Help with Winter/General supplies

Depending on the trailer I prefer a ball pene hammer for banging in tandem pins, but my trailers are air ride and have air pins, and with the bags deflated its often hard to get in there good with a mini sledge.

WD40 can make uncooperative dry rusty chains cooperative (for the cams mostly) Mine hang on a rack but sometimes when I go to use them they are bone dry. And it can keep your tail lights clean in heavy snow and ice. Something to be mindful of in the winter.

 

Baby wipes, for those times you have to run too hard to get time to shower.... If your truck has a power inverter, get a hot water kettle at Walmart. Under $20, but you can make soups and such with it. Get a good thermos, so you can buy coffee once a day, rather than multiple stops to get another styrofoam cup. When I was doing hand unload in the summer, I bought one of the megajugs from the truck stops and filled it all the way with ice, and then water. (Free refills on both)
Bring a few extra towels, in case you need to clean up a mess in the sleeper floor area.

In the cab, I had a bottle of Windex and one of the cheap squeegees with a long handle. While waiting for a live load, real easy to clean all your glass and mirrors.

 

That's a pretty good list. Throw some duck tape in there maybe. Once you get out there you will figure out what you need and don't need.
One thing I learned is ALWAYS keep washer fluid on the truck. The zero degree stuff. If your washers freeze up it can be a problem.
Best of luck.

 

Ratchet strap a old cooler to your cat walk and fill it with rock salt. When you park in the snow put it down, you'll be able to get out after your break. When you need to get out right away, put down the rock salt under Your drives, then dump down windshield washer fluid. It will instantly react with the salt. This works like a charm. No waiting. You'll have instant traction.

 

wool socks. I usually get merino wool socks 80%. wool cap, face mask, good gloves.
this mornings temp was 6 below with windchill of 15 below and realistically that isn't bad at all for this time of year. if you're coming up this way you will want warm clothing in case of break down or even walking to truck stop or out pre tripping.

carhart bibs and jacket work well to stop wind.

 

Good dark pair of sunglasses, too. Polarized. The reason I say dark, is sun glare. @avenger79 made me think of that with the winter driving comments. No sense in squinting for 11 hours a day, because that just limits your peripheral vision, and doesn't do much, if anything, for your long-term vision health.

 

Rather than baby wipes get adult wipes. Find them in the pharmacy at Walmart.

Many of the fluids, glad hand seals, fuses, etc are given to you free by your company. Just go to the parts department of the shop at your terminal and stock up.

 

EZMoney made a good suggestion - that glad hand air hose is a must. Don't buy the cheap#$@ version at PFJ/TAP, look for the kink-free version with a thread body inside the tire chuck. (that will enable the chuck to hang on the tire valve by itself without you standing there holding it on)

A 2x4 is a good idea in any lifestyle, IMHO. Add a 4x4 sloped block for raising the wheel...chaining up, air tank draining, checking air and electrical equipment under there, lots of great applications.

A kit with various electrical connections, terminals, and light bulbs will be useful. I own a Freightliner, and the corrosion of terminals is a constant maintenance item.

I just bought a tube of suspension lubricant for my 5th wheel. First time I needed grease, but I did so I bought a tube somewhere. I didn't bother with a grease gun, I just squeezed the grease out and spread it with a piece of cardboard I found in the yard. Low tech.

Your list will surely get you started, _dsgb. If you consider your work driving as a permanent campout, you'll be just about where you need to be. That cold weather gear? Important, driver. Best. J