Trying to stay warm in winter is a
struggle for most people, depending on where you live of course, but it’s
especially tough on truckers. Those of us who drive freight on 18 wheels and live
out of our truck through all of the seasons are daredevils!
There
are several ways to stay warm in winter, though, and you should be taking advantage
of them. Just treat it like you were going to go camping during the winter or
fall seasons, and you’ll be alright.
If you
were camping, you would want a heavy sleeping bag or several really heavy
blankets. The same goes for being on the road!
Be sure
to check with your company to see if they do have an extreme cold weather idle
requirement. Most of them require the truck to run when the temp gets below 20
degrees. When traveling in colder climates, you should always be ready for
whatever you may encounter.
Here are
a few tips to stay warm in the winter that you can use this cold season in your
truck:
1. Inspect Your Vehicle
Professional
drivers are required to check their vehicles before every trip. We do a visual,
hands-on inspection and check all necessary items, including tires, wiper
blades, fluids, and lights. Check your vehicle more often due to temperatures.
This
ensures that you don’t have any serious engine issues that would prevent your
rig from working and turning you into a popsicle.
2. Run
Your Heater
Otherwise,
as you are finishing up your paperwork and getting ready for bed, run your
heater and fan on their highest setting to heat the truck up. Just before you
shut the truck off, remember to turn the fan down, or you'll be blowing icy air
at you first thing in the morning.
You can
also get yourself a space heater and power it through an external power source,
so it doesn’t suck on the battery power.
3. Sleeping
Bag
One of the best choices to keep
yourself warm at night is a heavy duty sleeping bag. The stores selling camping
gear offer sleeping bags that can help you stay warm even when the temperatures
are well below freezing.
Doing this helps, but getting some thick
blankets to pile on top is another important thing to do in the extreme cold
you may encounter.
4. A 12V Mattress Pad
These mattress pads are popular among
the truckers who spend cold winter nights in their vehicles. They are plugged
into a lighter socket and help you stay warm all night without idling the
engine. The 12V mattress pad shouldn’t deplete the batteries if they are in
good condition. Old batteries might not last all night so you would need to run
the engine at least once.
5.
Down Comforter
While a sleeping bag might be a good
solution, it can be rather cold when you just get into it. Some truckers don’t
appreciate such bags since it takes too long to get in and out. A simple down
comforter can provide the heat you need to get initially warm. You can either
use it separately or with a sleeping bag.
Before spending the first winter
night in your truck, make sure you are fully equipped.
However, if you are freezing, there
is no need to save idling time. Turn the engine on. Your health is priceless.
Contact Us
We know truckers have
tons of other tricks to help stay warm in winter, but these are a few of the
proven tips that we know work. If you’re having any problems with your truck or
have a question about your current
order, give us a call at 877-693-5192.