RV Rentals - Is it Really Worth It?

xi · Post by xi » Sat Mar 01, 2008 10:49 pm

Greetings,

I find myself quite befuddled at the moment...
This will be my fourth burn (the years go by so fast!), and, being a college student with little to no income I have always gone completely basic - or nearly. That meant pitching a tent, and most evenings feeling lucky to come across a hot meal. After the insanity of last year (my small group's shade structure busted and our tents collapsed), I am considering RV rental. I'm riding with more people this year, and, although they are just as broke as I am, I'm sure we could scrape up enough money to get one.

The question is: would it be worth it, or am I going to regret not having that cash for other resources?

Any insight will be welcome. Thanks in advance, darlings.

- XI

CapSmashy · Post by **CapSmashy** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 8:48 am

Look at what an RV rental will cost vs the type of equipment you could buy that will better stand up to the elements.

CapSmashy · Post by **CapSmashy** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 9:15 am

A quick check on Cruise America put a week long midsized RV (for 5) rental at around $1400 for the unit and estimated millage.

One quick and dirty option off the top of my head:

2 Costco car ports set up side by side and firmly staked in: ~$400 20x20 feet of covered space.

For beat the heat as long as possible comfort: radiant heat barrier foil ~$200 to line the inner roof in carport.

hunt for some indoor outdoor carpet. I found 8 x 10 finished edge rolls last year at Home Despot for around $20 each.

2 8 x 10 tents for under back half carport structure: ~$80 Tents will be sheltered from the brunt of th ewind by the carport structure and walls.

So for around $750, you can have a durable base camp that can be assembled between now and the event and one that can be reused for several events.

That "leaves" you with an extra $650 in savings from the RV to add to your supply budget to pick up a propane camp stove, a folding table or two, some chairs, etc. that can all be set up under the 10 x 20 are that is not occupied by tents for a communal living area.

As mentioned in the car port vs tent thread, the carports lend themselves to lots of creative expression space. Tapestries, painting, hanging bolts of discount fabric... limited only by your imagination.

MozyBonz · Post by **MozyBonz** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 9:46 am

Good call Cap

I like my car port.
I use it as the kitchen for the bar.
ibdave had three together in 06 making a 30x20 at his camp.
I loved the space.

golgotha-a-go-go · Post by **golgotha-a-go-go** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 10:16 am

In agreement with Cap & Mozy.

Part of the joy at BM is building your home, working together, collaborating, helping to secure it during storms, rebuilding it together if it's damaged, etc.

I'm on my 11th year. Never done the RV thang. Started with a little dome tent and graduated to carports and tarps.

We do good quality carports with tarps stretched over them and also cover minivans where we sleep. Structure is aerodynamic, cool inside and chill space for hanging. All internal area is carpeted. Took a couple of years to iron out all the kinks (never perfect, but always improving.) It's great to flex our ingenuity every year. We set up facing the street, say hello to folks that walk by and welcome guests and neighbors that wanna visit.

For me, RV living at BM is a simulation of how most live in the default world: The natural scape is shut out. Community with neighbors seems minimized, the generators and fumes impact the neighbors.

As I always say, this is my experience and it's worked well. Have your own experience.

phil · Post by **phil** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:07 pm

I'm going to say give RV some consideration. In addition to the rental fee, you probably will have to pay a clean up fee of a couple of hundred bucks. Rental companies don't like renting to Burners because you can _never_ get all the playa dust out, and this makes the RV less desirable to all the retirees that rent them for trips.

Sierra RV Rental is already out of their RVs for Burners -
http://www.sierrarv.com/Rental/Burning-Man-Rentals.htm
You can't see the rates, but note the $80 prep fee (and what it's for) and their $300 clean up fee when you return it. Note also the insurance coverage information.

If renting an RV is the difference between coming again and having a good time or not coming, I'd say rent the RV, but read Sierra RV Rental's page for what all you get and what you're expected to pay. It's very informative.

