Greetings all!
I feel obliged to give a sort of introduction since this is my very first topic, and I am virtually unknown here in the tight-knit CAD community.

I found this site - well, I really don't remember how I found this site.. but I remember being grateful that I had because there were times when I felt absolutely alone out on the road - I still feel that way sometimes. Simply reading the posts here - lurking - had me feeling some connection to other drivers. I've read posts that had me falling out of my seat, laughing... and others that made me want to spit fire in anger. That is neither here, nor there, and I take it all in stride. I'm happy to know that this community exists in the event I have to ask a major question that has been at the forefront of my thoughts for quite some time.

It, like another topic here, concerns the "poor driver image" and our ways of battling it. And so, I begin. First, we all know that there is limited space in trucks. We all know that most of the major chains have laundry facilities, and we all probably know that Roadpro sells a number of electronics 12V ready. Do you all think it would be too much to ask that someone, anyone, come up with a 12V clothing iron? Is it even feasible? I mean, I know that I could take an iron into the laundry room and iron in there, but wouldn't it be easier to accomplish this in the truck on a per day basis? Considering the limited space, we could fold our clothes down and iron them for the next day - instead of relying on trying to find dry cleaners. For me, I usually pay my aunt to do my laundry - she needs the money and I hate using my 34 hour break or my time off to do it myself. We swap out bags; I give her a bag of dirty clothes and she gives me a bag of clean ones.

I take my job very seriously; I want my company and our customers to take me seriously, too. I would love to get out of my athletic pants and jeans (jeans are not at all comfortable for me when driving many hours) and wear something more business casual, but is there really a point? Even if I had the iron, I would still have to battle fifth wheel grease, oil, sweat in the summer, dirty drop lots, etc.
I have considered this topic long and hard, but I cannot go another day without having an answer. I appreciate feedback, but be gentle and remember that this is my very first topic :wink:

* Thanks!

 

Not allowed a small inverter in your truck? Even the temporary plug in kind? The truckstops sell one that fits in your cupholder, plugs into cig lighter, and has AC plugins. No hardwiring necessary, and can be removed as soon as you're done.

 

A clothes iron is a high wattage item - usually between 1000 - 1800 watts. A plug in inverter wouldn't handle the wattage. Many hard wired inverters can't even handle that kind of power.

 

Hobo already said pretty much what I was going to say. However, you might want o check the wattage of the iron and make certain that the inverter you get will handle the power draw of the iron. Then, as long as you have a flat surface to use the iron on, you should be in fine shape.

 

I don't really like jeans all the time myself. I've found Dockers to be comfortable. They are also wrinkle and stain resistant.

 

Rechargeable Cordless Steam Iron

They also make sprays that will relax fabrics and take the wrinkles out.

 

 

I would assume that a 1200 watt cordless iron requires 1200 watts to charge it. That doesn't really solve the power problem, now does it? (unless of course you plan to charge it at a shipper or receiver, in which case, why not just do your ironing there?)

 

I disagree, if it is operating off a battery, it would not take 1200 watts to charge a battery. Battery charger such as that probably has a 100 to 300 watt draw.

 

I meant to include such a caveat in my post, and obviously I should have. I have no idea what the wattage of an iron is. I don't use them.

I just checked my iron. It is 1100W AC only - household use only. I'm pretty sure they MAKE "travel irons." My hair dryer (don't laugh) is 1260W. I KNOW I've seen people using them in their trucks. Don't they make a plug in inverter that handles about 1200 Watts? Again.... just asking. I've never used an inverter in my truck. I didn't LIVE in it.