Tips and Tricks for RV's at Burning Man

[motskyroonmatick]

Hot water heater trick. I have a travel trailer and after initial warm up I switch the hot water heater to pilot light mode. The small flame heats the water tank sufficiently for super short water conserving showers. This wont work with a water heater that has an electric ignitor in place of a pilot light. It saves fuel and the noise of the water heater cycling on and off and works great for super water conserving showers.

[Jackass]

Clean post-playa exterior glass trick: Wipe all glass and mirrors with a DRY microfiber towel, before using any water or cleaning solution, no baby wipes, no moisture, just a dry microfiber towel. I was amazed, better than washing for initial post playa drive home... no streaks.

[Canoe]

Hey folks, I've been readign a lot about reflectix and it's benefits. For an international traveller, where should I buy it and how much does it cost ? Thanks!

It is used in a number of home improvement tasks, so it's available in different widths and lengths, and even in tubes as ducts for HVAC use. There's even rolls for 16" on centre wood framing with a running tab on the side for stapling to studs or joists. Most of the home improvement type stores in the U.S. have it, as it has uses in both hot and cold climates.
Example: 48" x 25' roll www.lowes.com/pd/Reflectix-100-sq-ft-Re ... -L/3011906 showing as 43.25 USD in Reno.

Be aware that using credit cards at home improvement stores can be odd in the U.S., as different states/regions use different payment clearing companies. I have one card that works in NY state at Lowes but not Home Depot, where I have to use a different card. In Nevada, the card that worked at Home Depot won't, and the one that worked at Lowes works at Home Depot. Neither card works at Lowes in NV. Similar issue paying for gas at gas stations. YRMV
So you know you have some (instead of finding it sold out when you arrive), you may be able to purchase online and pickup at a store you specify, picked up when you arrive. Or purchase online and have it shipped to a UPS store in Reno, where you pick it up for a $5 fee. Use google to search eplaya for UPS Store.

[maLka]

Hey folks, I've been readign a lot about reflectix and it's benefits. For an international traveller, where should I buy it and how much does it cost ? Thanks!

It is used in a number of home improvement tasks, so it's available in different widths and lengths, and even in tubes as ducts for HVAC use. There's even rolls for 16" on centre wood framing with a running tab on the side for stapling to studs or joists. Most of the home improvement type stores in the U.S. have it, as it has uses in both hot and cold climates.
Example: 48" x 25' roll www.lowes.com/pd/Reflectix-100-sq-ft-Re ... -L/3011906 showing as 43.25 USD in Reno.

Be aware that using credit cards at home improvement stores can be odd in the U.S., as different states/regions use different payment clearing companies. I have one card that works in NY state at Lowes but not Home Depot, where I have to use a different card. In Nevada, the card that worked at Home Depot won't, and the one that worked at Lowes works at Home Depot. Neither card works at Lowes in NV. Similar issue paying for gas at gas stations. YRMV
So you know you have some (instead of finding it sold out when you arrive), you may be able to purchase online and pickup at a store you specify, picked up when you arrive. Or purchase online and have it shipped to a UPS store in Reno, where you pick it up for a $5 fee. Use google to search eplaya for UPS Store.

Very useful post, thanks! now I know i should buy this in beforehand.

What's the best ductape that resists the playa gusts and storms? I guess i'll need this one too beforehand

I was aware of the credit card stuff in my past US trips, where i wasn't able to pay with my spanish Visa at any gas station, so I guess it's a good idea bringing some bucks

[Ratty]

If you are planning to attach reflectix to a motor home I wouldn't use any duct tape. It will leave a mess of adhesive. I would love to hear from anyone that used the duct tape advertised as leaving no adhesive mess. It's sold in Home Depot. I use stucco tape. You have to search for it in Home Depot but it's there. Nothing has ever come loose as long as you diligently wipe away all dust before installation. A little pricey but well worth it.

[Canoe]

... It's sold in Home Depot. I use stucco tape. You have to search for it in Home Depot but it's there. Nothing has ever come loose as long as you diligently wipe away all dust before installation. A little pricey but well worth it.

It's red. And has more hold than and is a lot cheaper than Gaffer's Tape.
See this post back a page. viewtopic.php?f=277&t=78622&start=30#p1160539

[pedroescobar]

Clean post-playa exterior glass trick: Wipe all glass and mirrors with a DRY microfiber towel, before using any water or cleaning solution, no baby wipes, no moisture, just a dry microfiber towel. I was amazed, better than washing for initial post playa drive home... no streaks.

Dry wiping everything is SOOO important. Last year the people in my RV insisted on cleaning everything all week with WET wipes and then had to spend 10 hours getting the trailer clean in Reno before driving back to the PacNW and recleaning it again. I use dry swiffers as I don't want to destroy my microfiber cloths/washing machine with playa, but they both work well. Next year I'm going to plastic wrap (movers wrap) all the internal cabinet doors and maybe some of the cushions, but in all this year was so easy in clean up, I feel like it is pretty dialed in for the future.

[Just_Joe]

Dry wiping everything is SOOO important.

