There is nothing quite as exhilarating and liberating as the open road. There is nothing but you, your vehicle, pavement, and your favorite podcasts to keep you company. Some of us carry vehicle commander “which really just fancy term for “guy in the passenger seat,” others bring our canine friends with us.
But all of us, bring a killer cab setup to help keep us occupied during those hours we aren’t able to operate our vehicles.
Transforming our workplace into our living space is no easy task. But long-haul truckers take no shortcuts when trying to make the cabs of their big rigs as close to home as possible. From killer stereo systems to refrigerators and hot plate, or sleepers which look like one-bedroom apartments, truckers will go to extreme lengths to bring their home to work.
TV’s
One of our favorite additions you can put in the cab of your truck is a flat screen tv. Because let's face it, most of our off time is spent looking at a tiny screen on our phone or tablets. And sure, this might seem okay at first, but we assure you, it won't be long before your neck starts to disagree.
The best thing about today’s technology is that it enables you to have devices that serve multiple purposes all while taking up the smallest amount of space as possible. This is awesome for those minimalists out there, but it’s a godsend for cross-country truckers because it allows you to have large screen TVs without having to dedicate tons of space to it.
We can’t speak for everyone, but we are of the opinion that a 24-inch model is perfect for a truck cab. It’s small enough to stay out of your way, but since you are in a confined space, the screen size appears GIANT. Another space-saving option is to mount it to the cab walls.
Another incredible thing about today’s televisions is that you can use it as a computer monitor as well. And hey, add as many TVs as you want. As the saying goes, the more, the merrier. Especially when you’re on the road during football season. You’ll need a few screens so you can keep up. *smile*
Gaming Consoles
Question: What's the best way to wind down after a long day of driving?
Answer: Popping open a bottle of… errrrr…. Soda (we all know the commercial vehicle laws on alcohol right) and turning on Call of Duty and slay some zombies.
If you’ve got a TV in your living quarters, you might as well have a gaming console. Even if you aren't a gamer, you can use it as a Netflix station (along with any other App in the world you can think of). Trust us when we say, a gaming console can take that mandatory eight hours of boredom and turn it into 2 hours of AWESOME and three hours sound sleep.
Mobile Wireless Hotspot Booster
How are you going to hop on Netflix, or HBO go to catch up on Season 1 of Westworld without internet access?
Yeah, we guess you could use the Wi-Fi at the truck stop, but… Are those things unreliable or what? There are a couple of options here. You can go to your cell phone provider and use their mobile hotspots; this really should be a last resort though.
Instead, get yourself a Wi-Fi signal booster and utilize the nearly unlimited access to free Wi-Fi across the country. Also, a lot of company’s offer free wireless internet in their vehicles. Before signing on with a company, inquire about whether or not they have Wi-Fi in their vehicles.
Sound System
Soundbars like this one can take your living quarters over the top. Let’s remember: We are in a very confined space; you don’t have to go overboard and purchase a Dolby 7.1 surround sound speaker system. But a sound bar will go a very long way towards adding some ambiance and immersion while binge-watching your favorite shows during your downtime.
Mini Fridge
You can’t spend the night in your truck with warm beverages and nothing to eat - at least not if you want to enjoy yourself. And you surely don’t need to be spending money every day on cold drinks. A minifridge solves both of these problems for you.
Check out some minifridges that fit the space you have in the back of your cab. Some even have optional freezers that give you a place to that tub of Ben and Jerry’s you know you shouldn’t be inhaling. But hey, what good is life on the road if you can’t overindulge yourself sometimes.
Just remember to clean it out before you park your truck in between trips. Trust us when we say, soured week-old milk WILL ruin your next job…. Ewww!
Hot Plate
We all know the trucker stereotype. Out of shape middle, aged men and women belching out remnants of McDonald’s Big Mac meals. And it isn’t all that far off either. Life on the road means a lot of eating at truck stops and fast food joints. All of which are laced with high fructose corn syrup and a boatload of carbs.
The best move you can make for yourself is to get a burner, so you can cook yourself up some fresh veggies and maybe even a salmon fillet here and there (this is where your mini fridge really shows its value). Stay healthy; it helps you keep in shape and even more important, it’ll keep you alert while you are on the open road.
Wrap - Up
We all love the open road; if you don’t, then you’ve probably landed on the wrong article. But that doesn’t mean driving cross country for a living doesn’t come with its share of stress and frustration.
If you want to keep yourself sane for the long haul (ha-ha get it?), then you’ve got to give yourself a space you enjoy being in on your off time.
