RV Recommendations

[jimjamot]

Beautiful Burners hello how are you all ?

I'm coming to you looking for advice and guidance regarding RV rentals - (I am currently reading through previous forum posts and googling while I type this)

It's our first time and I know we're late in trying to find an RV so I'm just throwing it out there to see if any vets have some solid info or tips

We're flying into San Fran from Ireland and back out again - so that's a start

Regardless what happens we'll see you on the playa playas

Much love

xx

[digital]

1) Are your airline tickets set in stone? If not, you might consider flying into another city. Renting a RV the week of BM from SF is going to be painful. Like, really, really painful.

2) What kind of "guidance" are you looking for? Type of RV? RV rental companies? RV tips for the playa?

3) Why do you require a RV? Have you considered any alternate forms of camping?

D

[ACfromSAC]

Search for RV rentals on craigslist and consider some flexibility in the city you're flying in to, if it's not already set in stone.

[Captain Goddammit]

Yeah I think some of the best advice is DON'T fly into San Francisco to get to Burning Man. It's not the closest place or the most convenient. And definitely not the cheapest - probably just the opposite.
Reno is the go-to fly-in city, and there are plenty other places.

If you just wanted to visit SF anyway, that's different.

[AntiM]

Woops, pardon my linking of that's a no-no.

Referrals in a thread are allowed, in general (there are some exceptions). The problem with linking to craigslist is those are time sensitive posts and will just be crappy broken links in the future.

[ACfromSAC]

Referrals in a thread are allowed, in general (there are some exceptions). The problem with linking to craigslist is those are time sensitive posts and will just be crappy broken links in the future.

10-4, thanks for the clarification. The links are just to keyword search results, so the links should still be good whenever OP revisits the thread.

[mdmf007]

Boise as well as Portland are often overlooked spots for Rentals but are viable options. You can still get RVs there from my hasty internet search online just minutes ago. Salt Lake City as well. Nor Cal is pretty booked out by now i am sure.

Good luck

[Eric]

I live in SF, and trying to rent an RV from anywhere in the SF Bay Area in (basically) March is just asking to be skinned. The "cheap" ones are usually gone by late October, if not sooner, and by the time we get to the calendar year of the Burn places are running low or are out.

You're much better flying into Salt Lake, Phoenix, or even Seattle. A bit more of a drive, but both the SF & LA areas run out of RVs fast.

[dragonpilot]

And the drive down from Seattle is awesome! PM me if you'd like more info on this epic route.

[jimjamot]

Thank you all for your replies so far cheers

Hmmmm maybe San Fran is not the way to go - we had planned on visiting but I'll start looking at alternatives

Dragonpilot PM sent

[crease]

Yeah I think some of the best advice is DON'T fly into San Francisco to get to Burning Man. It's not the closest place or the most convenient. And definitely not the cheapest - probably just the opposite.
Reno is the go-to fly-in city, and there are plenty other places.

If you just wanted to visit SF anyway, that's different.

Was doing a search on SF and found this. Im considering flying into SF from Melbourne on Aug 26, spend few days there then get burner Xpress down on 29th with the aim of flying out of Reno on the 12th after spending a few days there. Im also travelling solo.

Totally understand its less convenient and more costly to depart from SF. I guess my main considerations are will I be able to get fully prep there? most mandatories I will be purchasing in the states. Is it seriously expensive to stay and and awkward to get around? Been to the states 3 times and never made it to SF so would like to see it but dont want to make things difficult for myself either.

Thanks!

[Jackass]

Sf will probably be about three times as much as buying, lodging, eating and getting around in Reno...

Twice as much without a doubt, and quite a bit further from your target destination. You may pay more to fly into Reno, but you will easily save on the back end...

You're at the playa's doorstep. Check out SF after the burn, if you're not too burnt.

[crease]

Yeah, actually I think your right. As much as I would like to see San Fran, im going to be arriving off the back of a 20 hour flight and only be there for 3 days with my focus the entire time being getting preped, so realistically im not probably not going to get much out of it. Might be best left for visiting another time.

[Captain Goddammit]

We skipped Burning Man last year and went to Hawaii instead, and did a three day stop in San Francisco on the way home.
We did it partly because I hadn't been there since I was a kid and partly to visit friends who live there (and reasonably near there).
The most modest hotel cost a shitload, as did renting and parking a car.
We ended up walking almost everywhere, the trolley cars were usually packed to capacity and we couldn't get on.
Did I have a great time? Hell yes! But I was visiting, not trying to get all my Burning Man supplies.
I definitely would not pick San Francisco as my Burning Man fly-in and get ready place.
Reno pretty much caters to Burners, with people to greet you and help you get set in the right direction right at the airport.

[digital]

Yeah, actually I think your right. As much as I would like to see San Fran, im going to be arriving off the back of a 20 hour flight and only be there for 3 days with my focus the entire time being getting preped, so realistically im not probably not going to get much out of it. Might be best left for visiting another time.

You won't get anything out of it. Honestly. It will not be worth the extra expense and hassle. SF is great. Probably my No.1 or 2 favorite city. If you want to experience it plan a dedicated trip and really enjoy the city. Spend an afternoon at Dolores Park. Hike up Twin Peaks. Club with the gays in the Castro and end up at the End Up. Walk through China Town and eat at R & G Lounge. So much to do.

