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What is the bare minimum to bring with my trainer?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by sbeatty1983, Jul 16, 2011.

  1. Jul 16, 2011 #1
    sbeatty1983

    sbeatty1983 Light Load Member

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    Jun 4, 2011
    Tupelo, MS
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    Ok so here is my dilemma. I go out with my trainer monday morning. I have to meet him an hour and a half north of me. The local dodge service department let me down and i dont have my car so im going to have to strap all the gear i need on my sport bike and ride it to his house. I can get all the clothes i need in my duffel bag and back pack and wear my steel toes. Do i need a sleeping bag or can i just use a top and bottom sheet and an inflatable camping pillow? Truck will be a freightliner columbia condo cab. I assumed the only need for a sleeping bag would be to lay on top of on the top bunk since its 85 degrees at night and a sheet should be plenty of cover.

    thanks everyone
     
    Last edited: Jul 16, 2011
    sbeatty1983, Jul 16, 2011
    sbeatty1983, Jul 16, 2011
    #1
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  3. Jul 16, 2011 #2
    chompi

    chompi Road Train Member

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    Deland, FL
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    Hard to say. Some trainers have you sleep in their bed, some have you use top bunk. Some of them don't want you touching their bedding (which I can understand) I would say to bring what you think will be comfortable for you and go from there. You aren't going to the moon so if you need something or forget something you can run by Wallymarts and get it pretty cheap.
    Good luck man!
     
    chompi, Jul 16, 2011
    chompi, Jul 16, 2011
    #2
    sbeatty1983 Thanks this.
  4. Jul 16, 2011 #3
    Allow Me.

    Allow Me. Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Clothing, toothbrush, pen, wallet, sleeping bag, shoes, will get you by until you can get home. Also something to organize your paperwork, like a small briefcase. Truckstops have laundry facilities. A sport bike ? As in bicycle or motorcycle ?
     
    Allow Me., Jul 16, 2011
    Allow Me., Jul 16, 2011
    #3
    sbeatty1983 Thanks this.
  5. Jul 16, 2011 #4
    sbeatty1983

    sbeatty1983 Light Load Member

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    Jun 4, 2011
    Tupelo, MS
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    Motorcycle. A honda vtr 1000 superhawk. What she lacks in speed she makes up for in class.:biggrin_25519: Yeah i can strap everything i need on there except my sleeping bag. I will be with the trainer for 4 weeks but will be home most weekends so im not too worried about not bringing enough stuff. Also i dont want to over step my boundries by bringing too much stuff and taking up his space. Also if i can get through the first week without a sleeping bag the mechanics should have my clutch in and my car back together by the time i get back next weekend. so after that i will have plenty of room to take stuff back and forth with me.
     
    sbeatty1983, Jul 16, 2011
    sbeatty1983, Jul 16, 2011
    #4
  7. Jul 17, 2011 #5
    Ranger70

    Ranger70 Light Load Member

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    Aug 28, 2010
    Joliet Il
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    Instead of a sleeping bag, what about a lighter blanket. Roll your clothes up and put into a bag, takes up less room. Have some money just in case, it ain't cheap eating out, did you ask your trainer what he does.
     
    Ranger70, Jul 17, 2011
    Ranger70, Jul 17, 2011
    #5
  8. Jul 17, 2011 #6
    walstib

    walstib Darkstar

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    Since you aren't there, your house!
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    Money in case you need to bail or get bailed due to irreconcilable differences...Seems the quality of trainer you get is a crap shoot...

    After reading some of the horror stories here, I would discuss, upfront, stops in regard to the bathroom, laundry, hygiene and food...I would also be proactive and ask him/her what they are looking for and what they've found to be the biggest problems with others they have trained(if applicable)...Covering those things upfront may eliminate some problems...And like a good marriage, know when to pick your battles, even when you think you're right, as long as it's not a safety or legal issue, it may be best to take it on the chin at times...Good luck!
     
    walstib, Jul 17, 2011
    walstib, Jul 17, 2011
    #6
    Guitar Man and tinytim Thank this.
  9. Jul 17, 2011 #7
    Guitar Man

    Guitar Man Medium Load Member

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    I would re-read this post until I memorized it if I were you. That is some very sound advice IMHO.:yes2557:
     
    Guitar Man, Jul 17, 2011
    Guitar Man, Jul 17, 2011
    #7
    walstib Thanks this.
  10. Jul 17, 2011 #8
    Big Rigg

    Big Rigg Medium Load Member

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    Corona, CA
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    What walstib said is good advice. I talked to my trainer on the phone and asked him about a lot of those questions and he was glad to respond. I also asked him about what I had packed and he gave me suggestions about what to leave and what to take. As far as the sleeping bag goes it is mainly for you to lay ontop of the bottom bunk while your trainer is driving. So if you have a blanket that will do the same thing then it should be fine. Most of the companies will not let you sleep on the top bunk while the truck is moving for safety issues.
     
    Big Rigg, Jul 17, 2011
    Big Rigg, Jul 17, 2011
    #8
  11. Jul 17, 2011 #9
    Allow Me.

    Allow Me. Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    OK, yeah, a blanket will do for the first week, since this is July, right ?
     
    Allow Me., Jul 17, 2011
    Allow Me., Jul 17, 2011
    #9
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