generators etc

[darkunicorn]

I own a pro-heat it was great for first 30 days then things started to go wrong!
And the carrier dealer network isn’t quite there yet but hopefully will be soon.
Things I have had troubles with are the battery monitor that’s suppose to start the apu when the battery gets down stopped working altogether and no one can tell me why and have spoke to other drivers that say the same in fact every one I have asked on the road so far any one else have this problem?
Then the hoses from the ac unit under the bunk to the coil out on the frame leaked and are now leaking again btw its only 4 months old. But I use it a lot I’m now at panther so I sit a lot. On a plus side its very cheap to operate don’t use much fuel at all.
I on my old truck bought a old peterbult battery box and got a Honda 5 hp gas generator from northern, mounted it in the battery box got a heavy out door cord there also cut the end run it up in to my bunk side compartment wired it to a 4 outlet plugin then run my sleeper off that run another heavy cord from there to the passengers seat and put a wendow ac unit in the passengers unit of the international and had a board cut to just fit the windo frame but had to remove it every time I got ready to go so lot of setup and the gas generator was not cheap to operate 15 gals to do a 10hr break. So it was only used in no idle zones and when the truck was broke down waiting 4 hrs for tow trucks man don’t miss that.

 

[jrcarroll]

>What is the lastest and greatest in generators/AC/heat for
>sleepers? The ability to use shore power and have heat and
>air I think would be a must. Are people going to a generator
>only using RV type roof mounts or are the sticking with
>systems that direct drive a compressor? Whats the scoop?

Try lots of blankets for the winter and in summer, just tuff it out. :'( :'(

 

[darkunicorn]

not all carrier dealers service them and if you didn't have it installed there on the ones that do good luck!
plus don't go there for a oil change on one 200 bucks and 2 hrs! speedco 32 bucks 15 mins big difrence.

 

[slinger44]

>What is the lastest and greatest in generators/AC/heat for
>sleepers? The ability to use shore power and have heat and
>air I think would be a must. Are people going to a generator
>only using RV type roof mounts or are the sticking with
>systems that direct drive a compressor? Whats the scoop?
>Layoutshooter

I recently purchased a Rigmaster. A problem with shabby installation(fuel plumbing) was quickly resolved by me. The installer has been advised of a needed 'run-in' time in excess of the 0.39hr. on the meter. The unit was sucking air and this would have been revealed. Otherwise this is a fine product and a wise investment. I chose Rigmaster in part due to the high btu cooling(the more the merrier here). It will pay for itself but I do feel the fuel consumptiom rating of the unit is perhaps too, should I say?, generous. Still, the fuel savings was immediate and obvious.

 

[layoutshooter]

fuel consumption has to be better than idling. Seems like you could run with a generator only and use 110 ac etc. Layoutshooter

 

[FlameMerc]

OK Generators is the subject. I leased a Excutive Air System. Paid 4 payments and out of that time it actually performed like it should 10 days out of 4 months. I had to deadhead to there location for a total rebuild 4 times at 3 days of lost time each. I also spent 10 hours at the KW dealer in Indy, while they worked on it.

3 motors and all parts replaced at least twice. After the third motor,only thing that worked was the battery charger. When I sold the truck it still wasn't cooling or heating.( But it was still under warrenty)(For the most part it was a Boat Anchor)

I have just purchased a 2001 Sterling Acterra 290k miles with a Rig Master on it. I expect good things here. Back to work Monday.(Express-1) Good Luck to all...Butch

 

[layoutshooter]

Does anything work like it should these days? Laoutshooter

 

[darkunicorn]

>Does anything work like it should these days? Laoutshooter

your kidding right?

if not answer is
NO!

 

[layoutshooter]

Well that sucks, I wanted just one thing to work right. OH WAIT!!! My Benelli SBE works right, so does my duck boat and most of my hunting gear and fishing tackle. Guess I must be in he wrong business. LOL HEHEHEHE!!!! Layoutshooter

 

[Broompilot]

This is how we get walked on in this industry, look no one is happy. By reading some of the posts. Flame, LBD heck I am happier much happier than them and my unit is still a piece of crap. My other one is much better in more way than one (another story), these companies Black Rock etc... etc.. have exactly what Leo said NO SERVICE BASE, now Carrier purchased Pro-Heat or joined forces and all the dealers are now stocking parts so its much easier for me to no longer DH for problems.

The unit has now been performing up to standards, but I still feel I have paid for it three times. Best bet is probably Rig Master.

I would not purchase one of these that did not have a nationwide dealer net work, first warning, and I would never buy one from a company that has only been around for a few years. The company down in FL is a great example I could explaine but they convinced me into my second unit, poor office manager and rush you into a lease that will shake you up tie you down and beat you like a **()))__*&

 

[layoutshooter]

Geez, don't want to get my #*&$! kicked. Layoutshooter

 

[darkunicorn]

I finally got most of my Pro-Heat working now stopped at a dealer this week that had a factory rep there and at first the shop looked up my serial # and said nope it don’t need no updates and the rep said let me see how your looking it up and found out it did need some major updates! And then found a sencer was bad that with out the updates couldn’t tell I guess.

