APU unit question

[layoutshooter]

I know a very good team with a very good owner that basically runs the 1st thru the 20th and takes ten days off per month.
More freedom than I've ever had.

Maybe so. Maybe down the road.

Winning the lottery is on this weeks to do list. So none of this matters!

It's not the 'per month' days off that most owners would not like. It's the 3-4 weeks in Nov and Dec.

I am not doing too bad for only 2 hours sleep!

 

[cheri1122]

Thought about it, BUT, I have FREEDOM now, Hunting season is coming.

At my age, LOL! OLD FART! If I get rid of this one I am done.

If you think that driving for an owner means losing your freedom, you haven't thought about it enough, IMO. Every owner doesn't need to micrmanage every driver - some simply expect that the driver will maintain the truck and run their business in a way that makes an acceptable profit for both parties, and as long as they do, when they take off is their own decision.
If I can do it, you can too - just need the right owner.

 

[layoutshooter]

If you think that driving for an owner means losing your freedom, you haven't thought about it enough, IMO. Every owner doesn't need to micrmanage every driver - some simply expect that the driver will maintain the truck and run their business in a way that makes an acceptable profit for both parties, and as long as they do, when they take off is their own decision.
If I can do it, you can too - just need the right owner.

I know that. I don't believe that many owners would be happy with a $250,000 truck sitting around for 3 or 4 weeks at a shot. It's not fair for me to even ask and I would not. I would not be happy if I could not hunt as I choose. Just how it is. I must be realistic.

My BETTER choice, one that I am working on, is make my truck more attractive to drivers. THEN find a team that wants to drive it from Nov. 1 through Jan 15.

THAT would work. The new APU is a step in that direction.

 

[usafk9]

Two thoughts:

The Onan could be done with a Domestic 'split' system, like the under-bunk A/C you have with your Proheat. The a/c on ours is greatly underpowered, and the Domestic is about twice the output.

Second, there's a 2-cylinder Kubota engine on eBay right now (brand new) for $1750. Lots cheaper than new one.

 

[layoutshooter]

Two thoughts:

The Onan could be done with a Domestic 'split' system, like the under-bunk A/C you have with your Proheat. The a/c on ours is greatly underpowered, and the Domestic is about twice the output.

Second, there's a 2-cylinder Kubota engine on eBay right now (brand new) for $1750. Lots cheaper than new one.

Not thought of that. Looking.

 

[usafk9]

NEW *COMPLETE KUBOTA Z482 DIESEL ENGINE 13.5 HP, In-Line 2 Cylinder .5 LITER | eBay

Dunno if it will work or not. Worth some phone calls.

 

[layoutshooter]

NEW *COMPLETE KUBOTA Z482 DIESEL ENGINE 13.5 HP, In-Line 2 Cylinder .5 LITER | eBay

Dunno if it will work or not. Worth some phone calls.

Many THANKS!

 

[davekc]

I like usafk9 second option. Makes some sense for your configuration and wants.
Not a fan of Onans at this point. Too many issues with limited places to get them fix.
Not cheap either. $170 for an oil change in Knoxville several weeks ago.
Might be ok for an individual owner but from the fleet side they are basically junk.

 

[zorry]

Dave,at $170 I'd check the ticket and make sure someone didn't nod off and put 30 qts of oil in it.
Seriously, did you have that Onan serviced at an OEM dlr. Or a strip club ?

 

[ATeam]

If you think that driving for an owner means losing your freedom, you haven't thought about it enough, IMO. Every owner doesn't need to micrmanage every driver - some simply expect that the driver will maintain the truck and run their business in a way that makes an acceptable profit for both parties, and as long as they do, when they take off is their own decision.

What you say sounds good but in practice there is more to it than that, at least there was for Diane and me when we drove fleet owner trucks.

The thing you are leaving out is GUILT. When we were home with a fleet owner's truck parked in our driveway, we felt guilty. Fleet owners would assure us that it was OK to take as much time off as we wanted but we never believed that.

We were OK taking some time off for holidays or maybe a day or two when the freight took us close to home, but taking more than that was out of the question in our minds, even if the fleet owner said different.

When we were sitting at home, looking out the window at someone else's expensive asset sitting idle in the driveway, it ate at us. But now that we are owner-operators, looking at our own truck sitting there does not bother us a bit.

 

[layoutshooter]

It is no different that when one works for an employer and HATES the job. It matters not that you hate that job. As long as you work for a given wage it is your responsibility to do the best job your a capable of. It is the right thing to do.

 

[zorry]

If you hit his annual numbers it shouldn't matter if you work 3 on,one off. Or 40 out of 44 with 8 off when you want.
Actually as an owner I'd be happy to have a team take blocks of time off if planned ahead. Makes it easy to schedule projects and upgrades.
Sorry,this little side track isn't solving your APU issue.

 

[layoutshooter]

If you hit his annual numbers it shouldn't matter if you work 3 on,one off. Or 40 out of 44 with 8 off when you want.
Actually as an owner I'd be happy to have a team take blocks of time off if planned ahead. Makes it easy to schedule projects and upgrades.
Sorry,this little side track isn't solving your APU issue.

LOL!! Barring emergencies etc. I could plan out my blocks for the next 50 years!

 

[zorry]

You'd have all the ducks dead,all the fish caught in ten years or less.

 

[layoutshooter]

You'd have all the ducks dead,all the fish caught in ten years or less.

Nope, I am a responsible steward of nature. I give back more than I take! (besides, the older I get the more I miss!)

When I used to have time to fish I took no more than 60 walleye year. That was all we could use. Most off of one rock. That rock has been producing for 55 years that I know of.

 

[zorry]

It is no different that when one works for an employer and HATES the job. It matters not that you hate that job. As long as you work for a given wage it is your responsibility to do the best job your a capable of. It is the right thing to do.

Reminds me of a story.
In High School I worked in a hardware store.
Got my kid brother a job there. An hour later the owner came by and my brother asks "Sir,how much do you intend to pay me ?"
The owner says "I'll watch you today and at 5 o'clock we'll talk. I'll pay you whatever you're worth."
My brother removed his apron and announced while heading towards the door, " Sorry Sir,but I'll never work that cheap."

 

[davekc]

Dave,at $170 I'd check the ticket and make sure someone didn't nod off and put 30 qts of oil in it.
Seriously, did you have that Onan serviced at an OEM dlr. Or a strip club ?

The strip club would have been best. At least you hope you got something for your money. No...this was at the Cummins dealer in Knoxville.
I think it was a minumum hour labor and three filters. Then add tax and 10 thousand for "shop supplies" and we get to our total.

 

[cheri1122]

What you say sounds good but in practice there is more to it than that, at least there was for Diane and me when we drove fleet owner trucks.

The thing you are leaving out is GUILT. When we were home with a fleet owner's truck parked in our driveway, we felt guilty. Fleet owners would assure us that it was OK to take as much time off as we wanted but we never believed that.

We were OK taking some time off for holidays or maybe a day or two when the freight took us close to home, but taking more than that was out of the question in our minds, even if the fleet owner said different.

When we were sitting at home, looking out the window at someone else's expensive asset sitting idle in the driveway, it ate at us. But now that we are owner-operators, looking at our own truck sitting there does not bother us a bit.

I don't feel guilty looking at the truck, cause I looked at the revenue figures first, same as I did when I was the owner.
To paraphrase our Super Moderator: business first, goofing off second.

 

[ccouch]

I have a dynasis apu and had this problem. It had 2 fans in it. I found out that one was temperature sensative. So I bypassed the temp sensor and and made the 2nd fan run all the time. that fixed the problem.