the exhaust just goes up your stack.
Did you have to install a fuel pump?
You should def. put a thermometer inside there to check for heat, if it gets too hot, you could always just open the top while you run it. Its better to make some noise than start a truck fire.
Your roof is flat isn't it? if so a roof RV AC unit is a possibility in the future.
My unit cools my sleeper down to 63 degrees even when its 100+ out.

BigDiesel 07-12-2008 01:47 AM

Someone humor me please..... Where does the window go when the A/C unit is in, and what about rolling down the road ??? Does the A/C unit come out ???

Heavy Duty 07-12-2008 02:07 AM

Quote:

With as much money as you spent on that truck a couple a months ago you could have the best APU on the market and could have probably put a big sleeper on it too!
Big sleepers are for fat old drivers, besides no one can afford one where he works. Plus they are a lot of trouble. :D

Best think about covers for the vents before winter. louvers won't hurt the output of the AC as long as they don't restrict airflow. How many watts is the generator?

Big John 07-12-2008 02:11 AM

Rev what is the diamond plate cover above your microwave oven for?

Rev.Vassago 07-12-2008 02:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doghouse
You could get an exhaust elbow that has a 1&1/4 fitting welded to it , then the exhaust just goes up your stack.

That would work if my exhaust were anywhere near the generator, but it isn't.

Quote:

Did you have to install a fuel pump?
No. It has a fuel pump already built in, which is one of the reasons I went with this unit.

Quote:

You should def. put a thermometer inside there to check for heat, if it gets too hot, you could always just open the top while you run it. Its better to make some noise than start a truck fire.
Chicks dig fire. :lol: If heat becomes an issue, I've got room to install a second (or larger) fan.

Quote:

Your roof is flat isn't it? if so a roof RV AC unit is a possibility in the future.
It is, but there's a wing in the way. I had originally planned for a rooftop AC unit, but there just isn't enough room.

Quote:

My unit cools my sleeper down to 63 degrees even when its 100+ out.
My AC will cool down to 60 degrees. I'm not sure if it gets that cold, but I've gotten goosebumps while sitting in the sleeper.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigDiesel
Someone humor me please..... Where does the window go when the A/C unit is in, and what about rolling down the road ??? Does the A/C unit come out ???

No it doesn't. I disassembled the window to put the AC in. I had planned (and even built) a new removable plexiglass window, but I found that the size and bulk of the AC unit made it impossible to move in and out. The unit is only out as far as it needs to be, which is about an inch.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heavy Duty
Quote:

With as much money as you spent on that truck a couple a months ago you could have the best APU on the market and could have probably put a big sleeper on it too!
Big sleepers are for fat old drivers, besides no one can afford one where he works. Plus they are a lot of trouble. :D

:lol: Yeah - I hear refilling the water tank is a bitch.

Quote:

Best think about covers for the vents before winter. louvers won't hurt the output of the AC as long as they don't restrict airflow.
The entire unit will be removed during the winter months, and the original window reinstalled.

Quote:

How many watts is the generator?
6000 watts.

Jumbo 07-12-2008 02:23 AM

The only thing I can point out is how much bracing holds up the unit on the inside? It doesn't look like alot in the picture but I am sure you either have it hidden or aren't done with it yet. The balance is off and might vibrate on bumpy roads more then you think.

Rev.Vassago 07-12-2008 02:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big John
Rev what is the diamond plate cover above your microwave oven for?

When I installed my 20" flat screen TV, I had a big opening where the old TV went. I turned it into storage by installing a hinged door.

Here's some more pics of that "hideous" exhaust :lol:
(pardon the crappy pictures, as I've been using my camera phone all day and it was getting dark out)

http://www.overdesaturated.com/0711082042.jpg
http://www.overdesaturated.com/0711082042a.jpg
http://www.overdesaturated.com/0711082042b.jpg
http://www.overdesaturated.com/0711082042c.jpg
http://www.overdesaturated.com/0711082043.jpg
http://www.overdesaturated.com/0711082044.jpg

allan5oh 07-12-2008 02:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rev.Vassago
I thought the same thing, but the only vents that really need to be outside are the ones for the condenser (which are at the back of the unit).

So then where does the air go after drawn through the condenser?

edit:

where does it come from rather... it goes out the condenser...


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