Question:
Before you go out and spend your money on things you think will make your life more bearable, or less expensive while on the road it is in your best intrest to do a few things first.
1. Learn your company's current policy in regards to addidng toys, gizmos, and accessories to the truck. If you have doubts about whether you can add an item, ask. Companies have very different policies from one place to the next. Even if allowed some companies may require that item be left in or on the truck when you vacate it.
2. Wait until you get issued your truck to see how practical it is for you to add that item. Some items fit better in certain trucks then others.
3. On some items like satellite systems: Wait until you see what kind of running you will be doing before spending that kind of money. You may find that only being shut down for the required rest period is not worth the time it takes to set up the dish every night and the expense of maintaining a subscription.
I will always be a mutter trucker at heart.
Answer:
I'll second that, especially for anything electronic. This includes inverters and anything that "plugs in" such as microwave ovens, TV's, VCR's, satellite. If you are inexperienced, get used to driving first by yourself to see if you will really have time and/or money for such things. Also, companies have certain policies on what types of electronics can be added, and many companies do not allow inverters at all.

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I'll second that cadillac...I have the T.V./VCR and I rarely have time to turn the darn thing on.When I have the time I usually am asleep within 15 minutes anyway.
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For newbies I suggest that you wait before buying goodies for the truck. Definitely check the company policy before you buy anything.
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For example: I bought a CB radio from another driver for $20. He hooked it up for me and made sure it worked.
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You can find some real bargains if you ask around; but, beware of the crooks out there. Make sure it works before you give up your hard earned money.

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You still have time to watch it? I took mine out about 8 months ago. I got tired of dusting it. I never got to watch the dang thing. Two days after I took it out. I had to sit for 2 days. O well, I had the lap top.202 N Main Street
Summerfield Il 62289
TRUCK PARKING AVAILABLE!

Answer:
Uturn,
Shoulda waited???
Oh, well... I'm sure the company will let me use them anyway: a pink lawn flamingo for a hood ornament; and this really cool lime-green-with-orange-spots propeller that attaches to the center of the grille. You oughta see that sucker spin at 70mph!
DD

Answer:

Also, when you're still training and waiting for your own truck, you don't want to be lugging a lot of junk around. Chances are, you'll be moving it MANY times between trucks, motel rooms, etc...
Go to orientation/training as light as possible.
When you get your own truck, start adding things like a cb and cooler (first priorities).
A simple tv is great for checking local traffic and weather. I turn mine on, scan for local channels (don't lose the remote) and find out if they're predicting snow and where the accidents are, etc. But as pointed-out above, there may be little time to watch it, unless you're watching tv instead of sleeping. Satellites tv doesn't get used as much as most drivers think they'll use it. Go slow on this stuff.

Answer:
daytrader,
Thats exactly why I leave it in there;but the truth is I spend more of my free time(what little there is of it) on the computer.What with the dedicated tire thing I do/driver unload theres not much time to sit and watch T.V.,but I can always find a minute or two to read a couple post and fire off a rebuttal.I watch T.V. on Saturday's when I'm usually home.

Answer:
Sattelite TV is worth it just for the weather channel but that would apply to the PC if you have a laptop. Laptop and satelite TV, best two things I ever bought. If you only watch it once a month it is worth 22.50 because it is next best thing to a motel room. And you will get caught with free time/layovers et... more than once a month.
OOIDA Memeber
I'm only driving as a temporary job so that probably makes me smarter than you. April 5th 1993.***Patience is the hardest thing to learn..

Answer:
If you put in one of those Walmart cooler/refrigerator in your truck can you plug it into the cigarette lighter or do you have to buy a inverter? Same with your laptop?

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There will be three or four 12 volt power outlets in the truck.Usually one in the sleeper birth area,one in the designed space for the T.V.,one in the designed space for the cooler,and one on the dash as well as a cigarette lighter.I still recommend purchasing a small(300-400 watt)inverter to supply 110 volt power to small electric cooking appliances.But you can also buy these appliances that are set up for 12 volt but they tend to be more expensive,especially if you purchase them in a truck stop.
The Governor.

Answer:
Those "coolers" (walMart, truckstops) for around $80 all have 12-volt cigrette lighter plugs.
You may see "Refrigerators" the same size. More expensive and must be hard-wired to the truck's electrical system -- too much load for the cigarete outlet.
You need an inverteror a converter to power your laptop.
inverter
Most common -- it gives you a household outlet you can plug your laptop's power supply into, just like at home.
converter
This takes the truck's 12-volt and "converts" it to another low-voltage output. It's designed to power laptops in 12-volt vehicles thru the cigarette outlet, and has a set-screw you adjust to your laptop's particular power input (check the label on the bottom, mine runs on 18.5 volts) You plug it directly into your laptop, eliminating the powersupply and the household plug and all the extra wires. It comes with a selection of interchangeable plugs to match the power input socket on your laptop. Very neat and compact, about half the size of a pack of smokes. Radio Shack sells them. I think it's the simplest way to power a laptop -- and there's only two connections that can shake loose or get pulled apart if you trip over them, etc -- a problem when setting up things like this in a crowdd truck.
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Just watch how quickly you run out of 12-volt power outlets.

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I was just in the process of planning my list of things to start buying when I saw this topic. You may have saved me a bit of needless spending.

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"Laptop and satelite TV, best two things I ever bought." You need to get you a XM radio. Then you can say "XM Radio and Laptop, two best investents I made".lol I have had my XM for 2 years. I use the weather channel on it daily. They do good traffic accidents also. Tax dedutable subsciption is a plus.202 N Main Street
Summerfield Il 62289
TRUCK PARKING AVAILABLE!