what about a uhaul?

gerlachedNloaded · Post by **gerlachedNloaded** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 11:48 am

anyone have experience taking a uhaul out for shelter? pros.. cons?

Post by **AntiM** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 11:54 am

Hot as an oven.

gerlachedNloaded · Post by **gerlachedNloaded** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 12:15 pm

dangit!

would be so EASY! hmm, looks like i might be doing a van afterall...

Post by **AntiM** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 12:16 pm

Can you borrow a van now and try camping?

gerlachedNloaded · Post by **gerlachedNloaded** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 12:19 pm

no, don't know anyone with anything even resembling a van. we'd use it for windblock only im sure. doors and windows permenantly shut out there (getting my damn deposit back!). set up a big ole tent and carport outside for shackin.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 12:24 pm

Some use them.
Cool at night.
They respond to shade.

Fire_Moose · Post by **Fire_Moose** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 12:44 pm

and dont forget to cover the Uhaul logos

Post by **mdmf007** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 2:39 pm

AntiM wrote:Hot as an oven.

Unless you shade it -

for 2 years we rented uhaul trailers and took out to BM. We even installed a window type of AC unit and used a genny to cool it to sleep during the hot hours of the day. Only need it for a couple of hours at most.

Pros -
1. They are cheap
2. They are quiter than you think inside
3. Can be rented a week ahead for les than a hundred bucks and you can set up shop inside with a bed, lights etc.
4. Can be padlocked shut
5. Easy to clean and return
6. Can be towed by damn near anything your BM supplies are relatively light compared to moving a home.
7. Keeps your car from getting dirty - you do all your business in the trailer.
8. Can be completely dark inside to sleep during the day.

Cons -
1. It's nothing but a billboard for U-haul or Penske
2. Can get hot if not shaded - but no more than any other unshaded car.
3. requires some work to be made comfortable.

Seriously though, they are actually a pretty good way to camp and haul all your crap out and back.

Remark · Post by **Remark** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 3:02 pm

Uhaul type trailers are GREAT for shelter out there! Shade it. Battery powered fans to move the air during the hottest part of the day. I do let it get warmer at night to keep the heat in. Spare tent outside if it is to hot.

and no one has padlocked me inside the thing yet

DiveDogFLL · Post by **DiveDogFLL** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 4:18 pm

you see the closed trailers on the playa? pretty dust free?

or the straight trucks?

great idea on the trailer... wonder If I can get a rental w/ a hitch though.....

- I think I'd put my own locked padlock in the latch hole, just so it can not be locked.... LOL!

re: bilboard. get some contact paper at wally world, one white, one orange.

and 3 packs of dry erase markers...

Post by **mdmf007** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 9:27 pm

Locking the lock onto the hasp is the best way place to store it, and keep some asshat from locking you in accidentally or maliciously.

As far as rates go - you can book the entire trip online at any of the big 3 rental places. Plus you can insure all your stuff to loss, or damage. I wonder if that covers theft of any goods whilst camping? doubt it.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 9:32 pm

DiveDogFLL wrote:you see the closed trailers on the playa? pretty dust free?

or the straight trucks?

great idea on the trailer... wonder If I can get a rental w/ a hitch though.....

- I think I'd put my own locked padlock in the latch hole, just so it can not be locked.... LOL!

re: bilboard. get some contact paper at wally world, one white, one orange.

and 3 packs of dry erase markers...

Or use playa and water.

gerlachedNloaded · Post by **gerlachedNloaded** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 7:36 am

seems like a 17ft truck is CHEAP! unless i'm missing something?
30.00/day plus like 150 for gas total. fully insured for 14.00
could be a great base structure with carport and tent outside for good measure. and no worry about cleaning it like a car.. hmmm..

i'm pretty much ruling out a car rental.. its between a van and truck now..

DiveDogFLL · Post by **DiveDogFLL** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 3:40 pm

I bet I'll have a problem getting a hitch on a rental... legally.

so, I was looking at some panel vans... not much more than a car...

