As a retired master mechanic I can truly appreciate it when someone has enough confidence and initiative to fix their own mechanical issues. I could never put a dollar amount on the thousands and thousands of dollars I’ve saved myself over the last 40 years diving in and fixing my own as well as my friends issues . And a huge shoutout to my ongoing educational alma mater “TH-cam UNIVERSITY. in today’s era of social media you can literally find a self help video on just about anything . Great job Dan be safe .
Buy I new truck for an easy life.I hate old trucks with all repairs I have done in my trucking life as an Owner Operator.I am very happy these days when I am retired since 2018 when I was 52 years old after 33 years working and was a truck driver.Drive safe and keep the speed at 50 mph/80 km/h in Sweden witch is the legal speed limit.
That little black Pete with the small sleeper is my buddy Paul and your right he had that put on custom it used to have a factory stand up truck was originally red too he's spent alot over the years fixing it up he runs local now so he elected to save weight he also ordered that Benson trailer in a 42 foot length as well to save weight and make getting around easier
Dan Dan the professional flat deck man. An APU is the only way to go in my eyes. Like you said an engine has so much life in it and where do you want that engine doing with it’s life, ideling or pulling. You have learned so much over the years as far as maintaining your tractor and trailer. Wonders how much you have saved fixing things that you can or have learned how to fix it. I never stopped learning when I drove. Nice to see the arches of St Louis. Loved the music also. Plus your truck and trailer looked real nice Dan. Thanks for posting. Have a great and a safe day. Happy trails to you, D..
Many techs today are just parts replacers and not based on good troubleshooting skills, but rather they use history. A certain part went bad on a certain unit that they or someone else on the internet worked on so they mindlessly replace that part and send it. The reasoning by some is 'oh well, you'll needed to replace that part sooner or later', but that's not always the case. Good competent techs that can troubleshoot and repair the actual problems are worth their weight in gold.
An even simpler equation is that idling uses approximately 1 gallon per hour on a truck. Apu's use about 1/10 of a gallon of fuel per hour so at an average of $3 per gallon of fuel, that apu has saved over $43,000 of fuel use on your truck and another, or others. Safe to say, it's paid for itself. I love mine and I too, hate to idle..
Good video, you're correct on the idling, i figure $100 for a 24 hour period of idling, 1 gallon an hour, the APU probably burns 1/4 of that. Also idling is the worst for your engine and you have a yellow sponge under that hood. I hear good things about the APU system. Take care Dan and Bailey and be safe.
Big thick washers, or an industrial sized nut glued or welded to the lids of the tool boxes will stack and clean the 3 of them up nicely. Even dirty, your truck and its flag paint are always looking really good going down the road.💯👌
Thanks for sharing your travels with us. We watch all your videos. I know it takes up a lot of time to edit the videos. We just want you to know we appreciate it.
Always Enjoy when I hear you’re in St. Louis. I’m 10-miles South of Downtown STL near I-55 / I-270 / I-255 Interchange near Jefferson Barracks Bridge. 👍🙏
Another quality video of life of a professional owner operator Thanks Dan for your time sharing your day to day problems and solutions keep trucking and safe 🌵🇬🇧👍
I read an article in the early 2000’s about engine life, it was an interview with a cat engineer. Due to environmental considerations the only, true, measurement cat could come up with to figure life span was gallons consumed. It was a very in-depth and i thought interesting read. It was in a magazine, so that oughta tell ya how long ago..😂😂😂
Dan your so right on the generator use and not idling , it’s not the old days when that was all we could do. You’re a good man, keep using the little green book.
Thanks for the load lesson! Really nice camping spot. I love when Bailey gets some sweet real estate to explore. That traveling song was killer! Hell of a guitar player!! See you in the next one.
