TV's in the sleeper
 

Getting ready to start OTR training soon. When I'm on my own, will I most likely need to bring a TV for the sleeper?

No one 'needs' to bring a TV, but you may want to. I don't have one, never watched it when I did, so I left it at home and don't miss it.

In all honesty, driving solo I was too tired for the most part to mess with it.

Companies don't supply TV's so if you want one you will have to take care of it yourself.

A TV is a good way to help pass some of the "down-time". I always kept a good selection of books ( I love to read ).

TV in the sleeper
 

I like to read too, it will probably help to pass the time. I appreciate everyone's comments and suggestions, this is a good site to turn to when I need a no BS answer. Thanks!

Although I seldom have time to watch TV, I do recommend one, and a DVD player too. Most of the time, by the time I shut down (solo), I too am too tired to watch any television. I have a TV with the built in DVD which makes it nice. Runs on 12 Volt so I don't need an extra inverter.

I subscribe to NETFLIX, and have newer quality DVD's with me almost all the time. When I watch them I can drop the return envelope into the mail slot at almost any truckstop and there will be a new one at home for me next time I go through there.

Additionally, ensure that any TV you buy has is DTSC (digital) compliant as in February all broadcast signals will be in digital format!

Hadn't thought about Netflix. I know a lot of folks hook up Satellite tv in the cabs. But, you're right, if you're running solo, you tend to be too tired to mess with it! Bring a good book- lol!

digital format
 

I wonder if they even put trucks and rv's in the percentages when they figured how many would be effected by the switch. I do not recall the # they claimed would be effected but it seemed to me an extremly low number when I heard it.

Forget the TV, get a laptop with usb antennae, that way you have tv dvd plaver,internet, video games and everthing else a laptop will do all in one small package, all my stuff fits in my laptop rucksack. That way if you leave the truck for whatever reason you have all your valuables with you. Now if they make a laptop with a refrigeration unit attached for food I will be the first customer.

I have a TV in the sleeper and never turn it on.....I have a laptop with an aircard and spend down time surfing the internet.....

Check my new system out: http://www.classadrivers.com/phpBB2/...ic.php?t=35441

Malaki86, nice dancing girl icon you got there. -got distracted- What was the main topic again? ................

Oh yeah TV's in sleepers, You would have to bring your own. I rather read a book but that's just my opinion. =P.

They haven't done that yet...but I may have to start sleeping in the top bunk....

http://xocal.net/wp-content/uploads/...upertoilet.jpg

Re: TV's in the sleeper
 

Whatever you do, DON"T take it with you for your training!
Had one student who was insistant he take his-wanted to keep up on American Idol- you know, he and his family were really into it he told me!
He thought I was joking when I told him no, I can still see him looking up at me in the cab trying to hand it up to me!
Finally convinced him it was going to be done my way!
We never really did see eye to eye on most things concerning the truck!
Maybe I should have let him bring it along.....NOT!!

Well you're going to need a lap top for internet porn and a good TV with dvd/vhs for those not on the net...and a jumbo sized box of tissues /lotion from sam's club.

I kept a tv and dvd player in the truck when I was driving OTR, but I think I spent more time just listening to the satellite radio. I would never get a satellite TV system for the truck. If you use it enough to get your money's worth out of it, that's just too much down time.

That's Alizée. To me, she's sorta like Shakira.. don't give a damn for the crappy music, but the videos are enjoyable, all the same.

I knew I recognized her from somewhere, remember the videos from when I lived in Germany. Viva La France

I can even point you to the specific video from which the gif for that avatar came from.. it's a live performance of "J'en Ai Marre". My sister's quite an eerily obsessive fan of hers, and whenever I'd call my family in Finland, all she'd ever want to talk about was Alizée (she was 12 at the time). Nowadays, it's Kate Nash, Emma Schapplin, and Tarja Turunen. Perhaps, in a couple years time, she'll grow out of that obsessive fangirl stage of her life.

THANKS ALOT JEFF :shock:

I will be the first to tell you, get a USB internet card. My mentor, who has been a driver for 5 years, dont park in truck stops at night, because he cant back. Think of how hard it is for me to get a shower every other day or get internet on my wireless.

As far as the TV goes, if you got a good laptop, screw the TV. Besides, if you have some down time at a truck stop, why not go for a walk or strap a bike to the back of the truck, and go for a ride. No wonder half the drivers on the road are FAT. ...oh wait...i'm fat. =) but I will NOT be watching TV getting fatter. I'd rather go for a 30 min ride or a walk, then come back for a shower and hit the sack.

I drove 9 straight hours from just north of Iowa on I-35 to just inside OK. and i was ready to crash.

my question is, how can a newbie driver learn to get some sleep in the sleeper when the truck is bouncing all over??

And this is the guy who's teaching you how to drive? :?

In time.

Try a pair of earplugs.
Try sleeping on your stomach.
Keeps yer innards from shakn' all over!
Worked for me!

Jeff, I KNOW I KNOW. The first time he tried backing into a spot at Love's on I-55, i had to get out, and see how much room he had on the right side. HE HAD LIKE 4+ FEET !!! Then he came so close to the JB Hunt truck on his left, the trailer side BARELY touched (if it did) the fish eye mirror on the fender. He waived me up to the truck, and he said, "...that spot is too tight, let someone else have it."

I went to the Swift school in Idaho, and they taught us the 45* "alley dock". My mentor had a little more room than that, for that parking spot at the truck stop, and he couldnt park it. I was so needing a shower, i almost asked him to move over and let me park it.

I know the right way and the wrong way, thing that sucks is that I'm getting no experience doing much backing. If there was a poster around, saying how bad swift drivers cannot back, this guy would be on the cover.

I am currently reading " a confederacy of dunces" I highly recommend it. it takes a little while to get into it, but it's a great book