Gadgets to have on the truck...

Set the cab temp up right mine will freeze raw chicken.

 

My dad is making me one out of acrylic or starboard.

It depends on who you talk too. Others will vouch for the Coleman while others will vouch for the other one.

KH

 

i've heard good things about that Koolatron. it is an actual FRIDGE, not just a 'c-c-c-coola'. (my poor attempt at a Waterboy impression).

Since i'm a L/O, i'm going to eventually spend the $$ on an actual fridge for the KW. Or...do what i did. i liked to have breakfast cereal, and had to have my milk COLD....so i just bought a regular ice cooler. Yeah, you'd have to buy a bag or two of ice every 2-3 days....but your crap was COLD.

i've tried the coleman...JUNK. I've tried the Igloo....JUNK. I've tried the smaller one you can buy in truck stops with the clear window in the front by Road Pro? Junk....of those 3..the best one WAS the Road Pro (sad to say cause most of their stuff is SHATner), probably cause it was smaller, and could cool that space better.

 

I'm like Dick, in that I have to have my dairy cold; not cool.... cold! I vote for the ice cooler at least until I eventually get tired of spending cash every other day when needing to buy ice . Besides, I hope to save my 12 volt ciggie outlets for more important things.

 

I am sure I'll learn that when I go to the academy, but it doesn't hurt to know other ways, in case of a ...ahem.... "qualcomm failure" from dispatch and my cell goes phoof at the same exact time. lol

 

KingHunter, one of the greatest tools on your laptop for trucking is "Google Earth"! For example you can look up the shipper/receiver you are headed to and see what the docks are like or what the parking situation is. Also gives you a heads up as to what the surroundings are (hood, neighborhood, industrial etc...). Helps to know if you can park there over night. You can also find other spots on there like where you can park your rig at the beach etc...

 

Dude watch your phrasing....the way you started that one off was a total

 

Ooooo, I see what you mean. Thanks Nik

 

I've found MS Streets and Trips works great when coupled with this third party add-on: http://www.truckstopsplus.com/index.html. It tells you truck stops (all the majors as well as independants); rest areas; super wal-marts (including 2476 that allow overnight parking); Scales; Truck washes; etc. It gives exit #'s and phone #'s too.

A free sixty day trial of MS St&Trips is available for download as well as an unlimited trial of Truckstopsplus for the state of Indiana only. And of coarse Google Earth for surveying the shppr/recvr from a birdseye view to get a good mental picture of how we're going to enter and exit.

I downloaded the MS product and then purchased a GPS reciever from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Holux-GM-210-...?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1296588477&sr=8-11. If you use the eclipse log book software on your laptop it will automatically record your location.

If a driver is already carrying a laptop, for about $100 to $120 additional we can have almost the same functionality as the $450 - $500 trucker GPS units. And get the benefit of having a 15 to 17 inch screen versus a 5 or 7 inch. That's quite helpful for a blind ole geezer like me!

 

Hmmmm.....wait a minute...is that Lionel Richie I hear singing in the background----yes, by #### I believe it is, just listen to those beautiful lyics: "Deeeeep Rubber Woman...tonight I'll be inflatin'...anticipatin - all your charms!"