Quote:
Originally Posted by cdreid
Im out of trucking finally for better or worse (i planned it or a YEAR then when i quit.. the economy tanked argh)
When i was driving i ALWAYS had a laptop with S&T up. I might not even look at it as the last couple years i was on a dedicate route but it was always up. Save me hours several times when 75 or 40 was shut own.
Laptop vs gps - laptop wins every time. A gps or the most part ONLY does gps. You can hack tomtoms etc but i doubt u wanna spend hours every week oing that.
My "final version" laptop stand was the simplest and best. 1/4" plywood. Whole thing about 12" x 12"x12". Attached to the dash with industrial velcro ( i SWEAR i spent 50 bucks a year on that stuff heh). It had 2 "arms" that fit the furve of the ash then went own the front with arms holding up the laptop platform (same plywood.. 6" x 12") with velcro on it. Velcro's an fm transmitter to it and would go down the road listening to audiobooks or movies or winamp. IMHO the drivers who DONT do something like that end up batsh*t crazy or with whiteline fever.
Laptop also lets you lay over near a hotel and stream tv via hulu in yoru truck when youre stuck out.. or chat.. camfrog.. whatever.
Software - DELORME!
MS will send you down every little 2 lane restricted road on the planet. Ive had it try to send me down "shortcuts" through kentucky and pa. Thats a BAD idea. Delorme is easy to set to use mostly interstate and has Voice recognition that is REALLY good.
In other words get a laptop, delorme, a broadband card and some plywood and you have yoru gps and entertainment center. And heck you might just not become one of these 400 pound lonely crazy drivers or one of the "evil communists are after me" whackos. More than a few of whom hang out on this boar.
Funny you should mention how nice Delorme is... I just had one hell of an adventure this morning following my Delorme Street Atlas 2009 GPS--
Kettleman City, Ca -to- 2040 Guadalupe Rd, Guadalupe, Ca
starting off isn't bad- CA41 then you reach Shandon, Ca and you have a choice- stay on CA41 or continue on the "recommanded truck route of CA46 to Paso Robles-- Ok... the sign only says- Trucks with 30' or more from Kingpin-Axle Not recommended.
Isn't the first time- I've ignored a "recommended" sign- I'm empty.
Ok, If you've followed the delorme thus far and haven't chickened out..
Now, when you reach Creston, Ca- I highly recommend staying on CA41... now in hindsight. This is where Mr. Delorme wants you to turn onto CA229.
This is where the ride gets really interesting. Cus, you only go about a mile on CA229 before you lose the strip that usually divides the road! then there's a sign that reads- Road Narrors . It should read- one lane Mule Trail Ahead. Up over the mountain. Seriously, this road looks like a golf cart path at your local country club. If you survive that- and you won't if you meet a single car on it( lucky it was very early morning). Six Miles( so the sign reads). You then turn onto CA58 and several of the curves on it-- are only slightly better than CA229.
Follow Delorme... are you kidding! You better be ready for an adventure.