Louise's and my shade structure has survived several Burns. We bought a kit off the Web - silver roof tarp, two side flaps, corner joints, and bungee balls. We then bought those poles on chain link fences locally, so we didn't have to pay for them to be shipped. Lengths and dimensions were given with the kit, so no errors. Here's a photo of our shade:

We've had a bent pole or two, but nothing that prevented the shade from standing and functioning.

We do not cover our tent with the shade - we're on the day shift, and sleep at night. We nap in the afternoon in our shade, so the tent can be as hot as it gets with no problems for us. This means our ten-by-ten shade works fine. We have three poles that are 10 feet long, though, so you need to be able to get those to the playa (along with the other seven shorter poles).

We also have a spare shade just in case, and it uses electrical conduit for the pipes - smaller, lighter, but just as long for a 10 foot roof.

I wouldn't discount anything, RV, trailer, bus, better shade and tents, that keeps you coming to Burning Man. This'll be our 13th year in a tent, but I'll be 61 -- somewhere along the line doing it in a tent is going to be more of a burden than I'm willing to bear, so we'll be looking for RVs, trailers, or alternatives. And I'm sure people will sneer that we're not getting the full experience, getting to set up our shade and tent, driving rebar, pulling rebar, putting it all back together after it's shredded, etc. C'est la vie.

CapSmashy · Post by **CapSmashy** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:22 pm

I am coming out with a slide in camper for my truck this year but only because the wife is coming out with me. Its a total utilitarian shelter as in it will just be a place to sleep, store clothes/gear and mess with the cameras in a semi sheltered environment. No kitchen or other stuff inside.

So I'll still be setting up an adjacent structure for the kitchen and personal hanging out space.

BitterDan · Post by **BitterDan** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:46 pm

We kicked around the idea of bringing an RV this year but then we decided that an RV would take away from our experience. That's not to say that it would take away from your since it is, after all, your experience. Our reasoning is this; we decided to suffer the heat of day because it 1) brings us closer to the other 43,000 people that do NOT have RV's in that we are all miserable in the heat of the day and 2) it keeps us from spending the whole week of BM locked in our RV.

For us, we actually want to be "in the shit" which is why we camp on plaza or in the center of the city. We want to experience BM for every second possible because we know that for the next 364 days we are going to depressed and craving the extremes of the playa.

Basically, if we had an RV we would feel "cut off" from the rest of BM. It's not often that people will approach your RV to hang out but they'll approach your geodesic dome all day and night. I dunno, it really comes down to how YOU want to experience Burning Man. For me, I'll stick with tent camping.

ibdave · Post by **ibdave** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 8:40 pm

CapSmashy wrote:I am coming out with a slide in camper for my truck this year but only because the wife is coming out with me.

Can't wait to meet the Misses Cap....

EspressoDude · Post by **EspressoDude** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 9:38 pm

2 cents about RV's

ya don't have to hide out in them during the day, you can haul your geodome in them. But you do have a 'fridge, stove, bed, and lots of storage for costumes and stuff that you would have to dig out of a car/camp tent arrangement.

Don't figure on a whole bunch of people sleeping/using an RV. Even though one may sleep 5, it doesn't have enuff fresh water, grey water, or poop tankage for 5 for a week at Burningman

Post by **mdmf007** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 7:18 am

RV's have always been that component at BM that people swear by, or swear off.

I do see some people hiding out in their RVs in the heat, but I see that in domes as well.

In the heat of the day I like to hit the center camp and watch the people, listen to the poetry, song, political rant (should be heated this year) and go slow.

That works for me, might not for others.

MozyBonz · Post by **MozyBonz** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 8:30 am

Don't get me wrong it was the OP's statement (I'm riding with more people this year, and, although they are just as broke as I am, I'm sure we could scrape up enough money to get one.)

that leans me more for shade than RV for all the reasons stated cost, cleaning and, the problems involved with an RV on PLaya. That being said I have plans for a trailer or RV on playa for the future
It's just important to know what and not what to do when your on playa in an RV.

