Top 10 Things You Absolutely Have To Have In Your Truck

Saw a YouTube video and a great suggestion was plenty of charging cords for your phone etc. Apparently they break and get lost easy on trucks.

Every freaking time I set my phone on the dash I hit a bump and guess which end lands first? Yes they break easy and no... you never hit a bump that bad till the phone is plugged in.

A case of dried noodles and several gallons of water on the truck at all times, especially in the winter. Getting stuck on the northern interstates like I-80 in bad weather can last a while.

A little bitty microwave if you have a inverter big enough to handle it. A 1500 watt inverter connected to the main electrical system (not plugged into a 12v outlet) can handle a 700 watt microwave.

Again, for winter. A 5-gallon bucket with a sealable top, filled partway with kitty-litter. What goes in must come out, and if it's -30 degrees with 30 mile per hour wind, you're not going to want to hang your butt out. After use, either clean it or throw away and buy a new bucket when you get back to civilization.

Satellite radio. There are too many places in the country with garbage radio selections, and no cell data worth speaking about.

I haven't owned a TV since 1989, so I have no desire for one, but if you want TV, a satellite TV system and DVR would be a good idea.

A 12v piezoelectric cooler. I use it for cold cuts and drinks. I prefer my soda at room temperature, but the cooler is a handy place to keep them. without taking up more floor space.

Raincoat or poncho. You WILL be getting out in the rain and wet snow.

A small trash can, 2-3 gallons or so. That's big enough to be useful, and small enough that you can use plastic bags from truck stops and grocery stores for liners.

A big box of brown manila envelopes, and a bigger empty box that they can fit in. Every load you haul, put it in a separate envelope, and document date start and end, load number, miles, and itemized expenses on the outside of the envelope. If weird things happen, document them on the outside of the envelope as well. As you are paid, check against the outside of the envelope. If it's good, put it in the storage box. If it's bad, open the envelope, double check, then take steps to fix your money.

Only thing I'd add to the things already mentioned are

1. A box of latex (or nitrile) gloves to go under your regular gloves for when it's very cold and wet. Keeps your hands dry and warm while you're hooking up trailers or strapping loads. Throw the wet gloves on the defroster once you're moving again.

2. Wag bags to go inside the bucket when nature calls and there's just really nowhere to go. Find 'em in the camping section of your favorite store. Less mess and fuss.

3. A sense of humor. This will help you keep together in one place all those other great things Old School listed, and will help prevent GTS.

Thank you everyone this has help so much. Anything I need for reefer

Not necessarily in this order.

1.Tarp Straps a.k.a. bungees 2.Commercial grade pull chain - can be used for well...pulling...or! if you manage to get a rock stuck in your duallies I imagine this doesn't happen as much OTR but...i also imagine it could. Damaging your side walls - blowing a tire or flinging it out into traffic! 3.A good sturdy clip board with compartment w/lots of pens 4.Set of common tools - wrenches/sockets/pliers/vise grips/mini sledge/head lamp etc - 5th wheel pin puller 5.Baby wipes! among your other toiletries 6.1 gal each of oil & coolant. quart of lucas hub oil & marvel mystery oil 7.Dash cam (maybe your company has one...if not, why not put in your own, seriously there's a lot of scary drivers out there. could save your butt and license one day) 8.CB Radio and maybe a VHF big radio 9.Packed Cooler 10.Entertainment & all the chargers too....

If you've got a friend you can bring, pack them up too haha

I need to get off my butt and install that dash cam I bought...even if all it amounts to is silly youtube videos of all the terrible drivers out there.

Bah humbug....why did it not make it a list? must be a trick i'm missing boooo. Anywho...not sure how much of that is applicable but that's basically what I carry but I'm no OTR driver O.o...plus gloves like Bud A. said

LMAO!

Thanks All! Great stuff!

For class project (2,000 mi. round trip) we had to start with 150 - 200 items. Seemed excessive. Now it seems a bit light!

Have to ask... what about FixAFlat? Is it useless for truck tires or could it (or multiple cans maybe) help with a slow leak, nail / screw puncture, etc.?

Other "quick fix" solutions like FlexSeal, liquid rubber, silicone sealant, etc.? Again... not a huge fan of "band-aid" type fixes but if it helps get me down the road, to a real repair, etc.... WTH?

Thanks!

Clyff A - thanks for asking it; it's a GREAT question! I've learned a lot from the replies too. Thanks everyone for the info; definitely a lot of things I wouldn't have thought of. Starting list now...

Great thread!

Thanks to Old School, my list just got longer. LOL - Definitely need those ten things. All great ideas.

Here's the thing....if we poll every trucker and combined their lists of essential items to carry, you would fill not only the truck but your trailer and a triple wiggle wagon with all the stuff. We each have to decide what is important for us. I've found that if I don't use it regularly but can get it at a truck stop, I'm not carrying it. Even with that approach, I have far too much stuff in my truck and am constantly trying to thin it out. Stuff just takes over and owns ya.

New trucker here, just wondering from all types of truckers with all types of experience what would be the top 10 things you absolutely have to have in your truck I'd like to get an idea of things I may have not thought of bringing. Now I understand it's kind of a novelty question because of course you need more then 10 things but I'd still like to know all y'alls opinions and just to clarify I'm not meaning necessities like gps, smart phone, clothes, toiletries etc... But just the other useful things needed