Long-Haul preperation

I have read a few that you had ran down. I guess for some strange reason he got to me. If I offended you Midnight Rumbler I apologize.
And anyhow way more then 50% of my advice is accurate.

 

if you are only doing otr regional you would not need all the crap i tag along but i still would advise
a microwave
1500 watt inverter
alot of canned food and plasticware
easy mac and cup-o-noodles
a couple cases of soda ( a 12 pack is cheaper on the road than a bunch of 1 liter's)
bedding ( pillows and a few blankets....i even have a sleeping bag for the cooler but above 15 nights)
a weeks worth of cloths
shaving kit
toolbox with metric and standerd wrenchs, sockets, and allen keys
#1 &#2 philups and flathead screw drives
2 rolls of electrical tape
electrial kit
testlight, and a voltmeter
grease gun and grease, extra oil and power steering fluid
extra log books and required paperwork
scratch pad
folder for old log pages and reciepts
laptop and movies for downtime
hardhat and safety glasses
winter gear( coat, bibs and gloves)
good pair of boots
cb
most important.....a sence of humor

as for leaving your family....thats #### hard and the first day is the worst...give lots of kisses and hugs....but remember and remind as nessacary that you are doing this to help support them and their way of life....meanwhile yers sucks cuz yer runnin hard chasin the almighty dollar...but you will be home soon

thats what i do and every time i come home all 3 of my kids meet me at the gate and help unload all of dads stuff...after we get the 2 yr old out of the captians chair that is

 

As a former teacher, many questions come with a good purpose. While one may see something as a dumb question, they very well might (and probably don't) know the true depth of the question.

As far as replies, either you are a burdon, or a blessing.

For inverters...see what your company allows...some only let you have a small inverter on there.

For the rest of getting ready for a long haul...I myself haven't done it, but basically make the truck your home away from home. Make it your own and personalize it on the inside so it doesnt so much look like a truck but more like a home on wheels and an office/living/bedroom.

*Clothes - maybe a weeks worth is a good start. Right now, bring winter stuff too, gloves, hats...etc.
*Laundry detergent is cheaper if you bring your own.
*TV (if you can find a 13 incher or whatever size you wish that has a dvd player installed in the unit), plus some movies to watch...or a good netflix account with lots of movies, then you can return no matter where you are.
*Pillows...maybe two or three. Also bring something to put against the back wall of the sleeper berth as that can get kinda chilly with cold metal.
*Basic groceries...water...etc. If you bring a cooler / mini fridge, that will help. Maybe if you are gutsy enough, you could convert the top bunk in the berth into storage for food and other goodies.
*basic tools (plus extra spare bulbs, fuses, glad hands...etc)
*office supplies.
*Hobbies...not sure if you have any, but lots of people have hobbies that they can take with them on the road. I know of a trucker who knits. Very Relaxing.
*pics of the fam. No matter what others say, leaving the family (in my opnion) should never be easy. If it doesn't bother you or cause you some pain when you leave...somethings not right.
*you probabl have a cell phone...but make sure you have a plan with lots o minutes.

 

there arent any stupid questions........only stupid replies. any accuracy that follows doesnt fix it. keep that cb talk outta here

 

Thumper, if you read my previous post I already apologize to the man. Be quiet and get off the band wagon. Read all the post before you try to come in half way and sound educated. Thats old news. Let it go!

 

Ignorance is such bliss and sometimes you just got to ignore it. Like the man said--there is no stupid questions just stupid replies. Some people have no business with a keyboard.

As far as psyching yourself up--the first time out is the roughest--you make it past that and your good to go. Just take your cell phone so you can stay in touch with your family and you should do okay. Take it one day at a time at first and you will make it just fine. Good luck to ya and Be safe!

 

All Aboard! The bandwagon will be departing soon! How many times does a guy have a apologize before people let it go? I apologized twice and you people are fueling the bandwagon. Before you know it, there will be 25 pages of you people saying the SAME thing. Keep it movin! Whatever you said or are going to say has already been said. give the man his advice and keep it movin!

 

AGREED! YOU apologized and it should be left as that.

Please post information concerning the subject matter of this thread. THANKS

 

Well, just from a guy that was out there for a little bit, all the necessities you need to take with you as well as things to remind you of your family - photos, tape recordings, videos, whatever - you'll figure that out with time. I mean, there was a pretty good list already devoted to that subject on this thread.
The thing I remember about being out on the road was the intense longing that started to creep in after I had been out for a couple of months.
Or even a few weeks.
You're gettin' dispatched every direction but home - I don't know if these companies are playing the same games as they used to in keeping you out so long, you seem like a total stranger by the time you finally DO get back.
I used to just focus on what was in front of me - look at the scenery, God's green earth, take it all in. I used to take highways going through some pretty gorgeous land. I just made the best of it. I also used to sort through all the trash on the cb and find somebody going the same direction and strike up a conversation. You'd be amazed at how fast time and miles pass when engaged in an intelligent conversation with another driver.
I guess from reading this site that most people avoid the cb at all costs nowadays, but there really isn't any more trash talking on it now than there was 20 years ago.
It'll take time to adjust getting used to living in a large vehicle and sleeping there versus living in your home and sleeping in your bed. I don't know any amount of psyching that is going to overcome that except time spent out on the road.