For those of you on a shoe string budget here are a few suggestions for you

Here is a super cheap out fit.

For power you can get a Champion 4000 watt gas generator from Shucks for only $300

For heat get your self a 240 volt 4,000 watt electric heater $165

For summer you get your self a Window Air conditioner for $50
(slide it out your sleepr door)

Total parts $515 / Labor $300? = $815

How ever keeping generator filled with gas is a major pain


I think the next step up would me a good in between the good $7,000 - $10,000 APU's and the $515 version

4500 watt diesel generator with enclosed case and wireless remote start $2139
http://www.generatorsales.com/order/...HPS4000XDSE_RS

Then if you want heating and cooling I would add a dometic HVAC system ($1200 installed ?)
That is what many APU's use. http://www.dometictruck.com/aahselfcont.php

If all you want is heat go with the 240 volt 4000 watt heater for $165

Estimated total parts and labor: $3,339 or $2739 w/o A/C

Either way can't beat the price.
_________________
Selling my 2005 KW T800 with Studio sleeper and a APU - Take a look

http://classifieds.truck.net/index.php?page=out&id=37

 

There are pros and cons to your device. Tell me if I am wrong on my assumptions-

Gas generators are LOUD. We used one on my homecoming float, and it drowned out the speakers BIG TIME. I'd compare it to sleeping next to a lawnmower at the truckstop.

edit** homecoming float was a volvo sleeper pulling a 48' flatbed. Geberator mounted on catwalk (with the finest bungee cords :lol: )

For $300, are you limited for output? Obviously it will be smallewr, but if I am assuming close to correct, it yields you 2 plugs. Also, as you said, keeping it filled up will be a pain.

Now, you are saving money, but this setup doesn't plumb in with the engine to keep coolant warm or recharge the batteries. How much does this whole setup weigh, with water heater? Also, do you have a shower in your Studio Sleeper?


Also, your page says you paid $130,000 for your T800, is this with fees and taxes?

Thanks!

Bandit

 

Like I said this is a cheap set up. I had a set up like this at one time. Yes I imagine a cheap generator like this would be loud. If you want a quite generator check out Honda. You can barley here them run, but they are expensive.

What I did when I had this set up was run a extension cord from the genset to inside the cab. Then another to the black heater. If you want to charge the battery's you could just use a battery charger or hook genset up to batteries. I had genset mounted on side of truck behind fuel tanks. This is a poor mans set up. In other words you get what you pay for. Dry weight of this generator is 106 pounds http://www.cpeauto.com/de3500w_gen.htm

As for my current truck as I a Tag A Long http://www.idleeliminator.com/Specs.htm This costs me $7,000

Truck was $122,000 with FET and genset was $7,000 sorry no shower in truck.

 

Seems simple enough

 

will that generator power everything and an engine block heater for cold weather

 

Have to add up the watts - block heaters are normally 1500 watts

They also make a 5500 watt generator - Don't know how good these are but they the price is good.

If you have a long enough wheel base could mount one on your cat walk.

 

I don't understand how you keep it fueled up, unless you are pulling up to the gasoline pumps. You can't carry a gas can with gasoline in it, and even if it is empty, you will have a hard time explaining to DOT what you are doing with a gas can in your storage compartment that smells of gas. Sounds like a hazmat violation waiting to happen.

 

I ran into a guy in Texas this summer who had something similar with a gas generator. He didn't seem to mind the inconvenience. He dropped his trailer and pulled up to the gas pumps. I have seen another guy who takes a gas can with him. He fills the can up, then walks over and fills up his generator. It does seem like a hassle, but we may all need to get used to having the hum of a generator in our ears. :roll:

 

This may be true, G-Man, but those new generators are a lot quiter than one may think. I saw one on a New World Van Lines truck on the catwalk that hummed pretty damn quiet

 

They are not very popular but they do have diesel versions of the same thing. Probably cost more but probably not as much as a fancy APU.

Birken