Unanswered questions about living on the road

You've got some good answers to help you out and I'm sure it won't take very long before you know whats what.

The one thing I'd like to say is NEVER EVER USE EAR PLUGS OR ANY OTHER DEVICE to mask your hearing WHILE in control of the truck.

Hearing is part of the senses you use while driving along with sight, feel,and smell.

 

Some excellent advise posted here. Answered a few of my own questions.

Thanks for the input folks.

 

And now I have to have 10 charcters before this will post. Is anyone counting?

 

#### good questions!

1) i never thought about this, which means my towels probably did get mildewy. Eewww. But thanks for bringing it up.

2) No, not really from my experiences. You don't have to buy anything and they are cool about it.

3) i never did dishes; i would suggest paper cups/flatware/utensils etc. You could use the sink at truckstops, but that's just flat out disgusting. If you insist on using real dishes, you may want to try using just vinegar to clean them?

4) i never really stayed out that long to really do laundry on a regular basis;
a) i found the truckstop laundry machines to be adequate, however you have to remember how many people, different people are using these machines day in day out. Doesn't feel to clean anymore does it?

b) i personally, would suggest, and practice myself either taking alot of clothes with you and stockpiling the used clothes which i understand is not an option for you but that's what i would do OR buy clothes on an as needed basis while you are on the road which is another thing i've done. It's actually fun that way.

5) Nothing. Why would it be a bad idea in the truck?

6) VERY GOOD QUESTION. Yes, i wear them while driving---they are the 25db ones you can get at home depot. They make a tremendous difference for me in fatigue vs. not wearing them. i also wear earphones both stock ipod to listen to ipod/satelite radio AND noise cancelling earphones from philips. Both of these also help tremendously.
i am also planning on getting custom made earplugs made from, i think, silicone.

i don't know how anyone can drive most trucks today without some hearing protection. OSHA or some gov't agency should be contacted and they should investigate.

NOTE: For people concerned about the safety aspect. You can still hear everything---sirens, horns, your engine etc. Just much quieter.
No, it's probably not legal, but F em---it's your hearing and health.

NOTE: Also, if you drive the following---KW, pete, new freightliner cascadia, international prostar, you probably don't need earplugs because these trucks are actually quiet. The way it should have been long ago.

 

1) We use the towels provided with the shower at the truck stop. Otherwise, we use paper towels in the truck. NO cloth.

2) We are waiting for our new truck with an APU. Until then, I am cooking all of our meals on the truck. I use the 12 volt "lunchbox oven", one for each of us. They cook most cook in about 1.5 hours. We stock canned meats, boxed potatoes, rice and pasta for most of our dinners. Example: 1.5 hours before stopping for the night, I empty a box of scalloped potatoes into a glass loaf pan, add 2 cups of water from a water dispenser, add a can of meat (chicken, beef, spam or whatever), a bit of veggies (canned or fresh) and spices. Close the lid, secure with a bungee cord and it'll be piping hot when you are done for the day. Surprising what spices will do for a boxed dinner! I make coffee in the morning with bagels and cheese for breakfast and lunch varies with sandwiches or some canned chili or stew or soup I have heated for about 30 minutes in the oven. When we have a chance to stop at a Walmart, we splurge on (example) ring sausages (replacing the canned) or a bag of salad to share. We also boil about 36 eggs on hometime and eat them for lunch or snacks. We keep containers of nuts and dried fruit for snacks.

3) We use real plates, cutlery and glasses on the road. After eating, I first wipe them with a paper towel, then clean them with disinfectant wipes. On home time, I throw everything in the dishwasher for a hot cleaning. The problem with disposable items is storing them. We stock food for a 5 week run and I'd rather wipe a dish than store the paper plates and plastic ware. I also hate eating with plastic. The glass loaf pan that I put in the ovens, after dinner I add about a tablespoon or two to the pan and close up the oven to "steam-soak" the pan. The next morning, I wipe it out with a paper towel and use a disinfectant wipe to clean. The glass cleans easier than metal pans. I gave up on the tin disposable pans when after awhile, they get crushed and tiny holes tear and leak all the food out in the oven.

4) We use the truck stops. Yep, it's expensive, but it's nice to have clean clothes and sheets! I am use to wearing my same outer clothes for several days, as I am not as active as the passenger. My husband changes every other day, as he is more active. At home we are a little more particular about fresh clothes, but on the road, one gets use to a different lifestyle and pace.

5) Husband sleeps in the buff, I sleep in a cotton nightgown. I sleep on the lower bunk and prefer not to be seen when the curtains are not pulled! We wear only cotton, loose fitting clothing for comfort whether sleeping or sitting for long hours.

