RV: To purchase or not ...

[Roberto Dobbisano]

my suggestion?



get a tent you fucking pussy.

[Elliot]

Simon, there are a lot of people on this board who are not familiar with your particular brand of humor/art. So my suggestion is that you put an explanation in your (numerous) sig lines.

[rmc50]

Buying a used RV would be a crap shoot. You could get lucky and buy a gently used, well maintained vehicle that would provide years of trouble free service.

Or you could end up with something that broke down every 100 miles and fell apart when you wanted it the most.

I own a RV trailer, a fairly large 26' "toy hauler". It serves me well and I enjoy it very much. But if I was only going to use it 1 week a year, I would rent.

When you consider the economics, you need to factor in the cost of ownership of the RV. If you were able to store the RV in Reno then the costs might be a little less, but I don't know what the taxes and license fees are in Nevada. In California, you would be looking at:

Taxes (paid with the vehicle registration) : Approximately 1% of the vehicles value per year.
Registration: about $50
Insurance (required) - Just liability would run a few hundred $$$. Full coverage would cost more, and depend on the value.
Storage: Varies with the location. I pay $100 a month to store my rig


You could easily end up spending more to own an RV in a year than it costs to rent one for a week. If you would use it more than just once a year then it might be economical, but there are other factors as well.

The RV needs to be maintained. I maintain mine in the "down time" between trips. When would you maintain yours? How much is it going to cost you to extend your trip, a few days before to fix the things broken last time and few days after to figure out what needs fixing before next year?

Rod

[Elliot]

.
A bit more info: Separate liability insurance is not required on a trailer. This is in California -- I don't know about other states.

Liability insurance on my 40-foot bus, which is registered as an RV, costs me all of $55.80 for a year. Of course, I get every "good driver" discount known to humanity, so YMMV. (Keep your nose clean, kids! )

[motskyroonmatick]

smilemore,

What vehicles does your family have? You would be surprised what you can tow with the family car.

[Simon of the Playa]

i was being totally serious.


in my opinion, if you are able bodied, under 65, have no medical condition that would require one, or you are NOT part of infrastructure and or Large Art Build, my suggestion is to "not fucking bring one."

[tatonka]

I went with a old Ford 3/4 ton truck ( 900.0 ) and a free camper. The truck has made it 2x to BRC . and will make it for 2015

looked at a used rv for 3500 , but I would only use it once a year , the truck I use alot.

[Roberto Dobbisano]

campers are different than RV's and since you're an Old Fuck, you would get an exemption pass anyway...

[smilemore]

my suggestion?



get a tent you fucking pussy.

That's cute. I'm am somewhat surprised it took this long for that to come out!

[smilemore]

I think the monkey wrench in all of this is that we live about 2200 miles from Black Rock City so making that trek driving simply takes too much time ... we've got about 10 days for this trip and while the idea of driving there and back sounds great it won't be feasible (read: desired) until the kids are off to University (or where ever they choose) in 6 years.

So for the next several years we will be flying in and then renting some sort of transportation.

This is a fun experience and frankly we've put our years and years of tenting in ... loved it for a while ... liked it for a while ... got tired of it eventually ... now fucking hate it ... and we've moved on. We're seriously looking into the yurt route though ...

[Elliot]

Something I'm learning -- the hard way -- is that tires can become a major cost of a vehicle that is seldom used. Seems tires die of age much sooner than I would have guessed. Some of us have been discussing this on the Car thread. In the last couple years I had three Light Truck tires disintegrate on me -- tires that were minimally worn but 10 to 12 years old. Then last week, a big-rig tire on Millicent -- only 8 years old.

So now I'm beginning to brainstorm for ways to utilize tires by... maybe moving them from vehicle to vehicle. For example, if I were to buy a second bus, and make two trips to BRC each year, I could take the wheels off the first bus after arrival in BRC and drive the second bus up there on them. But that's an awful lot of work, requiring serious equipment.

Maybe I ought to sell Millicent's tires to a trucker every autumn and buy new ones in spring? Or rent them out. Ideas, ideas!

[FIGJAM]

RVs in long term storage here get put on blocks and the tires covered and insulated from the sun.

Where's our tire expert?

[Elliot]

I do cover Millicent's tires against the sun, but maybe I ought to go further, yes.

[Simon of the Playa]

We're seriously looking into the yurt route though ...

good for you.


as one who travels 2880 miles every year, i know the difficulties involved.


i also know i am the voice in the wilderness on this, but i will continue to scream until people listen.


2+2 does not equal 5 and i don't care if 99 people tell me it does.

I'm the 1% who knows what he knows and refuses to be cowed by popular opinion in order to "get along"...

The Influx of Defaultia Luxury has created a new paradigm, a new Norm...

