Living In The Cab, What Is That Like?

Question: How do you manage living in such a small apartment? Or, what is like to have access to 1000's of showers, but they're long miles apart. Old school truckers prolly will laugh, but whats the screen-situation like? Just my phone, or room for a TV? Wifi? Cell reception? Satellite radio? What do you like, dislike and wish you had. . .

I've got a follow-up question brewing about life outside-the-cab, so just "in the cab," for now!

Sorry, lots of questions there! But yeah, life in the cab. . . whats it like, good and bad?

My truck is my home away from home. I have a TV, DirecTV, satellite radio, microwave, portable freezer, portable grill, electric grill, Crock-Pot/pressure cooker/steamer combo, top of the line bedding.. everything you could possibly need or want. Let your imagination be your guide.

Glorious! Im never late for work and save money on rent and utilities.

The only thing i miss is a bathtub, but i get enough hotel rooms that i can survive.

i have my laptop, phone and tablet to stream videos. i use pandora so no need for sirius radio. my fridge is always stocked with lunch meat, milk for cereal and iced tea. My cat is with me and he loves lounging on the dash watching the trucks.

No relatives expect to be invited and stay. No friends just pop in unannounced. Im never worried about being evicted (although when i am forced to change trucks it feels that way.) if i want company i can take a student (not a good reason to train someone, but hey, i habe heard of worse lol)

i bought my own "snobby" mattress from a furniture store that is nicer than many hotels.

hair dyers blow my inverter, but i rarely blee my hair dry at home. makeup can be a pain because press powders break from the shaking and bottles of lotions, shampoo etc can explode in high altitudes.

many drivers have Direct Tv and i know one with a 40in or so mounted above the seats so both bunks can watch it.

many drivers have crock pots, skillets and cook on the truck.

heres an article i wrote about OTR trucking life in general.

the Culture shock of trucking

My truck is my home away from home. I have a TV, DirecTV, satellite radio, microwave, portable freezer, portable grill, electric grill, Crock-Pot/pressure cooker/steamer combo, top of the line bedding.. everything you could possibly need or want. Let your imagination be your guide.

I can not figure out how you can wash out a Crock-Pot, steamer, and other cooking supplies without running water. Do you take them into the truckstops?

Wolverine, if you go into a truck stop bathroom and see someone washing their cookware, brushing their teeth, or even standing there in their underwear taking a sponge bath at the sink, you'll know you're looking at a real truck driver. We improvise and make it happen.

We're also a little bit crazy!

I use the reynolds brand crock pot liners, but I also carry water, Dawn dish liquid, cleaning bucket, etc. Water is easy to heat. Some people do actually carry their things into a truck stop to wash.. who was it that washed their dishes in the shower?

I use paper plates and plastic utensils.

but if you look at youtube videos, you will see some.drivers who set up showers in their trucks with camping jugs. my ex had a hot plate to heat the water with a shower curtain going i to a runnermaid container.

we have porta potties and lots of stuff lol. we are survivors lol

I can not figure out how you can wash out a Crock-Pot, steamer, and other cooking supplies without running water. Do you take them into the truckstops?

Wolverine, Baby Wipes in one option. I use them to pre-clean my utensils and dishes until I can get to running water, then use some Dawn on everything. I use quart sized ziplocks to keep left over items in my cooler for the next meal. Microwave, in the bag, and voila' - food on the go. No food borne illnesses in the time I've been driving.

I take my laptop with me, am currently learning to play the tin whistle using the laptop, and instructional CD's. Another driver is using the "Musician" app for his tablet and learning to play guitar. Music occupies some of the 10 hour break, and also the downtime waiting in docks. My Cascadia (2017 - the newer models they're buying shorter sleepers) has enough room for a small TV, a microwave, and a thermoelectric cooler. I could probably fit a truck fridge in, but choose not to give up that much space. I keep a vacuum in the underbunk area to keep the house clean.

Your assessment of a small apartment is pretty accurate - it's a (roughly) 600 cubic foot studio apartment. If you're planning on having appliances, make sure that the tractor power inverter will support the item, ask your maintenance people if in doubt.

It requires, as Rainy has outlined in her excellent article, a major culture and attitude shift, but it's completely doable. Enjoy the challenge, embrace the privacy, and you'll do well!

Dawn was mentioned a couple of times...and it must be said.. Dawn is great for scrubbing floors cause it gets the grease and also a few drops in the wiper fluid helps.

These are all problems we don't have in day cabs