Got back to the yard about 2 pm my new motor was sat waiting for me to change over to.
Every bloody thing was to pull out, had to wire my fridge up to a new Anderson plug (well my boy did ) because Merc has stopped putting a 24 v socket next to underbunk drawer (which was to take out and then put back in my old motor where fridge had beenā¦boy again) tv to fix on side of cab and other little jobs.
Anyway by the time I got sorted it was half past 7 , and that was with my 2 lads helping me.
The amount of crap I carry around with me is unreal, I have been caught out over the years not having the right gear, so now it looks like I cover every potential eventuality to the point that I just carry too much.
Is it just me or do you other trampers carry far too much gear.
Did not even have time to put my poofy curtains in, so job for the morning.
Worst thing is (well not worst ) is that I am off next week, so hope it will be kept tidy by daymanā¦to be fair it usually is .
Totally agree. I carry far too much, but then again, itās a long while since I had a situation where I thought I havenāt got anything for that. Iām also the go to guy in the yard, as I carry everything
Every tramper should spend a week as a day shift driver, but doing odd nights out. Without a cab full of tat and mod consā¦ really makes you appreciate how good tramping today is, and it sorts the men from the snivelling boys.
(Iām making sure to put my sleeping bag etc in the cab tomorrow, as it looks like Iām going to run out of time tomorrow. )
I carry loads of stuff for in the cab but what most people appreciate is how many tools I carry and I have helped guys out before when they have broke something on the road and I can fix it.
I have helped a couple of guys so they donāt have to call their boss and ask for a call out. To be honest others have helped me as well and got me out the ā ā ā ā ā ā .
As for normal kit I have condensed a TV and dvd player to a ipad and Netflix.
To be fair I have very few nights outā¦but carry all sorts of stuff that I feel I may need!
Its always better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it
I feel your pain Rob.
Athough previous training in a past life has made me exceptionally fast at the withdrawl method, yep im a black belt in ācoitus-interuptusā (the least satisfying marital art of all time), changing trucks can be a right pain in the arse, even worse than when the wife experimented with a ā ā ā ā ā ā ā technique on me for a birthday surprise. Worst bday prezzie ever but not one to look a gift horse in the mouth I took one for the team, well several if im honest.
Anyway a recent new vehicle at short notice saw me panic strip my old motor down so I could settle in whilst booking a max shift.
Basically I make the bed, sort out me phone and flask positions then chuck everything else on the bed for sorting out later.
On this occasion I only had one hour till my VBS (port booking slot) expired, to cut a long story short I let it expire (I warned them it would) and they had to rebook, thus making me late for my delivery. But bollox to em.
If I remove all my crap I swear I could get another half ton on my wagon
I donāt tramp but I am often night outed at the last minute.
I just cleared out the draw on the dash and found 4 pairs of reading glasses I thought I lost.
My side lockers are full of tools and socket sets, and the fact I asked stores for 3 rolls of blue roll and they said just take a box (how much ā ā ā ā do they think i watch ) so I took a box of blue roll now they are stuffed everywhere
nick2008:
Day drivers bag and a 2nd bag with bedding and change of clothing job done
Yeh ok, but you sound like a ājust in caseā (no pun intended about driverās bags btw) kind of driver, rather than a full time regular tramper, ie most nights every week, or the more ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā¦every night every week type.
Although I no longer do week-ends away (normally) I still carry enough clothes for a coupla weeks. No TV, but a lap-top although that often isnt fired up from one week to the next. Loads of books tho. Ive often got a bit of fiction on the go for short breaks, and maybe summat heavier for a longer break or ferry crossing. Having the craic with mates on the boat is good, but I can`t be doing with more miles over coffee than over the steering wheel. Single burner cooker and a few tinnies for when ācaught outā. Been lucky enough to have fitted fridges in last few trucks. Always a proper duvet with a fitted bottom sheet. Got a sleeping bag tucked away tho so I can ācab hopā easily if required with hand portable stuff if needed.
RobRoy ever heard of āspare room syndromeā? The idea is we tend to acquire stuff to fill up any available space such as spare rooms. Always easy to move to a bigger house or cab but not to down-size.
When I moved from my rigid where I did nights out to artics where Iām just doing nights, I filled my car up with all the crap I had. Even in a Premium I managed to accumulate a ton of crap.
was thinking about this the other day - you donāt be long in gathering a lot of kit up -
coolbox/fridge/ cooking gear - Ā£400
Cb+aerial -Ā£150
Tablet - Ā£100
Smartphone - Ā£500
Bedding gear / frilly curtains /interior carpets - Ā£200
laptop - Ā£200
an easy Ā£1500 +
If the truck got stole / went on fire - your out a lot of money . Can you get insurance to cover yourself for this sort of loss ?
beefy4605:
was thinking about this the other day - you donāt be long in gathering a lot of kit up -
coolbox/fridge/ cooking gear - Ā£400
Cb+aerial -Ā£150
Tablet - Ā£100
Smartphone - Ā£500
Bedding gear / frilly curtains /interior carpets - Ā£200
laptop - Ā£200
an easy Ā£1500 +
If the truck got stole / went on fire - your out a lot of money . Can you get insurance to cover yourself for this sort of loss ?
beefy4605:
was thinking about this the other day - you donāt be long in gathering a lot of kit up -
coolbox/fridge/ cooking gear - Ā£400
Cb+aerial -Ā£150
Tablet - Ā£100
Smartphone - Ā£500
Bedding gear / frilly curtains /interior carpets - Ā£200
laptop - Ā£200
an easy Ā£1500 +
If the truck got stole / went on fire - your out a lot of money . Can you get insurance to cover yourself for this sort of loss ?
Look out folks, Mr Rich is here!
Quite conservative estimate compared to some people out there .
nick2008:
Day drivers bag and a 2nd bag with bedding and change of clothing job done
Yeh ok, but you sound like a ājust in caseā (no pun intended about driverās bags btw) kind of driver, rather than a full time regular tramper, ie most nights every week, or the more ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā¦every night every week type.
Done the out all night every night too.
Yes more crap than anything.
In the end I started clearing stuff out so I could put everything into 3 bags.
When I did the full time lorry living thing it would take me 4 hours to empty one lorry and set it all up in another one. FOUR HOURS! Thankfully now Iām home most nights my lorry has a fraction of stuff I used to drag about
) because Merc has stopped putting a 24 v socket next to underbunk drawer (which was to take out and then put back in my old motor where fridge had beenā¦boy again) tv to fix on side of cab and other little jobs.
, and that was with my 2 lads helping me.
)
) so I took a box of blue roll now they are stuffed everywhere 