Gas Generator On A Truck

with warm weather coming me and my lady have found swifts tight idling policy is going to be a warmm time. I've seen many trucks with generators and wondered are they legal? if so any suggestions to beat the heat besides opening all the vents and windows?

Gas generators are extremely loud. I can't imagine nearby sleeping truckers would be happy with one of them running through the night.

I've heard that they make some quiet ones...and we went camping with some friends, and ended up with our tent next to them. I don't think it woke me up at all, and it was cycling,instead of running solid... But that being said, you will have to check with the company you drive for if your a company will allow it. If your O/O, I guess it would be up to you.

Here is the problem that makes it tough for generators you buy out of the stores. They are gravity fed fuel tanks. Meaning they do not use a fuel pump and the if the fuel line breaks you got gas and diesel EVERYWHERE and therefore illegal. In order for it to be legal it has to be pump fed so there is no risk of fuel spills.

And yes a lot are really loud. Worse than APU's. Chances are if it really loud and wakes up the drivers around you then you can almost bet that will be the last night that it will work right. Someone will go in the middle of the night and make it quite down.

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

APU's:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.