I'm a Swiftie, so I'm limited.
I can have a plug-in inverter, which limits it to 150W of power.
No microwave.
I have a Coleman cooler to keep things cold. Spend the little extra for it and you will be happy.
I have a laptop computer, which means I don't need a TV or CD player because the laptop can do it all - including most games.
For TV I have a TV tuner that connects through the USB port. About $90.
Internet is through Verizon. It can be pricey if you want to download and stream videos a lot, but it's usually very reliable.
For cooking I use a lunchbox oven.
I can cook baked potatoes, rice, vegies, chicken, fish... it just takes a little planning and insight.
A typical meal might be a baked potato with steamed broccoli and chicken. (I like to get a $5 whole baked chicken from Walmart. The new 30 minute break is the perfect time to get it.)
Or maybe baked salmon with asparagus and some rice-a-roni to go along with it. (Put the salmon in last, as it needs less cooking time. And, Walmart for the salmon as well. They have frozen salmon for $5 that will do for 2-3 meals.)
Take a can of chicken veggie soup and add 1/4 cup of rice and cook it for an hour and I have a nice casserole.
If I'm really simple, just place the can of soup in the oven to heat for 45 minutes. Add a peanut butter sandwich and a glass of milk and I am set to go.
And that is all with a little lunchbox oven.
Swift is one of the most restrictive companies out there, but I can make do just fine.
trucking items
Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by davidbonkers, Dec 9, 2013.
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If you want to save money being on the road, definitely invest in a good 12v/110ac refrigerator, not a cooler. Most of the coolers only cool the items 30 degrees below the surrounding temps. I had a Coleman years ago that did a pretty good job, had to replace the motor once in 18 months. Now I run a Koolatron, (when I have to overnight) http://www.amazon.com/Koolatron-AC-...6660306&sr=8-20&keywords=koolatron+12v+cooler
that cools much better, it's MUCH more expensive at truck stops @$239. The only drawback is the thing is pretty big compared to the others out there. I would also second the comment about an invertor big enough to run a microwave and a real coffee maker, a microwave just makes things so much easier because you can heat up your food so much faster than a lunch box oven. I used a lunch box oven for years but it takes a bit more planning because it takes more time to heat things up with it. I can spend weeks on the road, I don't have to now as I'm home nearly everyday, without spending any money in a truck stop for food because I can bring it with me or buy real food items at a grocery for much less money. I used to have my ex freeze leftovers from dinners she made for the kids while I was gone to take with me the next week. I'd also take lunch meat, PB & J, Cereal, cans of soup, etc. so I could eat wherever I was, no wonder I got chubby -
Would satellite radio be worth it just starting out?
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I don't have wifi
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However, T-mobile had a HUGE problem. Being OTR it was seldom that I could get good internet connection. I changed to Verizon (actually totally changed my phones for my wife and I and got a hotspot on a monthly plan) and I think there has only been about three times in the last three months I couldn't get 4G connection. Verizon is great for OTR... but pricey. -
I use foxfi (also called PDAnet) on my phone which can create a wireless hotspot using your phones internet if you have a smartphone without having to pay the phone companies monthly fees. I use a 12v cooler and a microwave for my cooking needs. Before I got my inverter installed it was cold sandwhiches, ravioli (chey boyardee is precooked and not terrible cold) and a ton of fruit snacks and other little things. Now when I'm home on the weekend my fiance cooks a bunch of extra food and packages it up for me for the week. I have thought about bringing a crockpot but I've been eating pretty good with just leftovers so I'm not to keen on making that big of a mess in the truck. I'm only gone for 5 days at a time though, if I was one of the 3-4 weekers I might be looking at more options.
I can't believe one of the old timers hasn't come in here yet to tell a story about baking a potato or heating a can of soup on the turbo while driving. If you're creative you can eat pretty decent without needing an inverter. Also a lot of shippers have a drivers room where you can wait for your load and they typically have a microwave in there if you don't have one in the truck. -
I spend $130 per month for my Verizon connection, but that is for a 20GB data plan.
Compared to $50 for 5GB, it is a pretty good deal. -
I still have unlimited on my phone for $29.99 because I have an old plan
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