Post
by trilobyte » Wed Apr 23, 2025 12:12 pm
Having lived in the bay area for several years, my guess is that you are likely really late to that game. Typically vehicle rentals in the bay area dry up in February (6 months before the start of most rentals), if not before then. Also, a long history of burners renting and living out of vehicles in such a harsh and abrasive environment, and then returning them in a poorer state than when they picked the equipment up has led many companies to reduce the number of vehicles they rent during that window (they know when Burning Man happens), as well as dramatically increase rates and cleaning fees.
My partner and I had rented box trucks for hauling gear, never slept/lived in the vehicle (most terms and conditions don't allow it anyway), and always made a point of having the vehicle cleaned and detailed before we returned it, and our vehicle rental costs tripled over the course of four years... and that was before the pandemic and supply chain chaos that affected the rental vehicle industry (which I hope is behind us).
I wish I had an easy solution for you. In our case my partner made the decision to buy a van. We still get it thoroughly cleaned and detailed as soon as we get back, playa dust is corrosive and we want that thing to last and perform well for as long as possible. To rent something like you're talking about, your best bet might be to get out a map and look for other cities in California or Nevada to find a rental in. Cost will most certainly be high, and there will likely be steep cleaning fees, but there are a lot of things you can do to help ensure the vehicle doesn't get trashed. Check some of the RV threads on the board, there are some great tips and experiences shared by people who've done it successfully over the years.
I'd also agree with Popeye. Unless someone in your group has a medical condition that requires it, you probably don't need an air conditioner. I've been to the event a number of times and have not used or brought one, and never found myself taking shelter from the heat in somebody else's air-conditioned space. If you can get a decent shade that blocks the UV and heat of the sun, yet allows for airflow, you should hopefully be fine. A personal misting fan or one of those fancy cooling cloths that you can keep in a cooler should offer a nice backup if one of you is feeling overheated.
Good luck sorting it out!
We CANNOT WAIT TO BE ON THE PLAYA!!! That being said, it is my first year at Burning Man and my girlfriends second year at Burning Man. We are trying to find a Conversion Van to rent Near San Fransisco Area. We are willing to pick up in Seattle or San Diego Or even Salt Lake City as needed. We rented one yesterday that was festival friendly and they message back saying that it is however NOT Burning Man Friendly. Any suggestions or help pointing me in the right direction would be greatly appreciated!!! We need something that has A/C and that also has a generator. All help is welcomed as we are new to this!!! 
