Favorite "Must Have" for winter

Well; for most drivers gravity helps coming out... it is getting back in that they face issues...

 

I'm not sure that it really matters what you buy as long as you remember to dress in layers. When winter hits, I have on a short sleeve shirt, with a polyester pull over on top of that, then if I get out of the truck, on goes a hooded jacket, with either a raincoat or my carhart over that. Poly pro long johns, wool socks, and boots and I be comfy. Glad I'm not NoTarps and his compadres tho, it would suck to have to be out in the weather for 3 to 4 hrs.

Just remember this, just because I'm paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get me!!!! lol

 

good one!!

 

I'm tagging this for later reading.

 

When it's been a really cold night in the truck I look down at my wife in the lower bunk when I wake up. "That sure was a cold one", I say. Ya she says, "it was a two dog night". She pulls back her covers and yep there they are all snuggled up to her and just steaming warm. She does not have blankets near as warm as mine but she doesn't need them with her two little furry furnaces.

 

OH man, excellent I have one too and he is such a warm lil bugger and only 5 lbs. Real easy keeper So cute, thanks for this N.O. Denise

 

For gloves I like "Atlas Therma Fit" gloves. I used them in the oilfield both on land and offshore. I use them flatbedding and they work great. They are cheap enough to buy a few pairs at a time. When they get wet you'll get chilly but then you just grab another pair and throw the wet ones on the passenger side of the floor with the heat directed down on them. They fit tight to your hands so you don't need to take your gloves off to do more delicate work and the rubber grip is nice too.

For clothing, I stick to my oilfield habit of NEVER wearing anything with synthetic fibers. If you were to ever be close to a flame a synthetic garment will melt and stick to you. 100% cotton clothing is what I get. I like Dickies/Carhart pants and Hanes T-shirts. For sweaters I go to the thrift stores and you can often find nice sweaters that are like new and you'll only pay a couple dollars for them. When I trash them flatbedding it is no biggie. I have a large Dakota work jacket but I don't wear it when I work because I like having mobility (especially when on top of a load tarping). I usually layer up a T-shirt, long sleeve shirt, and sweater and then work quick enough to keep my body heat up.

If you want the most warm pair of boots you will ever own, buy some Baffin Drillers. I wore them with sport socks in -45 degree weather up north (-67 C, -89F with wind chill). However, I don't think you will ever need something like that. I have my Baffins tucked away under my bed in case I am stranded in the cold but I wear thermal socks with regular Dakota work boots primarily.

If you are in muddy, wet and cold environments, Dunlop Purofort boots are awesome. I have a pair (the kind with the agressive tread) and even wore them in the winter. Again, a little overkill for most OTR trucking unless you are on muddy lease roads a lot.

If you are outside in the cold and have to wear a hardhat....invest in a good hard hat liner. I have a nice Helly Hansen fire retardant liner but that's a little overkill for trucking. You can find something cheaper that will do the trick. Look for one that can be done up to cover your neck and lower part of your face.

For bedding I have a cheapie wal-mart sleeping bag that fully unzips to make a quilt. I have a sheet on my bed and a pillow. I leave my truck off at night until it gets cold enough to worry about fuel gelling up. I have a webasto bunk heater and engine heater that keeps me and the truck toasty. Just in case, I have a few very warm blankets tucked away as well.

 

An electric blanket...no one ever thinks of getting an electric blanket...

With all the strict idling rules now...an electric blanket to keep you warm at night would be a good investment...