6) I worried about the noise at first. It didn't take long before I stopped hearing it. We idle most nights for the air conditioner and honestly, it puts me to sleep. I would not feel comfortable wearing ear plugs, I would worry about what I couldn't hear! Some complain that they cannot sleep while the truck is in motion, but I can. I like the rocking and bouncing!

Note: I don't get into the fear of germs. I certainly don't care to enter a filthy restroom, but to worry about using common washing machines, water from faucets and such, well, that to me is a part of life on the road. We have never gotten sick, we live well and are happy with our ability to sock away most of what we earn on the road. It costs too much money to eat regularly in restaurants, and the times we have been stuck at shippers/receivers in the middle of nowhere....we have been very thankful we could still eat decent meals and not live on snack foods.

 

You get driver rewards cards at the different truck stops and every time you fuel more than 50 gallons you're earn a shower than can be used up to two weeks. They provide the towels...you provide the shampoo.


There are 12 volt cookers you can buy pretty cheap that drivers use to cook a roast or something while they're driving. There are also plenty of 12 volt coolers of all sizes you can buy as well. Some are heaters and coolers.

 

2 weeks my foot.....

 

t/s's provide clean towels
Flyin J is the cheapest place to do laundry
use paper plates and plastic utensils
sleep how you want, just keep clothes ready like a fireman
idle will put you to sleep, no plugs while driving, what you dont hear may kill you or someone else

as plain simple and easy as i could put it

 

I'm not by far some expert, i'm still a newbie, but i've been around a little to know what i like and what works for me. I for one, dont want to look like a total bum, walking into a truck stop with 2 TV dinners, a load of dishes along with my dirty clothes. Might as well strap on a shopping cart to the back of my truck to help. hhahah

But seriously, I just throw all my clothes wet or worn, into the same laundry bag. I try to do laundry 2-3x a week. I've never run into mildew yet. Not saying they dont give off some smell, but they wash fine. If i can find a laundry mat nearby, ill head there, otherwise ill just cough up the $4 to wash and dry a load of laundry. I keep powdered detergent in a tupperware type bowl. easier to clean up if any spills on the floor.

Eating out of your truck is the easiest thing you can do to keep money in your pocket. When i started, i didnt have anything, and was eating out 2-3x a day !! I am now down to eating fast food 2-3 x a week (which is still bad). I have 2-3 different brands of cereal, and an electric cooler. Really dont keep things as cold as i like, and not cool enough to keep meats, but it works. I also have Chef Boyardee and Campbells in those microwave bowls. I always make sure the clerk behind the counter knows i'm bringing it in from the outside so they dont think i'm stealing it. i always buy something like an OJ or a hershey bar for the trouble of letting me use the microwave. Hate feeling like i'm a leach. I went and bought a Coleman propane stove. I then bought a smaller regular cooler to put ice in, to keep my meat. I'll fire that up 2-3x a week, and works pretty darn good. Kind of a hastle though to fire it up for 2-3 brats or a couple burgers. Havent tried cooking breakfast on it yet, but cant be that hard.

the only dishes i dirty are when i grill out. And my solution is to take two water bottles. open one up...take a swig, then put a few drops of Dawn dishsoap in it and shake it up. (be sure to swig before adding detergent) I poke a little hole in the top with soap, and have a little sponge. the other bottle of water to rinse. As far as my cereal goes...i just use paper bowls and plastic. (you can always load up on plastic at Wendy's)

I always wear gym shorts to bed. Depending on how hot it might be, i'll add a shirt or not.

Depending on if i have my sleeper vents open or not, ill wear the earplugs. If i dont have them open, i wont wear them. And also use one of those sleep-blindfold-mask things. Sometimes i get loads that make me drive thru the night, and i end up running out of hours when its 6am....and i have to sleep. Now i normally can konk right out and go to bed, but there is always someone in dispatch who loves to send stupid messages about deer hits in the early morning when i'm sleeping, and when i wake up, i cannot go back to bed if i can see sunlight....so ill pop that mask on to help.

 

On the note of cooking with the exhaust manifold-

I'm into Model T Fords and I know there was/is a "Dutch-Oven" that would bolt to the exhaust manifold of the Model T. The model T has an extra bolt in the center for the many who are unfamiliar with an 80 year old automobile.

**A Dutch Oven is a cast iron cooking pot with a lid, typically used when cooking over/in a camp-fire.

A similar product for trucks would be very useful. Superior to tin foil, as it would be nearly impossible for it to fall out of the truck.