Another way to go is get a 3000 W inverter charger along with your generator. Then when you want to do something short with the microwave or the coffee pot, you don’t have to start the generator as the inverter will take care of the job. I full-time in a diesel pusher motorhome, and I have both which keeps the generator runtime way down.
how it going Dan , and you have to figure one gallon per hour Idleing , So the unit was worth it and no wear and tear on the engine , She's looking pretty good to me 😎 little Bailey is thinking shitt Dad you almost hit me with the tarp 😄😄 be safe out there take care yourself Dan
Build ya a rack system to hold tool boxes like ya have em.. so they slide in, stacked 3 high maximize space.. Probably make a wood stack shelf a couple fir strips in front to keep boxes in place…
Sysco Foods give their truck drivers a bonus (I think it was $5 a day at that time) if they don't idle their trucks. One driver I chatted with told me the young drivers don't idle their engines but the a lot of the older drivers do. Hard to change a bad habit.
Always great music and information on Dan's channel. At 8:18 guess they felt safe changing lanes in front of a vehicle that can weigh up to 80,000lbs or more.
I'd put the wear and tear on a little generator before I'd put the wear and tear on my primary power supply (tractor engine) that's a no Brainer! I'd also put a diesel burning (Eberspacher) heater for use in the winter instead of electric heat, those diesel heaters use pennies of fuel all night long and very little electricity for the blower motor, that would preserve the diesel generator life span 10 fold. I put an Eberspacher heater in my 40'f diesel pusher RV and quit using propane as the primary heat, what a MASSIVE improvement, no more wet interior heat, those diesel heaters are a God send! Stay safe Dan! See you next time around!
Definitely can say I’ve been watching your channel for a while now cause when you bring up Effingham Illinois I know your going to joes truck lube for an oil change lol
Thank you for posting all the interesting informative information. Sharing your many years of life's challenges helping others is very generous. Have a most wonderful day
Good video again. Obvious why you’re a successful owner operator. You fix the problems you can and additions like the APU, very smart. I thought your truck looked good, maybe just the filming and not the wash job. Hoping for your continued success in this tough economy
Just wish they weren't +$13,000 💰 I ran "poor man" apu for many years, champion genny, but got tired of gas jugs. Bought a couple small diesel engines off Zon but realized they need an expensive 4-pole head and hooking them up to a 2-pole (gas) head wouldn't get up to 60 hertz. Could tweak gear ratio, but I'm no engineer. I've been tinkering with Solar lately cause I seem to end up in Florida/Texas a lot. I currently have 2x 300watt panel, 2x 300ah LiFePo4 bats, Aims 10,000watt inverter, and BougeRV 60a MPPT controller. It seems to run my 8,000btu Walmart port a/c for 8-12 hours at night if the sun is good. On cloudy days I just charge it with my truck alternator (even though it's hard on alternator) while driving. They got these new "CIGs" panels out that are extremely flexible. Been thinking about slapping them on my hood to overpanel. Being that you have a super sleeper, that's a lot of space for panels! 😎
Safe Travels. Love ❤️ ❤Miss Bailey❤❤. @ 11:15, Miss Bailey jumped up & got all excited when you said ‘Walk’. Give her a hug, smooches, & scratches behind each ear.
always wished i'd had one installed, especially in Calif. when they had the rule of only idling for 5 minutes. plus i found out if i idled too much, the company deducted pay, didnt know that
watching this, you addressed the breaker not being the best choice. Kinda think you are lucky taking it to the dealer. Wrong breaker could have been a fire hazard.
This may be a silly question but... why cant you allow a "baby" coil touch or ride on the deck?? Is it safety issue, or another reason? Thank you for all that you do sir. Please always be as safe as possible in all of your travels and adventures.🙏💜
I'm not a trucker, but based on what Dan has explained previously. It's all safety. The coil racks are like tire chalks, you don't want that coil rolling back and forth. Their heavy and lot's of mass. So you want the coils held in place in the racks, and then chained or strapped down "depending on their weight", so they can't move. Movement causes wear and tear on equipment. Coils are also top heavy, so a sudden change in direction, cornering or panic braking if the coils not tied down properly and centered on the bed, can upset the trailer. Last but not least, the coils are usually rolls of thin aluminum, which can get damaged if not handled properly and the edges can be sharp. Keeping the coil supported up off the deck in the wood is also using the weight of the coil itself to help keep it down in the racks. Hope this helps. I'm sure a pro will chime in.