I like the idea of being able to go to a self car wash after the event and hitting everything with a pressure washer.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 4:48 pm

gerlachedNloaded wrote:seems like a 17ft truck is CHEAP! unless i'm missing something?
30.00/day plus like 150 for gas total. fully insured for 14.00
could be a great base structure with carport and tent outside for good measure. and no worry about cleaning it like a car.. hmmm..

i'm pretty much ruling out a car rental.. its between a van and truck now..

Be sure of the length.
Uhaul is the worst at the fraud of listing the cubby as bed length.
Fraud.
They nearly ended up paying to rent me a truck from someone else.
Ask over and over again.
Get it in writing.

I had 12 foot frames.
They had an 8 foot bed.
Maybe less.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 4:49 pm

And don't forget mileage.

Post by **mdmf007** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 6:53 pm

The insurance for 14.00 is per day - dont let them bullshit you, if not you just found the best deal ever.

Even at 44 a day - thats 300 for the week, still a great deal to dust out someone elses rig, and be able to haul your stuff in and out and stay in it

gerlachedNloaded · Post by **gerlachedNloaded** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 6:07 am

I'm thinkin that might be the way to go! The trip FROM reno TO BRC could be interesting for the people who will undoubtedly

be riding in the back haha. get those fans roaring boys:p

Lord Of Ruin · Post by **Lord Of Ruin** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 5:22 pm

AntiM wrote:Hot as an oven.

Well, I'll disagree with you slightly here Anti..

I have a friend that takes a UHaul style panel truck every year. Calls it her playa apartment.

The great thing is...think about what you use a UHaul truck for in real life. That's what she brings! No more "playa/camping" stuff...she just brings versions of the real thing.

So when I saw her she had a nice little futon bed set up, a bedside table with tiffany style lamp. She had build a nice hanging rack for her clothes out of PVC. She had some nice plastic chest of drawers thing.

It is totally contained and comfy until about 10-11 am with it almost completely shut. Longer if you take the time to shade it (which takes some planning).

Or you can buy a cheap second hand window A/C from Craigslit and rig a genny and a way to wedge it in the slightly open door. Will kick on in the morning and keep you just fine.

She tried it skeptically the first year and raved about it. Now she can't think of any other way to do it. In fact, another friend just bought a second hand Uhal 24 footer and is slowly converting it to be essentially a custom RV/mobile apartmetn because of her experience.

My tent in a carport becomes nuclear by about the same time of day...so I'd say it's a wash.

LoR

Mod Note turned quotes back on. MDMF

Post by **AntiM** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 6:10 pm

No genny for us, we're in Hushville. My only experience with a uhaul is that it was an oven every time we'd go in to get water or supplies.

I don't sleep in past seven or eight anyway, so a tent does fine for me. We have napping cots in the shade structure.

DiveDogFLL · Post by **DiveDogFLL** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 2:21 pm

Can wetalk about sun shades for a UHaul truck, or van?
big silver tarps? (noisy)

you need about 2' above the vehicle, so , what are options?

use a PVC frame? maybe a few triangles on the roof?

1.5" thick enough?

Lord Of Ruin · Post by **Lord Of Ruin** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 3:52 pm

[quote="DiveDogFLL"]Can wetalk about sun shades for a UHaul truck, or van?
big silver tarps? (noisy)

you need about 2' above the vehicle, so , what are options?

use a PVC frame? maybe a few triangles on the roof?

1.5" thick enough?[/quote]

No need for frame.

Put some 4 X 4 blocks on the roof of the thing. Secure as needed.

Throw shadecloth/tarp over the entire truck. string ropes from grommet holes to stakes on either side. Essentially becomes one big a-frame.

4 X 4 on roof provide for the air circulation you need/want. I'd think shade cloth would work better for this but my friend used plain old blue painter's tarps.