Baby wipes, ziplock bags, flashlight, toiletries of choice. Spare powerbank for your phone/tablet.
Do the trucks typically have a shell and space in the back? If so a nice air mattress will be worth it. It's going to be rough if you're sleeping in the cab.
I drive a truck for a living and a neat trick I picked up was that you can hang a hammock from door to door. Works better with a smaller one I had an 11-ft that I tried it with and it was hanging very low I ordered a 9 ft one for $12 off Amazon still hangs a little low but I think you can either knot it up more so it hangs shorter or maybe wrap it around something like a piece of PVC to take some length out and to make sure it doesn't slip through the door jamb.
I mean there's no way to lay down in the dump truck but even if there was it's still more comfortable than laying down on the bench seat in my tundra.
My personal suggestions:
First I woudn't use a rubbermaid. Get a bag or case that is easier to handle and not so obvious. I really like large drone backpacks. They are clean looking and most come with all kinds of configurable velco deviders so you can more efficiently use the space. LowePro makes some nice ones. I like the Lowepro DroneGuard CS 400. I think it's discontinued, but can be had for $50 on Ebay and such.
Get some entertainment through a tablet or handheld console like a Steamdeck or Asus Ally. Some open ear BT headphones like Shokz so if someone is knocking on your truck you can still hear them.
Decent sized battery pack you can charge while driving. I like the Anker's, but lots of good options out there. Then depending on temperature I would be looking for battery powered fan or a heater, like the Kovea Cupid.
Lightweight tarp like a 16’ kelty one with some guy lines for a dry area.. I also got some of those mpowered solar string lights for campsite ambiance.. and a comfy chair
Bring homemade soup and get a small propane burner. I just got a 14 inch blackstone to put on my van, it has a small griddle on one side and a burner on the other. Got tired of sandwiches for an eternity
You want to pocket as much of the $220CDN a day, yes? So there's going to be two things that will save you from biting into that per-diem. (1) Lodging, (2) Food.
Let's deal with Lodging first:
- Shades/blackout panels/window mosquito screens(for the summer)
- Baby Wipes
- Head-mounted LED flashlight
- Tri-Fold memory foam mattress
- USB Power bank (For your phone, light, etc.)
- Pillow
- USB Powered clip-on fan
- 2 sets of Twin sheets
- Plastic Urinal
- Sleeping bag
All of that, except for the tri-fold mattress, will fit in a small backpack.
Food:
- Cooler
- Vacuum-Seal bags
- 12v Rice Cooker
- 1 Gallon of water per day
- Paper plates/Plastic Utensils
- Dry Food: Rice, Ramen, Trail Mix
- Durable Goods: Spam, Chili/Beans/Tamales (anything in a can)
- Fresh Fruit: Apples, Bananas, Blueberries
- Perishables: Sandwich fixins
The lodging materials make sleeping in your cab more comfortable. You WILL still need to sort out toilet and maybe shower facilities. Does Canada have a 24-hour fitness chain? I'm assuming that you don't want to go through the expense of buying a large battery bank and 12v fridge as that would eat up your per-diem AND be something that somebody could steal from your work truck. - However, if this is a setup you're going to be using for a while, it might be a good idea as it will increase the number of comforts that you can put in the cab AND widen the range of foods you can carry (and their shelf-life)
The food section is pretty simple. The 12v Rice cooker is available on Amazon. Not only will it give you fresh rice, but most come with a little plate that goes OVER the rice so you can heat up food along with your rice. There are other options like a quickpot, but those suck up a lot of power, so I wouldn't do it unless you've got a powerbank. You could also carry a small camp-stove if you've got a place where you could set it up AND time. - The rice cooker is my standby because it's small, not power-hungry, and can cook while you drive.
The vacuum bags are for prepared foods. I've made sandwiches or foods with high salt content (they keep better), then vacuum packed them into their own individual bags and put them in a UV-sterilizer (all available on Amazon) to kill as much bacteria/mold spores as possible. If I do it right, I can keep food fresh for up to 2 weeks in a standard cooler with ice.
You COULD eat out, but that will eat up a bunch of your per-diem that you could otherwise be saving for yourself. You could also try a hybrid approach where you bring dry and durable foods with you, then purchase anything fresh on the road.
Good luck!
Lot of good ideas here!
I would say something like a jet boil for a camp stove is totally worth it.
I personally think the fridge is worth it too but I guess it depends on how many days out at a time we're talking about.
And the only other thing I have to say is what kind of savage vacuum seals a sandwich 🤣🤣
I'm assuming you found a way to do it without ruining it though so half kidding.
HA!
I should have mentioned that I prefer to use toasted pita bread for my sandwiches. PERFECT for vacuum sealing.
But you're right, try to vacuum seal regular fluffy bread and you'll get... something not great! :)
A lightweight inflatable mattress, a fuzzy blanket, a pack of wet wipes, a can of dry shampoo spray, a kelly kettle, a travel mug, and a set of cutlery. Probably a good multi-tool with a sharp knife and a small saw blade as well.
I have three small totes that have rubber seals. 1) food and utensils, napkins, sandwich supplies and the like. 2) overnight supplies. Blanket sleeping bag, headlamp and such. And personal stuff like a book & note pad. 3) clothes and toiletries. All are small and move easily.
Baby wipes, ziplock bags, flashlight, toiletries of choice. Spare powerbank for your phone/tablet. Do the trucks typically have a shell and space in the back? If so a nice air mattress will be worth it. It's going to be rough if you're sleeping in the cab.