Another problem I had is that the battery monitor stopped working and killed my original batteries not sure why but if you ever disconnect the batteries it needs to be taken to a pro-heat dealer and sink the unit with the batteries, I was thinking it went flat once with out batteries being disconnected but forgot had some welding done on a tire carrier and made sure they did that didn’t want to fry my trucks brain.

Any way my AC is still not working correctly but didn’t have time for that my break was over and was on a load so will stop back to that same dealer and sure they will take care of me.

With all the things that have been wrong with my pro-heat I not sure I would be with out some kind of APU ever again. and when getting a APU it’s a good idea to find one that has the ability to use shore power because I think that’s coming next. About the time we all get a APU unit on our trucks its going to be illegal to run them in some towns/states!
Treehuggers and politicians…………………………..!


Alvin
Yupp still in Eagle Bridge NY!
Wonder if I’ll get out before the snow flies? BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

 

[EagleRiverWI]

Has anyone tried the Pony Pack APU out of Albuquerque? They have them listed for $6500. at www.ponypack.com

 

[layoutshooter]

Polititions = turkey dung. Layoutshooter

 

[guest]

I think the Rigmaster stands heads and shoulders above the rest of the APU's. I had one on my KW Studio for over 2 yrs. and it did a great job. Then my sweetie and I started expediting and we put one on the FL80; the 20,000 btu's would freeze us out of our 96" AA on the first truck we had! Unfortunately we bought a new Sterling Express Cruiser that already had a ProHeat Gen 4 installed. Bad mistake. They just don't have the BTU's necessary to cool a truck down to a comfortable temp. Ours has already been in the shop a few times for repairs and I've heard lots of horror stories from other Pro Heat users.
The Rigmaster has the auto run feature for both temperature control and low battery monitoring. Mine had less than half the hours my Pro Heat friends' had, becasue it doesn't have to run the engine constantly like all the other brands. You set the temperature where you want it and it operates like a reefer on autorun. I'm surprised Thermo King hasn't included this feature on the Tri Pak, but I've never seen it in the description.
I found all the filters for the Rigmaster at WalMart for $3 or so except for the air filter which doesn't have to be changed that often, whereas we have to get the Pro Heat filters at NAPA and they end up running almost $50 if we change the air filter, which gets pretty dirty running all the time.

 

[darkunicorn]

Didn’t your rigmaster have a Kabota engine? So does the Proheat so filters except the air should be the same!
Also this isn’t going to make it a rigmaster but might help with some of your problems next time by a preheat shop make them call the service rep to check if yours has any recall isues for some reason they don’t look them up right at the dealerships. Mine needed a bunch! But not going to help btu wise plus mine keeps loosing charge some place I need to get back so they can find it.

Alvin
Stranded in upstate NY ok not stranded just too stubborn to deadhead back to Ohio to get a load!

 

[guest]

Rigmaster uses a Perkins 2 cylinder engine. No real way of telling, but I think it used less fuel than the Kubota, too.

 

[darkunicorn]

Is it a Perkins for sure? I don’t think Perkins still makes 2 cylinders do they? A friend of mine works on reefers said they import those now don’t know if its true or not like every one else buying some one else’s and stamping a name on it like John Deer their small ones used to be Yammar not sure they still are and think they also used some Kabota ones. I know some of the Rigmasters did use the Kabota I was looking at them at one time. Don’t know if they use less fuel or not my kabota don’t use much, I know the Honda diesel run for less and are quieter that’s why Onan stopped making their own.. that’s what I think I’d get if done it all over is get a Onan and maybe a roof mount ac.

 

[gandrew]

I chose a Pony Pack for our Volvo 770. It integrates with the truck's HVAC systems, using the dashboard heater controls and OEM ducting front and rear. As the PP runs, the Volvo's engine warms up too. It does not rob any room from the underbunk storage areas. Cons: Pony Pack does not install or service their product. I had several problems after the install and after a few attempts, the installer said Pony Pack was not paying him for warranty work, go to Pony Pack. PP said the problem was the fault of the installer, go to them. More cons: the hoses on the PP leaked coolant, only I did not know it was the source until after I had added more than three gallons of coolant to the truck's engine. I double clamped every hose clamp on the PP and the problem was solved. I spent over $600 in service attempts to fix our Air Conditioning this year. There was a leak that no one could find for six hot months. The last technician located the leak in a Pony Pack dryer cannister. PP mailed me a new one free, I installed it myself and had the system charged up. Another Con: wire harnesses in the PP unit are not well shielded from abrasion. I had problems for over a year, could not get it to run even all night. When installing the A/C air dryer, I moved a bundle of wires and saw they were all showing copper and they had been shorting out on the PP frame. I wrapped the individual wires, wrapped the bundle three times and put a length of rubber brake hose over the whole thing with many wire ties. Problem solved, the PP has run like clockwork ever since. Next time I shop, I will not buy a Pony Pack. Service After the Sale will be THE top priority.

 

[layoutshooter]

Sounds like this may be like rolling dice. Sure wish things could be easy. Layoutshooter