getting around no inverters for cooking

Question, in a lot of company trucks you are not authorized to have inverters and can't idle a lot. If that is so how do you cook in your truck. I will be starting in trucking next year and that is the thing I am puzzled the most by. I don't want to eat in truck stops all the time because the food sucks most the time and it is expensive. A microwave and coffee pot is really all I would need. The big companies don't allow a lot of things so I am just curious how you all do it

 

The easy answer is, don't work at a company that has a "no inverter" policy. But even companies that allow inverters restrict their size to where you couldn't run a microwave, and for good reason. Trucks burn down dozens of time each year because of faulty or overworked inverters. I personally manage with no microwave because I can sustain myself happily out of the DC cooler or "pantry" and if I want a hot meal I get one and without concern for clean up, odors, hassle, etc.

"Improvise, adapt, and overcome"

 

The ppl that cooks in the trk either are allowed inverters and have the companies shop install it or they sneak an inverter to cook.Thing to do is ask the company if they are allowed and up to how many watts.There are many gadgets that's sold at truckstops to cook food that plugs into the cigarette lighter.Then some have the George Forman grill.Alot of ways getting around the inverter.

 

It's not a good idea to cook inside your truck, especially if you're running alone all the time. What I suggest is a homestyle approach, which is cooking at the terminal and bag it into a cooler or refrigerator. I also have a luggage cart and weekly I'll take my tiny microwave to the shower area to cook something too. I buy a couple of Hormel roast beef dinners at Wal-mart and can have a nice warm meal and store leftovers for a sandwich. And while you're thinking about it, now is a good time to learn to enjoy bottle water, fruits and raw veggies that also store well and will keep you hydrated naturally. Probably my favorite quick meal is Carnation Instant Breakfast flavored drink which requires 4 to 5 oz of whole milk. It's packed with nutrients you can't get from a vitamin pill and whole milk in small quantities gives you a full-feeling that cuts your hunger, unlike 2% or low fat milk (ick).

When I'm stuck somewhere I'm glad I don't rely on cooking anything out of boredom too. And I stay out of those truck stop restaurants, especially buffets! They're unclean, overcooked, too expensive.

 

Burton or RoadPro lunch box cooker. Plugs into the cigarette lighter. Coleman camp stove. Stuff that doesn't need cooking. There are also coffee pots and slow cookers that run off DC power. It is possible to cook your meals as you are driving down the road.

 

Work for a company where the trucks have APU's. When you're on breaks/layovers, etc. no need to idle the truck. Shut the truck off, start the APU & you have power for A/C, heat, TV, computer, refrig. and all that stuff when you need it. Start a list now of companies that have APU's and you will be ahead of the game when application time gets here.

Here's a starter list & some others can add to the list:

Melton Truck Lines
System Transport
Stevens Transport
Paschall Truck Lines
Dynamic Transit
TransAm
Holland Enterprises
Maverick

 

A couple of solutions off the top of my head, saw a small 1 can (soup) crock pot that draws only about 100 watts that would work perfect with the little 300 watt plug in inverters.

Another idea is to get a small 2 cycle generator from Harbor Freight tools, about $89 bucks. Just have to know how to mix 50:1 gas : oil. Those are about 800 watts and will run a microwave or larger crock post etc, maybe even a George Foreman grill.

 

STexan, thanks for the reply, I am tracking the cooler but as far as getting a hot meal are you saying just go to a truck stop or is there other ways to cook. I can and have gone numerous days without a hot meal being in the military but nothing like a hot meal from time to time. I know about the lunch box cooker but is that enough to get by? What do you do to get by.

 

I carry a backpacking white gas burner, just becareful, I also carry a small coleman stove under the bunk for cooking behind the cab. bacon and eggs with hashbrowns in a restarea get the neighbors up, or fresh coffee during a road closure on I90.

 

My husband did for over a year. You just have to think outside the box when coming up with meal ideas. It's also great at heating up soup, stew, etc.