Rolling luggage / fabric suitcases?

[albinoOcelot]

Hello! Has anyone here tried bringing fabric rolling luggage (like airport checked bags) to the playa, and if so...
-- Is it possible to clean the fabric exterior afterwards, and how did you attempt that?
-- Do they really roll, or is it more like dragging once you hit the playa?

Asking since I will be flying and taking the Burner Express bus. Last year carrying a bin in my arms while wearing a backpack was too exhausting, and I'm iffy on using a checked bag slot on a folding cart.

Would love to hear y'alls experience with this.

[Lonesomebri]

Getting playa out of that compressed luggage fabric is gonna be a tough one. Using an air compressor to blast the piece before the vinegar wash. And those tiny tires... Some luggage has wheel wells, that will clog. Some have large rubber edged wheels. Like most playa equipment, consider the luggage sacrificial. Though it can totally live on as a cool badge of honor.

Now, I know a person who flew in from Australia. Took a
public bus to a Reno big box store, bought tools, screws, wood, and wheels. Made a small rolling cart. Though I could see using one of those wire cage laundry grocery 2 wheel carts.

[ygmir]

Hello! Has anyone here tried bringing fabric rolling luggage (like airport checked bags) to the playa, and if so...
-- Is it possible to clean the fabric exterior afterwards, and how did you attempt that?
-- Do they really roll, or is it more like dragging once you hit the playa?

Asking since I will be flying and taking the Burner Express bus. Last year carrying a bin in my arms while wearing a backpack was too exhausting, and I'm iffy on using a checked bag slot on a folding cart.

Would love to hear y'alls experience with this.

there are also light folding hand carts (like you see beer delivery people use) that have decent size wheels that might roll on soft ish playa.
re cleaning: well, I'll say once anything is there, it'll never again be pristine clean again. But, you can get close. vinegar, multiple detergent applications, pressure washing...

[Wigwam]

Having been near the 6:00 portal last year, I saw many, many, many people dragging (not rolling) their luggage across the playa. In some cases, it was so bad that members of my camp, while giving away hot dogs and Gin & Tonic, offered to help carry the luggage. It's actually pretty brutal. I would look for any kind of folding cart that could help with this. As for the dust, buy an old second hand piece of luggage and playa dust be damned!

[Token]

This little gizmo …



Pick it up at Home Depot in Reno for under $100 …

Solves allot of problems plus you get a nifty rugged off-road cooler.

Just pre-order it for delivery/pickup at the Reno HD in advanced so you know it’s waiting for you, add some straps and bungees to hold your luggage on top, and roll into the dust in style.

After TTITD, check the cooler on your flight back home.

[Popeye]

You're bringing a bike aren't you?
Put your stuff in a duffel bag (cheap- save $). For the plane pack for max weight. Buy food, cooking propane, etc in Reno. For the bus/Playa put all the things in the oversize bag that was partially packed for the plane.
Strap this bag (or maybe a bag and a cooler) on the top of the seat/handlebars. Your bike is now a cart. Wheel it to camp.

[some seeing eye]

Many good suggestions on this thread.

I am cheap, so I try to acquire Black Rock City things with multiple uses, not single BRC use.

I have been using nylon duck duffels for a long time. They go in the regular washing machine with regular laundry soap and come out perfectly clean, no dust in the crevasses.

Make your packing list with weight in mind. Personally I would like to see the BxB luggage limit doubled. Folding wagons are a useful thing too.

[Savannah]

Hello! Has anyone here tried bringing fabric rolling luggage (like airport checked bags) to the playa, and if so...
-- Is it possible to clean the fabric exterior afterwards, and how did you attempt that?
-- Do they really roll, or is it more like dragging once you hit the playa?

Oh, it's dragging. It's dragging for sure. Rarely do they roll.

Maybe before gates open, in low traffic areas, on very hard-packed playa do they ever roll.

Asking since I will be flying and taking the Burner Express bus. Last year carrying a bin in my arms while wearing a backpack was too exhausting, and I'm iffy on using a checked bag slot on a folding cart.

Would love to hear y'alls experience with this.

I like Token's idea.

I am lucky to be able to heft my bags from the truck to the enclosure, but they still get dusty, so wash them with detergent and vinegar in the shower when I get home.