cooking in the truck

Thanks for this. I guess I didn't mention that it is a MUST to have the truck running at its highest possible idle speed while using an inverter to power any high power draw appliances.

For every 100 watts you pull from the inverter, the truck's electrical system must supply roughly 10 amps. So for a 1200 watt microwave, the truck must supply 120 amps. The batteries alone are hard pressed to supply that much current for more than a few minutes.

 

The one on the left is a "winch bar" on the right a "cheater bar".





This may also be a "cheater bar"..What this all has to do with 'Cooking In The Truck' - I really have no idea.

 

My favorite utensil / appliance is my CrockPot. I have the type that the glass lid is latched in place.

Put your ingredients in, turn it on, drive for ten and dinner is done.

It takes so little amperage to where I am able to use a 300 Watt Inverter to power it.

Use of the CrockPot Liners, paper plates, plastic forks and knives makes clean-up a matter of throwing it away.

Roast Beef, Chicken, Pork Roast, Chili, Spare Ribs, Stew, Corned Beef & Cabbage..... just to name a few dishes.

 

I would not use propane or butane stoves I have used electric george foremean grills with much sucess. Electric single burner hot plates work well. I have a Igloo electric cooler and it keeps my food and milk ice cold the best I have found in the electric cooler brands. I have carried propane mini bbq grills to cook outside the truck. Eating out of the truck saves money, offers healthy food choices, and i stop at walmarts once a week to keep fresh fruits and veggies to snack on while i drive. Options are numerous to good healthy eating while on the road. Using an electric hot plate i have cooked up some good gumbo in my truck. Do not settle for hot dogs and hamburgers do not be a lazy driver take care of your health and stay fit.

 

Ok drivers I'm working on a book and some you tube vids that will help all the drivers that want to save some money...ill have to keep you posted but this will discuss exactly this topic and help you save nearly 17k a year.if you have any questions hit me up ill be glad to help.

 

Anyone ever cook eggs on the engine with a pan? I'd like to try this at the truck stop.

 

We did hot dogs and a can of beans many years ago while driving through a drive thru zoo in Springfield, MO when our son was little. It worked great, the dogs were wrapped in foil, I don't remember what we did about the beans except to put the can up there.

I have heard other older truckers who have cooked beef roasts including the potatoes and carrots and baked potatoes in years past before they had inverters to use.

I'm not sure how an egg would cook. I think it would be a good idea to have a good fitting lid pre-heated and then put a couple tablespoons of water in the pre-heated skillet after you have the eggs in. The water helps to steam the top of the egss faster.

 

Oh the days before inverters. I've done the same thing. Dogs in foil and you poked a couple holes in the can of beans to keep the can from blowing up. I can remember a few cheap dinners like Ravioli on a block or re-warming up a cold sausage biscuit. Over the years I graduated to a microwave, crock pot and a hot plate. I tried various coffee pots but they are wattage hogs. I resorted to instant which Folgers really isn't that bad.

I can see camping gear totally doable. There would be nothing wrong with a propane stove. Basically all one needs is a one burner but a two burner folds up nicely in a case where it's protected. They use them in popup campers beside the canvas and plastic windows with no problems. I use to use one of them wooden TV dinner folding tables in my truck. They store nicely behind the passenger seat and makes a good work/writing table. I even put my laptop on it. One could put the propane stove on it.

The downside to cooking in the truck is cleaning up. I always carried styrofoam and plastic plates, cups, forks and spoons. The cookware I washed outside. I always carried 2 gallons of water in the truck and more in the sidebox. A couple times I washed them by the coffee sink. You feel kind of stupid carrying things inside a truck stop.

 

That's where you pick up married woman!

You are kind of limited to the turbo and exhaust and warming/slow cooking in foil or cans. I guess you could hold the frying pan. That's a whole lotta work for an egg.

 

Just looking for some good advice:
Going to be running OTR but only out 5-6 days at a time and Company only allows 12V plug-in Inverters.
1) Good powerful enough 12V inverter
2) Good to have cooking stuff to use during the week
3) 12V Cooler or just cooler using Ice when needed.

Any other useful advice for downtimes (shippers, receivers, longer than 10hr breaks due to load PU/DP, etc)