Ho yes APU well money invested .... I do have Thermo King . Each 10 h I spend like 1gallon if I iddle is 1 gallon per 1 if not more, plus idling not good for eny engine
That is incompetent APU troubleshooting. This is how it works. You check for voltage at the generator CCU board. It is going to be present (correct voltage and frequency). You move down stream, which is NOT going to be a capacitor because that is upstream. Check the input on the breaker you have installed in the truck.. Voltage is going to be present just as it was at the generator CCU. Check breaker output. If the voltage is not present or low. You found your problem lady. For it to be low means a lot of resistance in the breaker. I expect to see signs and smells of overheating. Breakers don't do the high resistance thing very often. Only time I've personally seen it are in highly corrosive environments. That breaker in the cab is a bit redundant and unnecessary as the CCU has a breaker. It adding one in the cab creates two points of failure. Idling an engine for more than maybe 45 minutes is nothing short of dumb. It is wear and tear on every component needed for that machine to make money. Multiple single points of failure all churning away for what? One belt, one idler pulley, one alternator, one water pump, one transmission bearing, one fan clutch, bearing, one compressor bearing. You were down an APU, but still had a functioning machine. You were prepared to pay 2k for a generator. 2k might not cover the tow for any of those single points of failure I mentioned earlier. APU maintenance is peanuts. Less than four quarts of oil and a filter every 1k hours. Can change the fuel filter at the same time... but every other is no problem (keep filters on the truck regardless).
Loved watching Bailey enjoying her roll in that freshly cut grass! Stay safe, Dan
When your puppy rides with you all the time, that AC has to be on point. Great video
As a retired master mechanic I can truly appreciate it when someone has enough confidence and initiative to fix their own mechanical issues. I could never put a dollar amount on the thousands and thousands of dollars I’ve saved myself over the last 40 years diving in and fixing my own as well as my friends issues . And a huge shoutout to my ongoing educational alma mater “TH-cam UNIVERSITY. in today’s era of social media you can literally find a self help video on just about anything . Great job Dan be safe .
Buy I new truck for an easy life.I hate old trucks with all repairs I have done in my trucking life as an Owner Operator.I am very happy these days when I am retired since 2018 when I was 52 years old after 33 years working and was a truck driver.Drive safe and keep the speed at 50 mph/80 km/h in Sweden witch is the legal speed limit.
8:15 There's always that one driver you have to watch out for...they'll cause an accident in a heartbeat. 🙄
You and Bailey stay safe out there. 🙂🐕
Hey Dan, don't take this the wrong way.... you have to be the most organized packrat I've ever seen.
Always enjoy your videos.
Stay safe fella.
That little black Pete with the small sleeper is my buddy Paul and your right he had that put on custom it used to have a factory stand up truck was originally red too he's spent alot over the years fixing it up he runs local now so he elected to save weight he also ordered that Benson trailer in a 42 foot length as well to save weight and make getting around easier
Dan Dan the professional flat deck man. An APU is the only way to go in my eyes. Like you said an engine has so much life in it and where do you want that engine doing with it’s life, ideling or pulling. You have learned so much over the years as far as maintaining your tractor and trailer. Wonders how much you have saved fixing things that you can or have learned how to fix it. I never stopped learning when I drove. Nice to see the arches of St Louis. Loved the music also. Plus your truck and trailer looked real nice Dan. Thanks for posting. Have a great and a safe day. Happy trails to you, D..
Not to mention that Idle time is worse for these engines than running over the road especially in the cold!
Nice Music.... I'm ready to buy a truck and get Rollin...
Many techs today are just parts replacers and not based on good troubleshooting skills, but rather they use history. A certain part went bad on a certain unit that they or someone else on the internet worked on so they mindlessly replace that part and send it. The reasoning by some is 'oh well, you'll needed to replace that part sooner or later', but that's not always the case.
Good competent techs that can troubleshoot and repair the actual problems are worth their weight in gold.
A attitude visor for your truck would be awesome
An even simpler equation is that idling uses approximately 1 gallon per hour on a truck. Apu's use about 1/10 of a gallon of fuel per hour so at an average of $3 per gallon of fuel, that apu has saved over $43,000 of fuel use on your truck and another, or others. Safe to say, it's paid for itself. I love mine and I too, hate to idle..
