The Willis Auxiliary Power Unit produced by Auxiliary Power Dynamics makes life on the road a lot easier for John Naylor.
Naylor drives 65,000 miles a year to transportation trade shows. He arrives at the show site, sets up displays and works the show. Then it's on to the next location. The owner-operator is on the road 260 days a year, guiding a 2001 Mack Vision and pulling a 51-foot Kentucky drop frame trailer with a lift gate.
By using the Willis APU, Naylor doesn't have to idle his truck while unloading and loading his truck at trade shows. "At some shows, particularly in New York City, police patrol the dock area listening for trucks idling and writing tickets," Naylor said. "The Kubota three-cylinder engine that runs the Willis APU doesn't count as an idling engine. Plus, I'm saving a lot of wear on my engine by not having to idle with the APU.
"I'm also happy because I don't have to start a cold or dry engine," added Naylor of Colville, Wash. "The Willis APU pumps oil through the engine, plus the cab is heated on cold mornings."
The Willis APU contains an alternator, an A/C compressor and a heat exchanger for circulating coolant. Options include an air compressor, air starter, oil pump for pre-lubricating the engine and a 1,500-watt inverter for AC power. By using all of these options, a truck operator would be able to eliminate the truck's electric starter and most of its batteries.
The fully equipped Willis APU can run almost every operating system on a truck. It also provides significant fuel savings and decreased emissions by dramatically reducing engine idling. And it helps the truck's engine and electrical system components to last longer.
The Willis APU is different from most competing APUs because of its integration with the truck's operating system. The Willis APU automatically provides power to the cab and sleeper when the truck's parking brake is set. When the engine is turned on, and the parking brake is released, the Willis APU shuts down after all engine levels are functioning normally. It also stands ready as a backup power source. It can heat or cool the truck's cab and sleeper seamlessly through the existing HVAC system. Since the APU uses the truck's fuel line, it can also prevent fuel gelling.
Auxiliary's web site is at www.auxiliarypowerdynamics.com.
For additional information, call Will Watson at (800) 825-4631.