Poncho or rain coat/suit

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by jmcnewbie, Jul 24, 2010.

  1. jmcnewbie

    jmcnewbie Light Load Member

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    A poncho seems so much easier to get on/off and, as the military teaches, it can be used for other purposes. But a rain suit should keep a person somewhat dryer.
    Also, taking the rain suit off once back inside the cab could be struggle.
    Lets here some experiences and opinions!
     
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  3. ironpony

    ironpony Road Train Member

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    Why bother?
     
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  4. phroziac

    phroziac Road Train Member

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    you can get a green acid suit, which we tanker yankers refer to as a rain suit, for around $20 on the internet, and it'll work great for that as well! The bottoms are a pain in the butt, but the top goes on just like any other jacket.
     
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  5. Injun

    Injun Road Train Member

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    I had a poncho when I first started driving, never got a rainsuit or raincoat. That poncho was okay until a little breeze kicked up and when it's soaking wet, what are you going to do with it when you get back into the truck?

    Nowadays, I just wear work shoes, jeans and a good winter coat when it's cold rain or a light windbreaker type when it's warm rain. Unless it's Florida. There, I go barefoot with shorts and a t-shirt on. Easier to dry off and the rain's warm anyway. Besides, when it really comes down in Miami and you have to open your doors, often the dock area is already too flooded to even have boots that are effective. I offered the dog a walk, but he looked out and gave me the "Go pound sand" look before going back to bed. Some dog.
     
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  6. Saddle Tramp

    Saddle Tramp Medium Load Member

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    :biggrin_2559: Heck just wear your swim suit when it rains, than you won't have to worry about a poncho, rainsuit.:biggrin_2559:
     
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  7. jmcnewbie

    jmcnewbie Light Load Member

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    Nobody wants to see me in a swimsuit!
    The 'just get wet' approach seems to be winning. Past experiences with working in the rain agrees with it, but when it is cold, I prefer to stay dry. A heavy winter coat (unless waterproof, such as Carhart) would take a long time to dry.
    How about the heavy coat with a spray on waterproofing as required? Any experience with something like that?
     
  8. phroziac

    phroziac Road Train Member

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    the outer layer on two piece jackets such as splittrail or arizona jean co is waterproof...
     
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  9. ironpony

    ironpony Road Train Member

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    Unless you're a flatbedder... you're not going to be out in it very long. Easier to just put some dry stuff on. After all, a poncho is just an excuse for the rain to get you wetter than you'd be if you don't try to hide from it! Probably a different story if you're in a day-cab, and going home at some point every day.

    Flatbedder: Getting wet in the rain counts as a shower! :biggrin_25523:

    I defer to our current tanker-yanker expert... Phroziac?
     
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  10. dancnoone

    dancnoone "Village Idiot"

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    Suit...then you can elect to put bottoms on or not.

    Had my current one 5 years, without a single problem.
     
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  11. phroziac

    phroziac Road Train Member

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    I was loading from a rail car into my trailer the other day and it started sprinkling. At first i was thinking, ooh, it feels sooo good! (hot day). I scrambled to get both dome lids closed but still vented (down with one ear up under it to prop it open) to avoid contamination. Then i continued to stand on my trailer monitoring the process, since rail cars are so much bigger than a tank trailer (24000 gals and *totally full* vs 7000 gals). After a while it started down pouring and thundering and lightnining, and im one of the tallest things around....so i got down and stood in the rail shed for 10 or so minutes and it stopped downpouring...haha...

    Atleast my truck loads/unloads itself for the most part......and for a flatbedder, atleast if its needs to be tarped, that generally wont be done in the rain..
     
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