When you keep up with maintenance, fixes are easier. Nice call there Dan.
Good video, you're correct on the idling, i figure $100 for a 24 hour period of idling, 1 gallon an hour, the APU probably burns 1/4 of that. Also idling is the worst for your engine and you have a yellow sponge under that hood. I hear good things about the APU system. Take care Dan and Bailey and be safe.
The blues music chosen was awesome. Thanks for the video.
That little generator is doing a great job.
Big thick washers, or an industrial sized nut glued or welded to the lids of the tool boxes will stack and clean the 3 of them up nicely. Even dirty, your truck and its flag paint are always looking really good going down the road.💯👌
Like the Greyhound song Cold beer the only thing missing
Thanks for sharing your travels with us. We watch all your videos. I know it takes up a lot of time to edit the videos. We just want you to know we appreciate it.
Always Enjoy when I hear you’re in St. Louis. I’m 10-miles South of Downtown STL near I-55 / I-270 / I-255 Interchange near Jefferson Barracks Bridge. 👍🙏
That kind of sleeper use to be made in Joplin Missouri. Then they were installed.
I saw you east bound on 44 near Sullivan yesterday. Good travels Dan!
I've got a generator install scheduled at the apucenter in July. Can't wait to do it plus will be putting a rooftop a/c unit on also.
Steve on FSC Trucking, he runs an old Pete cabover and he swears by Green APU with the engine heater option.
Love the vids, Dan.
Stay safe out there.
Another quality video of life of a professional owner operator
Thanks Dan for your time sharing your day to day problems and solutions keep trucking and safe
🌵🇬🇧👍
Perfect music for your travels
Saw ya yesterday heading south on 65 in Alabama
I read an article in the early 2000’s about engine life, it was an interview with a cat engineer.
Due to environmental considerations the only, true, measurement cat could come up with to figure life span was gallons consumed.
It was a very in-depth and i thought interesting read. It was in a magazine, so that oughta tell ya how long ago..😂😂😂
Boy that was a lucky break findin the circuit breakers were at fault.
Don't worry about what others say about apu it's a good thing.
Dan your so right on the generator use and not idling , it’s not the old days when that was all we could do. You’re a good man, keep using the little green book.
Thanks for the load lesson! Really nice camping spot. I love when Bailey gets some sweet real estate to explore. That traveling song was killer! Hell of a guitar player!! See you in the next one.
Joe from New Jersey!!I agree that song was great!!❤😅
Dan how's the step deck going??
Missed you in Springfield ☹️
Keep it working 👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Nice view be safe later
Dan, How you ever stopped at the Candy Factory in Missouri? Sugar coma!!!
Be safe!
Another way to go is get a 3000 W inverter charger along with your generator. Then when you want to do something short with the microwave or the coffee pot, you don’t have to start the generator as the inverter will take care of the job. I full-time in a diesel pusher motorhome, and I have both which keeps the generator runtime way down.
You need to write a practical knowledge book on running flatbed get someone to illustrate it!
Hello from Tucson. Sitting in Dallas today. Getting ready to head back to AZ. Going to have to stop in Van Horn for some burritos 🙄
Thanks, Dan. Awesome video.👍👍👍
how it going Dan ,
and you have to figure one gallon per hour Idleing , So the unit was worth it and no wear and tear on the engine , She's looking pretty good to me 😎 little Bailey is thinking shitt Dad you almost hit me with the tarp 😄😄 be safe out there take care yourself Dan
Wow. Hard to believe. Math. Doesn’t. Lie. Thanks ❤❤❤❤
Thanks for not showing the burned out run down buildings in st louis. Or downtown is a mess glad to see you made it safe
Build ya a rack system to hold tool boxes like ya have em.. so they slide in, stacked 3 high maximize space..
Probably make a wood stack shelf a couple fir strips in front to keep boxes in place…
Thank You for all your videos. I watch them all. Be safe............Jay
Sysco Foods give their truck drivers a bonus (I think it was $5 a day at that time) if they don't idle their trucks. One driver I chatted with told me the young drivers don't idle their engines but the a lot of the older drivers do. Hard to change a bad habit.