However, after a 20+ hour flight you will need a good rest. Then you will need to haul ass to get your gear ready. There will be NO time for any of this but you will pay 2-3x as much for everything! It's just not worth it. Fly in to Reno and focus on the burn. If you have the time consider staying an extra week after the burn. This would be the perfect time to visit SF and all its glory (Though, personally, I'd suggest a relaxing spa in Tahoe).

Good luck on your trip and hope you enjoy the US! We're not nearly as bad as the reputation we've earned. At least on the West.

[Eric]

Coming into SF after a 20 hour flight and running around to get ready for the Burn - doable, but definitely more expensive than Reno for a place to stay (by $100 or more a night in the summer). Pricing on the rest of your supplies should be about the same as in Reno, and you can find a ton of thrift stores in easy walking distance from each-other in the Mission, all of which have Burner-style costumes. Something to consider - how much more is it going to cost you to fly into Reno internationally? SF is a big international hub, Reno is not. The amount you save on the flight might more than pay for your room & the Burner Express.


Now for the off-topic notes from your friendly San Francisco tourist board:

We ended up walking almost everywhere, the trolley cars were usually packed to capacity and we couldn't get on.

It sounds like you were trying to get on the Powell St. cable cars* - next time get on the California cable cars at Van Ness. It will take you over Nob Hill towards downtown, and you have an amazing view of downtown & the Bay Bridge as you start going down. You can hop off at the gate to Chinatown if you want, and there is never a line to get on the California cars if you board on the Van Ness side, which, frankly, gives you one of the best rides in town. As for walking - I've lived here over 25 years, walking is my standard mode of transportation. SF is compact, a 30 minute walk will take me from my house to the club I work at, a 45 minute walk will take me from home to Dolores Park across town. Cars are a pain in the ass in SF, and I haven't had a license the entire time I've been here.

Spend an afternoon at Dolores Park. Hike up Twin Peaks. Club with the gays in the Castro and end up at the End Up. Walk through China Town and eat at R & G Lounge.

Dolores Park - yes. Twin Peaks - yes. R & G Lounge - if you eat meat, yes. (for vegan/ vegetarian Chinese - and, honestly, some of the best overall affordable Chinese in the city - go to Golden Era in Civic Center). End-Up - maybe, it really depends on what's going on, and how trashy you feel. Club with the gays in the Castro? Only if you absolutely need the Castro name attached to your trip. The best gay parties are all in SOMA now (SOuth of MArket). Hell, on the right Saturday you can hit a sweaty leather bar complete with boot-black to shine your shoes, a world-famous drag show, a bear party, hang out at the famous SF Eagle, and play pool with naked 70 year old men, all in a 6 block radius. I only go to the Castro a few times a year, and one of those is for the Silent Film Festival, not the gays. I'm in SOMA almost every weekend.





*Pedantic technical note: they're not "trolleys" - those get power from an overhead line, cable cars move via a literal cable in the ground. We do have streetcars which are trolleys, but those aren't the ones the tourists usually think of.

[crease]

Thanks for the direction guys, I think that pretty much confirms flying into Reno is the way to go.
I know im getting way off topic here but is there much happening in Reno post burn after the decompression parties? Was thinking about hanging around until Fri 11 then flying back to Melbourne. Ive got as much time as I want so can make the most of it but dont want to stay on longer than necessary just for the sake if it either if it quietens down. I hear so many conflicting reports about Reno.
Would like to book flights this weekend but keep procrastinating due to indecisiveness over dates!

[CyanEssence]

I'd think about taking a drive down to lake Tahoe, or maybe Sierraville hot springs, to decompress in nature before the long flight back to Australia.

[crease]

Cheers, actually thinking about going to Yosemite for a few days after. Made a new thread here as it seem like it was going a bit off topic here!

https://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic ... 23&t=73713

[Zubeneschamali]

Can also look into sharing an RV with another burner. Good thing for you because a local person has done all the legwork, good for them because you help offset the cost.

A friend of mine does this and hardly stays in the RV. Last year she shared with a French couple and she spent a night at our camp and had plans to visit other friends for a few nights more. Worked out for her because she had someone watching the RV, keeping the gennie going and the fridge cold. Worked out for the Frenchies cause they got privacy and a great place to stay.

Of course, its a whole different set of issues - long distance arrangements with someone you better make sure you qualify the person you're shackin with. If someone is hard to live with, it could be a week from hell.

[Dr Dilemma]

Some good advice here. Be forewarned that you'll want to make your RV reservation ... well honestly you wanted to have made it no later than December, but definitely ASAP, and that they will charge you many many times the usual summer rate. All RV rental places within hundreds of miles of the event jack up their prices during that week and most will charge you an extra deposit. Plan some time after the burn to get it thoroughly cleaned or you will be hit with some pretty hefty cleaning fees. Some are particularly burner unfriendly: Moturis is one that folks have had problems with as they will charge you insane cleaning fees, a buddy had them charge him $4,000 in cleaning fees. Whoever you use, make sure you have them record EVERY ding, scratch, etc. and make sure to take pics of these things.

[Token]

I would seriously consider a cargo van. Here in the U.S. They are much bigger than ones in Europe.

Any convenience an RV brings is wiped out by the cost and hasle of having to clean it for hours after you return.

Cargo vans hose off real nice in the self serve car wash.