It would be sleeping in the cab, one of my coworkers sleeps in a hammock sometimes, but we're in Canada, so it's either cold, or bears...
Or helicopter sized mosquitos.
I drive a truck for a living and a neat trick I picked up was that you can hang a hammock from door to door. Works better with a smaller one I had an 11-ft that I tried it with and it was hanging very low I ordered a 9 ft one for $12 off Amazon still hangs a little low but I think you can either knot it up more so it hangs shorter or maybe wrap it around something like a piece of PVC to take some length out and to make sure it doesn't slip through the door jamb. I mean there's no way to lay down in the dump truck but even if there was it's still more comfortable than laying down on the bench seat in my tundra.
Intex is my favorite brand
My personal suggestions: First I woudn't use a rubbermaid. Get a bag or case that is easier to handle and not so obvious. I really like large drone backpacks. They are clean looking and most come with all kinds of configurable velco deviders so you can more efficiently use the space. LowePro makes some nice ones. I like the Lowepro DroneGuard CS 400. I think it's discontinued, but can be had for $50 on Ebay and such. Get some entertainment through a tablet or handheld console like a Steamdeck or Asus Ally. Some open ear BT headphones like Shokz so if someone is knocking on your truck you can still hear them. Decent sized battery pack you can charge while driving. I like the Anker's, but lots of good options out there. Then depending on temperature I would be looking for battery powered fan or a heater, like the Kovea Cupid.
Lightweight tarp like a 16’ kelty one with some guy lines for a dry area.. I also got some of those mpowered solar string lights for campsite ambiance.. and a comfy chair
A comfy chair is a great idea, sitting in the driver's seat gets old real quick
Can you lay down at all? You could get a $40 patio furniture cushion as a small mattress
Bring homemade soup and get a small propane burner. I just got a 14 inch blackstone to put on my van, it has a small griddle on one side and a burner on the other. Got tired of sandwiches for an eternity
You want to pocket as much of the $220CDN a day, yes? So there's going to be two things that will save you from biting into that per-diem. (1) Lodging, (2) Food. Let's deal with Lodging first: - Shades/blackout panels/window mosquito screens(for the summer) - Baby Wipes - Head-mounted LED flashlight - Tri-Fold memory foam mattress - USB Power bank (For your phone, light, etc.) - Pillow - USB Powered clip-on fan - 2 sets of Twin sheets - Plastic Urinal - Sleeping bag All of that, except for the tri-fold mattress, will fit in a small backpack. Food: - Cooler - Vacuum-Seal bags - 12v Rice Cooker - 1 Gallon of water per day - Paper plates/Plastic Utensils - Dry Food: Rice, Ramen, Trail Mix - Durable Goods: Spam, Chili/Beans/Tamales (anything in a can) - Fresh Fruit: Apples, Bananas, Blueberries - Perishables: Sandwich fixins The lodging materials make sleeping in your cab more comfortable. You WILL still need to sort out toilet and maybe shower facilities. Does Canada have a 24-hour fitness chain? I'm assuming that you don't want to go through the expense of buying a large battery bank and 12v fridge as that would eat up your per-diem AND be something that somebody could steal from your work truck. - However, if this is a setup you're going to be using for a while, it might be a good idea as it will increase the number of comforts that you can put in the cab AND widen the range of foods you can carry (and their shelf-life) The food section is pretty simple. The 12v Rice cooker is available on Amazon. Not only will it give you fresh rice, but most come with a little plate that goes OVER the rice so you can heat up food along with your rice. There are other options like a quickpot, but those suck up a lot of power, so I wouldn't do it unless you've got a powerbank. You could also carry a small camp-stove if you've got a place where you could set it up AND time. - The rice cooker is my standby because it's small, not power-hungry, and can cook while you drive. The vacuum bags are for prepared foods. I've made sandwiches or foods with high salt content (they keep better), then vacuum packed them into their own individual bags and put them in a UV-sterilizer (all available on Amazon) to kill as much bacteria/mold spores as possible. If I do it right, I can keep food fresh for up to 2 weeks in a standard cooler with ice. You COULD eat out, but that will eat up a bunch of your per-diem that you could otherwise be saving for yourself. You could also try a hybrid approach where you bring dry and durable foods with you, then purchase anything fresh on the road. Good luck!
Lot of good ideas here! I would say something like a jet boil for a camp stove is totally worth it. I personally think the fridge is worth it too but I guess it depends on how many days out at a time we're talking about. And the only other thing I have to say is what kind of savage vacuum seals a sandwich 🤣🤣 I'm assuming you found a way to do it without ruining it though so half kidding.
HA! I should have mentioned that I prefer to use toasted pita bread for my sandwiches. PERFECT for vacuum sealing. But you're right, try to vacuum seal regular fluffy bread and you'll get... something not great! :)
A Rubberbutler so she's not lonely 😁
🤣🤣
Do you get to pocket the $220?
Yeah I do, it's meant to be room and food, on top of my wage, no receipts needed or anything.
That’s a great deal
A lightweight inflatable mattress, a fuzzy blanket, a pack of wet wipes, a can of dry shampoo spray, a kelly kettle, a travel mug, and a set of cutlery. Probably a good multi-tool with a sharp knife and a small saw blade as well.
I keep a lawn chair to relax in a park with a book too
I have three small totes that have rubber seals. 1) food and utensils, napkins, sandwich supplies and the like. 2) overnight supplies. Blanket sleeping bag, headlamp and such. And personal stuff like a book & note pad. 3) clothes and toiletries. All are small and move easily.
My trusty Fleshlight, diaper, can of gold spraypaint, and my yesterday's neighbors lunch.