Always great music and information on Dan's channel. At 8:18 guess they felt safe changing lanes in front of a vehicle that can weigh up to 80,000lbs or more.
Stay safe brother from the imperial county California 🇺🇲👍
Good song 🎉
Hi Dan I'm with you. An APU is the smart way to go !
Hi Dan
Great educational vid. The other truckers driving strps and flat would be wise to watch your channel. Your MUSIC IS THE GREATEST. Be safe!
Good old 44. Across the mcKinley Bridge to Granite City Steel. 44 is always congestion and construction. 🚧
I love my green apu.
I'd put the wear and tear on a little generator before I'd put the wear and tear on my primary power supply (tractor engine) that's a no Brainer! I'd also put a diesel burning (Eberspacher) heater for use in the winter instead of electric heat, those diesel heaters use pennies of fuel all night long and very little electricity for the blower motor, that would preserve the diesel generator life span 10 fold. I put an Eberspacher heater in my 40'f diesel pusher RV and quit using propane as the primary heat, what a MASSIVE improvement, no more wet interior heat, those diesel heaters are a God send!
Stay safe Dan! See you next time around!
Thank you for your video. Every time I learn something new from you.
Hi Dan, I watch all your videos, like them very much. Keep up the good work. When do you get your stepdeck? Greetings from Holland, Aart
Great tunes Dan
Bailey waiting to get into that fresh grass
Safe travels.
Definitely can say I’ve been watching your channel for a while now cause when you bring up Effingham Illinois I know your going to joes truck lube for an oil change lol
DAN, ur 100% right about that,iwas the same way
Thank you for posting all the interesting informative information. Sharing your many years of life's challenges helping others is very generous. Have a most wonderful day
Good video again. Obvious why you’re a successful owner operator. You fix the problems you can and additions like the APU, very smart. I thought your truck looked good, maybe just the filming and not the wash job. Hoping for your continued success in this tough economy
Just wish they weren't +$13,000 💰 I ran "poor man" apu for many years, champion genny, but got tired of gas jugs. Bought a couple small diesel engines off Zon but realized they need an expensive 4-pole head and hooking them up to a 2-pole (gas) head wouldn't get up to 60 hertz. Could tweak gear ratio, but I'm no engineer. I've been tinkering with Solar lately cause I seem to end up in Florida/Texas a lot. I currently have 2x 300watt panel, 2x 300ah LiFePo4 bats, Aims 10,000watt inverter, and BougeRV 60a MPPT controller. It seems to run my 8,000btu Walmart port a/c for 8-12 hours at night if the sun is good. On cloudy days I just charge it with my truck alternator (even though it's hard on alternator) while driving. They got these new "CIGs" panels out that are extremely flexible. Been thinking about slapping them on my hood to overpanel. Being that you have a super sleeper, that's a lot of space for panels! 😎
Safe Travels. Love ❤️ ❤Miss Bailey❤❤. @ 11:15, Miss Bailey jumped up & got all excited when you said ‘Walk’. Give her a hug, smooches, & scratches behind each ear.
Thanks
Safe travels Dan.😊
I do enjoy most any place in the great state of Misery. Stay safe. We watched the Arch construction from the IL side of the river.
It's only Misery in Arch country. 😁
Thanks for the video, Dan. Travel safe!!!
When are u getting your new trailer keep those videos coming always interesting Thanks
The ones who discredit APUs are the ones who neglect them with poor maintenance.
Any updates on the step deck trailer? 😊👍👍👍
Another good one Dan 👍 🚛🇺🇸
always wished i'd had one installed, especially in Calif. when they had the rule of only idling for 5 minutes. plus i found out if i idled too much, the company deducted pay, didnt know that
Thank You sir 🇺🇲
Very Nice
Would you recommend buying a comfort pro?
watching this, you addressed the breaker not being the best choice. Kinda think you are lucky taking it to the dealer. Wrong breaker could have been a fire hazard.
Great vid thanks for sharing your adventures safe travels!