After we DRY wipe/sweep/vacuum/whatever
I run over everything with a strong leaf blower and follow with an air (compressor) gun for nooks and crannies. Inside and out. Twice. It helps to open all windows and doors and also have a good fan running. Bonus points if it's windy outside.
Blow out window seals and weep holes, inside and out.
Remove battery/LP covers and blow that shit out.
Pull the AC cover off the top (4 screws) and hit the fins.
Remove the fridge access panel and blow some air up in there (dust may come out on the inside).
Same thing for the water heater hatch and any other outside storage.

[Jackass]

Always remove as much playa as possible while its dry, using DRY methods.

Once you introduce just a little moisture into the equation everything changes, it becomes cemented to anything it's in contact with and complete removal becomes much more arduous.

[Captain Goddammit]

And when you add moisture, playa dust becomes rust tonic. It’ll rust plastic.

[SquirrelScotch]

Being somewhat acclimated to 100F+ temps (had a steady string of 103-104F days, so far) with a lot higher humidity, I think what is going to hurt the most is the thinner air. Higher altitudes will take their toll and quickly.

All you can do is be patient and take your time. Understanding you are not going to be able to just do what you do as fast as you do it, at sea level is key. Then again,...I am driving this thread off the road. oops.

What Eric said! And jackass said! And,..and....crikey!

During a summer in Queensland Australia we generally sweat through 35-45 degree celcius heat for a few months (100 - 115 Farenheight) I am hoping that is enough sweat training to get us through?

[SquirrelScotch]

Being somewhat acclimated to 100F+ temps (had a steady string of 103-104F days, so far) with a lot higher humidity, I think what is going to hurt the most is the thinner air. Higher altitudes will take their toll and quickly.

All you can do is be patient and take your time. Understanding you are not going to be able to just do what you do as fast as you do it, at sea level is key. Then again,...I am driving this thread off the road. oops.

What Eric said! And jackass said! And,..and....crikey!

sorry I don't know how to delete this second reply?!

[Canoe]

thread drift

During a summer in Queensland Australia we generally sweat through 35-45 degree celcius heat for a few months (100 - 115 Farenheight) I am hoping that is enough sweat training to get us through?

Depends on where in Queensland and the year. And the conditions in a given year at Burning Man.
The playa during Burning Man is closer to the conditions towards the Southwest of Queensland - dry hot summer. Conditions during Burning Man may be arid or semi-arid. Typically at the time of Burning Man, the playa doesn't get quite the record highs (or lows) you can get in Queensland, but the playa temp range may come close to that - depending on the year, and that can change during the week. But watch out: if you're used to humid heat, in the dry heat you may not realize just how hot it is; note that stopping sweating is a warning sign (not a bonus of 'dry' playa heat) that you need to intake more liquids - right away - or you can become a medical emergency (unrecognized, untreated, you can die). Humidity is often in the 20's RH, can be in the teens and can even reach single digit, even if just for a portion of the day if the temperatures swings up a lot. And the altitude matters: you may get blindsided by the altitude affects on your body if you've only been along the coast or at low altitudes. AND, in the heat of the day the effective altitude (density altitude) can jump up from the 4,000' range to the 8,000'+ range. So your body is going through a temperature swing, an effective altitude swing and somewhat of a humdity swing. Don't be surprised if you feel like you've been through a wringer, because some years you are.

But this is the RV thread. Go search for the various threads discussing the Playa climate during the period of Burning Man.

[SquirrelScotch]

thread drift

During a summer in Queensland Australia we generally sweat through 35-45 degree celcius heat for a few months (100 - 115 Farenheight) I am hoping that is enough sweat training to get us through?

Depends on where in Queensland and the year. And the conditions in a given year at Burning Man.
The playa during Burning Man is closer to the conditions towards the Southwest of Queensland - dry hot summer. Conditions during Burning Man may be arid or semi-arid. Typically at the time of Burning Man, the playa doesn't get quite the record highs (or lows) you can get in Queensland, but the playa temp range comes close to that - depending on the year, and that can change during the week. But watch out: if you're used to humid heat, in the dry heat you may not realize just how hot it is; note that stopping sweating is a warning sign (not a bonus of 'dry' playa heat) that you need to intake more liquids - right away - or you can become a medical emergency (unrecognized, untreated, you can die). Humidity is often in the 20's RH, can be in the teens and can even reach single digit, even if just for a portion of the day if the temperatures swings up a lot. And the altitude matters: you may get blindsided by the altitude affects on your body if you've only been along the coast or at low altitudes. AND, in the heat of the day the effective altitude (density altitude) can jump up from the 4,000' ranage to the 8,000' range. So your body is going through a temperature swing, an effective altitude swing and somewhat of a humdity swing. Don't be surprised if you feel like you've been through a wringer, because some years you are.

But this is the RV thread. Go search for the various threads discussiong the Playa climate during the period of Burning Man.

Thanks for the heat heads up - you're so right we do have a more humid heat where we are, will have to keep our wits about us. Also huge thanks for the tip, I will search around for the heat related threads Cheers!