Apartments on wheels, or How American truckers equip their life

  • Dec 14, 2020
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Apartments on wheels, or How American truckers equip their life.
Apartments on wheels, or How American truckers equip their life.

Truckers are a special caste of drivers who consciously chose their path in life, because their work schedule simply does not allow sleeping at home. It is not surprising that it is American drivers who know almost everything about the harsh life on wheels and how to equip their life so that life in a truck becomes more comfortable and human. They often spend much more money on such transformations than the tractor itself costs.

Each trucker equips his life at his own discretion.
Each trucker equips his life at his own discretion.

Truckers spend most of their lives at the wheel of their truck, and it is not only a workplace, but also a recreation area and for the most part an overnight stay. It so happened that long-haul transportation is flourishing in the United States, and this passion obliges the organizers of this type of delivery to create more comfortable working conditions for drivers.

American trucks are strikingly different from our MAZs and KAMAZs (Model Peterbilt 379). | Photo: vedomosti.ru.
American trucks are strikingly different from our MAZs and KAMAZs (Model Peterbilt 379). | Photo: vedomosti.ru.
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For this reason, in America you can see many trucks that have been improved by the truckers themselves. And most interestingly, to stimulate such a conversion, tax incentives are provided for drivers. And this means that the costs of the owner of the vehicle for its repair, maintenance and creation of comfortable conditions are the organization of everyday life, from paper towels to a refrigerator, microwave oven and even a coffee maker, are reduced due to tax deduction.

Every truck driver dreams of such arrangement of a residential module. | Photo: comandir.com.
Every truck driver dreams of such arrangement of a residential module. | Photo: comandir.com.

Naturally, the craze for the improvement of living conditions in trucks has caused a surge in the growth of firms and all kinds of ateliers that specialize in customization (tuning).

Informative: Customization (from the English. to customize - customize, change, make more suitable) - individualization of finished products for the needs of a particular consumer. These are, as a rule, changes in construction or design, as well as improvements in some functions and systems.
The basic configuration of the Kenworth tractor allows the driver to design the living area to his liking. | Photo: comandir.com.
The basic configuration of the Kenworth tractor allows the driver to design the living area to his liking. | Photo: comandir.com.

While truck manufacturers are striving to improve living conditions for truck drivers, thousands small firms are trying to develop sleeping cabins so that one can comfortably rest in it after working day. Now on the roads of America you can find a modest "sleeping bag" with a minimum set of amenities, and a real mobile home with equipped kitchen, double bed, full bathroom and multimedia center. Sometimes such apartments reach a length of 5.87 m!

The cab of a modern American truck tractor can be comfortable. | Photo: mechanismone.livejournal.com.
The cab of a modern American truck tractor can be comfortable. | Photo: mechanismone.livejournal.com.

Naturally, the degree of comfort and arrangement of the interior space of a kind of auto-cabin depends on the model of the tractor and on financial investments. Given the impressive size of some of the examples, there is plenty of room for the design potential of drivers. Usually, with the purchase of a car, there is a minimum basic configuration, which everyone is free to supplement and change at their discretion. And the installation of huge beds does not end there.

The aerodynamic cab design of the Freightliner Columbia is further developed by the flagship Cascadia. | Photo: vedomosti.ru.
The aerodynamic cab design of the Freightliner Columbia is further developed by the flagship Cascadia. | Photo: vedomosti.ru.

As it became known to the authors of Novate. Ru, the most popular models and series that American truckers really like, manufacturers produce maximally adapted to the needs of drivers and they do not require significant investments in re-equipment or alteration.

Gourmet drivers have the option to equip a full kitchen. | Photo: howmade.ru.
Gourmet drivers have the option to equip a full kitchen. | Photo: howmade.ru.

So, for example, lovers of home cooking without fail to equip the kitchen to the maximum, installing refrigerators, ovens (both induction and microwave), sinks, cabinets for storing food and kitchen utensils. As a rule, pull-out or folding dining tables are attached in this area.

In some models, it is possible to install a tiny bathroom. | Photo: gogetnews.info.
In some models, it is possible to install a tiny bathroom. | Photo: gogetnews.info.

Many people arrange a full bathroom with a dry closet and shower. Such a change in the configuration provides not only the installation of the necessary plumbing equipment, but also an additional water tank and disposal tank. But the presence of this particular function makes life much easier for the driver, so the costs of arranging a bathroom are fully justified.

>>>>Ideas for life | NOVATE.RU<<<<

Cabinets in the tractor cab are equipped with hoods. | Photo: howmade.ru.
Cabinets in the tractor cab are equipped with hoods. | Photo: howmade.ru.

In addition to these zones, space is also allocated in the cabin for the creation of storage systems, moreover, very unusual ones. As a rule, in truck tractors, cabinets with... hood. This is done so that work clothes that have a specific technical odor are securely insulated.

Even the smallest cabins can be equipped with a comfortable sleeping and rest area. | Photo: autorambler.ru.
Even the smallest cabins can be equipped with a comfortable sleeping and rest area. | Photo: autorambler.ru.

Truckers pay special attention to the upholstery. In this matter, there is no limit to the imagination of vehicle owners, everyone tries in this way to show their individuality and express preferences.

READ ALSO: Why do American trucks have a long nose, while our trucks have a flat nose?

Many drivers design the cab themselves. | Photo: bigpicture.ru.
Many drivers design the cab themselves. | Photo: bigpicture.ru.

Various materials are used for upholstery. It can be more budgetary polyurethane leather (PU), fabrics, expensive Alcantara, genuine leather and even noble woods. In addition to imagination, in this matter, the cost of certain materials comes to the fore, so everyone makes out this part of the car according to his capabilities. Although there have been cases when enthusiastic owners spent more money on tuning than the car itself is worth.

Some trucks are equipped with real rooms. | Photo: vedomosti.ru.
Some trucks are equipped with real rooms. | Photo: vedomosti.ru.

After retirement, truckers accustomed to life on wheels, as a rule, can no longer live without constant movement. In most cases, they are not burdened with either family or home, so they buy mobile homes, which replace standard housing, and continue to travel the world.

>>>>Ideas for life | NOVATE.RU<<<<

Travelers don't always go to work as truckers. There are just enthusiastic people who found their happiness on the move and changed the existing apartments for mobile homes, as did a young couple who made a comfortable camper with their own hands.
A source:
https://novate.ru/blogs/110919/51674/