Thanks Dan
I believe I get the first comment today! Thanks Dan for the videos, I really enjoy your content
Thanks for watching
Zinc-Plated Punched Angle .... search that... build shelves for those tool boxes. Appears that you can stack 3 high.
Just use a piece for a 'foot' on the verticals so you don't (bounce-wear) punch thru the bottom of the box.
Just wandering if you have an update on your dropdeck trailer ? I know several people have asked about it in the last few videos.
When are you getting your trailer.
13,000 hrs? I don’t think it owes you anything. But glad you could keep it grinding away.
Addum:53 ft stepdeck is no necessary. 50ft is legal. All the boxes you carry you can't slide axles.
Not long ago Indiana Jack had his Volvo engine rebuilt and it cost him $30,000.00
That was an in frame, NOT a new crate engine.
!
Green APU is a good brand if you’re ever in the market for new, can buy most parts at the auto parts store.
I thought There are some states where you are not allowed to idle
Out of curiosity, how much weight can you haul? And is having that large of a tractor an issue finding loads? Ty
This may be a silly question but... why cant you allow a "baby" coil touch or ride on the deck?? Is it safety issue, or another reason? Thank you for all that you do sir. Please always be as safe as possible in all of your travels and adventures.🙏💜
I'm not a trucker, but based on what Dan has explained previously. It's all safety. The coil racks are like tire chalks, you don't want that coil rolling back and forth. Their heavy and lot's of mass. So you want the coils held in place in the racks, and then chained or strapped down "depending on their weight", so they can't move. Movement causes wear and tear on equipment. Coils are also top heavy, so a sudden change in direction, cornering or panic braking if the coils not tied down properly and centered on the bed, can upset the trailer. Last but not least, the coils are usually rolls of thin aluminum, which can get damaged if not handled properly and the edges can be sharp. Keeping the coil supported up off the deck in the wood is also using the weight of the coil itself to help keep it down in the racks. Hope this helps. I'm sure a pro will chime in.
@@patrickinottawa27 Awesome thank you! That's along what I was thinking, and makes perfect sense.🙏💜
When you don't have a load and you're dead heading does your clock still get used up?
dan, do you have a delivery date on the new dorsey trailer
When you stopped for fuel baily did her spin but no bark did you remove her voice box
Ho yes APU well money invested .... I do have Thermo King . Each 10 h I spend like 1gallon if I iddle is 1 gallon per 1 if not more, plus idling not good for eny engine
That is incompetent APU troubleshooting. This is how it works. You check for voltage at the generator CCU board. It is going to be present (correct voltage and frequency). You move down stream, which is NOT going to be a capacitor because that is upstream. Check the input on the breaker you have installed in the truck.. Voltage is going to be present just as it was at the generator CCU. Check breaker output. If the voltage is not present or low. You found your problem lady. For it to be low means a lot of resistance in the breaker. I expect to see signs and smells of overheating. Breakers don't do the high resistance thing very often. Only time I've personally seen it are in highly corrosive environments. That breaker in the cab is a bit redundant and unnecessary as the CCU has a breaker. It adding one in the cab creates two points of failure.
Idling an engine for more than maybe 45 minutes is nothing short of dumb. It is wear and tear on every component needed for that machine to make money. Multiple single points of failure all churning away for what? One belt, one idler pulley, one alternator, one water pump, one transmission bearing, one fan clutch, bearing, one compressor bearing. You were down an APU, but still had a functioning machine. You were prepared to pay 2k for a generator. 2k might not cover the tow for any of those single points of failure I mentioned earlier. APU maintenance is peanuts. Less than four quarts of oil and a filter every 1k hours. Can change the fuel filter at the same time... but every other is no problem (keep filters on the truck regardless).
What's the deal with the stepdeck from Dorsey?
How did you get lucky enough to be in the faster lane during all that construction.
European trucks burns about 2 liters of fuel in 1 hour idling, so 2 x 16000 hours.
What's the output wattage of your APU? Are there things you can't use while your using the A/C?
My apu is 6000 watts I can run ac and microwave at same time or coffee maker and ac at the same time
Thanks for watching
Not everybody can afford a 10-15,000 dollar apu . Not all companies provide them