Best APU on the market

I’ve only ever had a Carrier APU and my experience with them has been less than fantastic. Either APU’s as a whole are finicky, I’ve had bad luck, or Carriers are junk I don’t know. I will say I’ve never heard anyone complain about a ThermoKing APU, so take that for what it’s worth I guess. I think @supersnackbar has had both if I’m not mistaken. He can probably help. Best of luck!

 

What do they mean by the frame is cracked? Did they mean the engine block? Sounds like they were just trying to sell a unit. You need to take it somewhere they will tell you exactly why it won't run.

Both Carriers and Thermo Kings require a lot of maintenance to keep them running, especially when they get old. My last truck had a carrier and it went 28,000 hours. I spent a lot on it along the way though. Now I have a TK and it has cost me too. They are just tempermental.

It's best if you learn to do your own maintenance. And buy your parts and supplies from Thermobyproducts online. Don't buy parts from Thermo King. Their prices are outrageous.

 

I've had Thermoking APU's on numerous trucks and literally only had one fuel pump go out on one of them one time, and one alternator go out. The fuel pump fail truck had a half million miles on it and was held together with prayer and hope.

The one on this 23 Volvo has almost 5000 hours on it and not a hiccup other than the alternator went out a month ago. It was still charging but squealing like a stuck pig. I doubt TK makes their own alternators or fuel pumps, so you really can't blame TK for either failure. 30 minutes in our shop had the alternator changed and on my way. To have only two minor issues with THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS of hours on each one is phenomenal. They are so efficient on fuel, too. And pretty quiet considering. Much quieter than Carriers. They suck.

Change the fuel filter and oil every 1500 hours and the thing will run longer than an inmate escaping jail.

 

I’ll chime in. Company put a green apu brand in mine. It’s decent little louder than a Tk but not really noticeable in the bunk. It’s been pretty good. Overheated a few times in Cali and arizona desert and kc city. On the hot days. Changed the belt did something with the hoses and got a little better.

 

i been running the thermoking evolution i had installed on springfield mo at TK,.. no issues yet… and if your an ooida member mention it, it’s worth another year and a half warranty for no extra cost.was $13,370 out the door, day and half install they say, i was ready the next morning, they’ll take you to a hotel

 

Green apu for sure. 10k hours on mine and only major issues have been a couple low pressure valves and a water pump.

It can overheat pretty easily in extreme heat but ive found as long as you let your main engine idle when you stop till the coolant gets under about 190-180 it wont do so. Only had issues if i turn it on instantly when i stop and my coolant is still north of 200.

Other maintance issue is you need to get one of those low pressure bug sprayers and just spray off the condensor once in a while since it likes to collect dirt. Ive found once every month or so is sufficent.

 

That doesn't sound like a very good track record.

 

They usually loop through the main radator. If you shut down when the coolant is 200+ then turn on the apu instantly. The little onboard cooling fan has issues cooling down that much thermal mass on its own especially with the engine still dumping heat into the coolant.

If you cool down the coolant before hand with the engine fan the APU can keep up from my experince. Lot of drivers who have had the overheating issue dont let the main engine run for 5 or 10 mins after a hard pull to get that coolant down to a reasonable temp.

 

I normally let the main run for a few before starting the apu. But maybe I didn’t those few times. Hard to remember.