Sleeping in lay bys

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
21

The rocking never bothered me, nor did the noise, in fact my favourite time trying to get to sleep in a cab is when the rain is battering hell out of the roof and I’m wrapped up in my duvet like a burrito :smiley:

22

I love hearing the rain when I’m in bed may have something to do with all the camping I’ve done (called it fishing but there weren’t many fish involved) the noise of traffic, and fridges keep me awake though.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

23

tommyboy1289:

raxore:
As someone who has only been tramping a couple months now and thus far being able to normally find somewhere quiet or at least some form of truck stop. Today though I’ve simply ran out of hours and I’m having to sleep in a lay by for the night.

I do think im going to struggle as im a fairly light sleeper, with obviously lorries going by and your cab shaking like mad. Is this something you tend to get used to?

I have seen others positioned facing away from the road, does this help with the buffeting?

Any other lay by tips would be appreciated…
Thanks!

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

4 cans of lager does the trick, I always try to find a layby that’s set back from the road, but the odd occasion where i can’t i usually stay up a little later, make sure no caffeine drinks are consumed and i have a good meal, that way i’m ready to sleep and usually out for the count once i’ve got my head down.

If I can’t find a lay by set back from the road I keep driving. I never sleep in those without a divider, in my mind it’s too dangerous. I personally think going over hours to avoid parking in such lay bys is perfectly acceptable

24

lolipop:
Why do Drivers nearly always think they have to max out,instead of looking to park up a bit earlier in a reasonable place.
They more than likely pass by places because they still have 30 minutes left to run,and then they do all the usual end of shift stuff in their own time.

I don’t ! If I find a suitable place but still have 1 hours drive to drop so what I get up a bit earlier rather than stopping in a crap place

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

25

Bluey Circles:

Rowley010:
Luke Vernon posted a YouTube video about this where he basically says full uncouple the trailer and drive the unit forward just enough so the 5th wheel is out from underneath so there is no contact between traiker and unit. Just don’t forget in the morning as others have said otherwise you’ll get a 100 miles down the road thinking your load has become very light.

Never thought of doing that, but just having the trailer a foot back of the plate would offer massive protection.

It would be much safer as landing legs are down too. I normally drop the unit a little but never so far as the king pin is totally over the fifth wheel. If someone is going to shunt into trailer you want that king pin hitting the jaws of the fifth wheel not the catwalk!

26

I park where I can get a good night’s sleep. On the very very rare occasion I have been caught out I keep going and ■■■■ a infringement or fine. Better to get a infringement than risk falling asleep at the wheel.

Explanation on the print job done.

27

I pass drivers in lay bys every evening on the way to park up somewhere suitable, and it’s very rare I can’t find a space within time as I plan ahead and in worst case scenario waiting to be tipped or loaded and running out of time I’ll tell my tm I’m leaving with enough time to get me somewhere safe/decent.
I’ve spent a few in lay bys a50 and a14 Spring to mind, worst nights sleep ever not helped by drivers beeping their horn through the night the ■■■■■■■ pricks!
I’ve also ran over time to avoid lay bys but I’m older and wiser and won’t risk my life for the sake of an infringement or a fine any more.
That said I know plenty of drivers who won’t sleep anywhere other then a lay by and that suits me perfect because it means there’s more room for me in the quiet spots while they’re staying there :laughing:

28

bald bloke:

Daytrunker:
Wind the legs down cuts the rocking of passing traffic just don’t forget in the morning

This helps but leave a note on your dash reminding you, also if you are close to traffic fold your mirror in otherwise it might be gone come the morning, also put your head on the nearside of the cab by when you bed down just in case some clown stoves into the side of the cab.

Is Juddian really that bad a driver :stuck_out_tongue: :laughing:

29

dani1972:
I love hearing the rain when I’m in bed may have something to do with all the camping I’ve done (called it fishing but there weren’t many fish involved) the noise of traffic, and fridges keep me awake though.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Phew it’s not just me then, :laughing:

I also don’t mind the cab being rocked about either, did a race at Anglesey a couple of years ago, first night it was blowing a gale, cab was being blown about, but slept fine til about 4am when the wind died down and the cab stopped moving. :smiley:

30

Mikey D:
Had a horrendous night in a layby on the A41 just outside Chester going towards Whitchurch , fridge pulling paddies :smiling_imp: on the limiter, :unamused: cab rocking like hell I think I slept 5 mins all night . Needless to say I hadn’t taken my own advice that night . :cry: Never again :exclamation:

Bet there were a few V8 headers went by with the sidepipes and “blipp-blipp” on the throttle!!![emoji52]

Couldn’t think of anywhere worse to park than the A41 in a roadside laybye!!!

Sent from my SM-J500FN using Tapatalk

31

Oh don’t ! I was actually scared ! Thought I was gonna thrown out of the bunk worst ever night out !!
I should of gone over hours and got to Broxton :blush: , I’d of much preferred the dogging site , to that layby 2’ from Mr Tang with V8 side pipes :unamused: :laughing:

I think i was on about 9hr 58 min drive time and saw another truck in the layby so thought " oh it will be alright " lol

I’m in a lovely quiet industrial estate tonight and it’s bliss can even hear birds singing :grimacing:

32

My first ever night out was in a sleeperbox that leaked on the side of the A1 just north of Morpeth. Had a horrible time trying to kip on the A14 after running low on hours. Should of stayed in Ipswich… Even half way up the bank into the trees the cab never stopped rocking. I thought after about 10pm it would die down but no, all flipping night box jockerys heading to Felixstowe.