Fuck That Noise.

i will continue on my campaign to make the RV dweller ( with the appropriate exceptions ) into being perceived as a pernicious blight upon our city, somewhat akin to sleazy real estate developers.

in short, nothing personal...

[Elliot]

...scream... ...refuses... ...pernicious blight... ...sleazy...

...

...with the appropriate exceptions...

Wheeewwwwwwwwww.... That was close.

[smilemore]

... i will continue on my campaign to make the RV dweller ( with the appropriate exceptions ) into being perceived as a pernicious blight upon our city, somewhat akin to sleazy real estate developers.

in short, nothing personal...

I asked for opinions and you delivered. Of course I don't take them personally Simon ... I generally don't take anything personally unless it comes from someone with whom I have a real life relationship ... at least that I've met in person and spoken with while looking into their eyes. I do, however, enjoy your eplaya attitude ...

Good luck with your campaign ... I'm afraid the masses have tasted the sugar ...

On that note ... we really did not, nor did we have any desire to, take advantage of 80% of the luxuries of the RV. It really is hard to accept paying what we did for a toilet and a bed ... but oh what toilet and bed they were!!!

[Simon of the Playa]

I'm afraid the masses have tasted the sugar

yes, and now the Community has Fucking Diabetes.

[smilemore]

I'm afraid the masses have tasted the sugar

yes, and now the Community has Fucking Diabetes.

Love it! Well played.

[Simon of the Playa]

you know i love you, i just don't want to see us lose our pinky toe, or have to take insulin every day...


i'm being an asshole for our own good....now put away that 100,000 Dollar bar and have a nice Apple.

[H.G.Crosby]

that 100,000 Dollar bar

oh g*d......chewy caramel, chocolate AND krispies all rolled into one...oh yeah....uh-huh.....mmmmmmm baby.






get thee behind me, sugar.

[AntiM]

MyLarry worries about me and keep suggesting motorhomes or campers. Nope, my bed is cozy and plush, my tent dustless, and my potty of the camping variety. Still, he empties the pot and sets up the luxurious shade, so perhaps he has ulterior motives....

[Captain Goddammit]

I like my camper because it lets me see and do MORE at BM, by letting me rest, eat, wash, and get all set to go out. If I was roughing it, I'd get pretty worn out and tired of it all. It also spares me setup and teardown.
The First Mate really, really likes being able to have a hot shower and sleep without being wrecked by a dust storm or suffering in the heat.
Also, if I'm going to the playa, I'm bringing my M/V. If I weren't bringing it, I'd bring some other art-thingie. That requires the big trailer. The big trailer requires the big truck. If I'm driving the truck, why the hell NOT put the camper on it?

If you live 2000+ miles away, well, I guess you're fucked! Pack your tent, fly in, and suffer. When BM becomes suffering, I say fuck the whole thing.

[ranger magnum]

I like my camper because it lets me see and do MORE at BM, by letting me rest, eat, wash, and get all set to go out. If I was roughing it, I'd get pretty worn out and tired of it all. It also spares me setup and teardown.
The First Mate really, really likes being able to have a hot shower and sleep without being wrecked by a dust storm or suffering in the heat.
Also, if I'm going to the playa, I'm bringing my M/V. If I weren't bringing it, I'd bring some other art-thingie. That requires the big trailer. The big trailer requires the big truck. If I'm driving the truck, why the hell NOT put the camper on it?

If you live 2000+ miles away, well, I guess you're fucked! Pack your tent, fly in, and suffer. When BM becomes suffering, I say fuck the whole thing.

Exactly this. ^^^^^

I work over 150 hours in just under 3 weeks on Playa. I need a place to get away from it all.

[Simon of the Playa]

and if you had bothered to read the thread ranger you would have seen that i agree with you....people out there to build the infrastructure/ large art med/ranger services etc absolutely should have an RV if they want one...


but you shot first and asked questions later..


not very ranger like, huh.

[Captain Goddammit]

I don't think the Ranger means RVs should be only for staff though.

[Simon of the Playa]

you know darn tootin' well who this is directed to.

young, able bodied bros and hos who can afford to rent these gas guzzling monstrosities and who will use them to wall themselves off from the community with a gate of rolled steel and rubber.

fuck that shit.

seriously.


besides, you would qualify under the Old Fuck Exemption so what are you worried about...

[H.G.Crosby]

.

[Captain Goddammit]

besides, you would qualify under the Old Fuck Exemption so what are you worried about...

ok well there's that

[tatonka]

besides, you would qualify under the Old Fuck Exemption so what are you worried about...

ok well there's that

I in good company then ")

[ranger magnum]

and if you had bothered to read the thread ranger you would have seen that i agree with you....people out there to build the infrastructure/ large art med/ranger services etc absolutely should have an RV if they want one...


but you shot first and asked questions later..


not very ranger like, huh.

I simply agreed with the captain. Don't know where you are coming from.

Don't really care either.