I listen to people that have been there.

gaminwench · Post by **gaminwench** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 10:03 am

we've taken an RV before...we don't shower or potty in it - there's NO guarantee of pump/refill...the only time the AC runs is if a campmate/visitor is suffering heatstroke (happens every year)...we've slept 4 without too much trouble, but we're only using the RV for sleeping and dressing and back-up water...great in duststorms - one year we had a wedding in camp, a duststorm hit, so we had the 'reception' in the RV - 27 burners with champagne and treats piled on top of the bride and groom while the dust raged on...sweet!!!

BitterDan · Post by **BitterDan** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 10:16 am

I certainly hope you mean heat exhaustion. If your camp mate is suffering from heat stroke then you need to be calling an ambulance/med-evac. Heat stroke is serious business that can kill you or leave you crippled for the rest of your life.

To RV or not to RV, that is the question.
Whether tis nobler to the burner to suffer the slings and arrows of oppressive heat and brutal duststorms.
Or to take shelter against a sea of troubles and by hiding, avoid them.
To die, to sleep, just once.
And by a sleep we say we end the playa-throat and the thousand natural shocks that playa is heir to.
To die, to sleep.
Aye but there's the rub for in this sleep of comfort what playa dreams will be missed?
When we have shuffled off this feather boa, must give us pause.
There's the respect that makes calamity of such a long event.

phil · Post by **phil** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 11:15 am

BitterDan wrote:>SNIP<

To RV or not to RV, that is the question.
Whether tis nobler to the burner to suffer the slings and arrows of oppressive heat and brutal duststorms.
Or to take shelter against a sea of troubles and by hiding, avoid them.
To die, to sleep, just once.
And by a sleep we say we end the playa-throat and the thousand natural shocks that playa is heir to.
To die, to sleep.
Aye but there's the rub for in this sleep of comfort what playa dreams will be missed?
When we have shuffled off this feather boa, must give us pause.
There's the respect that makes calamity of such a long event.

Very good, Dan.

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 7:42 pm

I've brought an RV to six burns, and these are a few of the things I have to add to the fray:

First, DON'T rent a shiny new rig that you'll be responsible for. You can buy an old one just as cheap or cheaper, and do whatever you want with it.
Second, your water supply is whatever you want it to be, RV or tent. I carry several 30 gallon drums of water on a trailer to pump in. I use the empties to pour my waste water into. Pack it in, pack it out!
An RV and enough duct tape to cover every access hatch or seam is the best shelter in a dust storm.
I think it's REALLY cool to not have all your stuff saturated with dirt.

But, I agree with the others, if you're really broke go with the shade structure plan. It's gonna cost less.

xi · Post by xi » Mon Mar 03, 2008 8:50 pm

Thanks so much for the run-down, Cap, and to all of your guys for your thoughts! I don't think I've exactly ruled out the RV option yet, but I'm looking very seriously at carports and such now. From what I gather about the cleaning etc. costs, I am seeing your point, Captain (O Captain, my Captain!)... If anything I'll end up buying something junky that my camp and I can fix up together.

Thanks again, all. Love and all that nonsense!

Post by **AntiM** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 9:44 am

If you own and not rent .. which goes for anything, be it trailer or RV, you can use it anytime you want. Storage can be a problem, but not impossible to overcome (says the homeowner with the long driveway and garage).

Our carports go to a lot of places other than Burning Man. They attended a wedding in Idaho recently.

CapSmashy · Post by **CapSmashy** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 11:34 am

xi wrote:Thanks so much for the run-down, Cap, and to all of your guys for your thoughts! I don't think I've exactly ruled out the RV option yet, but I'm looking very seriously at carports and such now. From what I gather about the cleaning etc. costs, I am seeing your point, Captain (O Captain, my Captain!)... If anything I'll end up buying something junky that my camp and I can fix up together.

Thanks again, all. Love and all that nonsense!

No worries.

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 10:24 pm

xi wrote: If anything I'll end up buying something junky that my camp and I can fix up together.

You can buy an old motorhome real cheap if you look around.
They will almost invariably have had leaks and some wood rot in the floors and walls and ceiling, but that's great, that's what makes them cheap. Screw it, you're gonna take 'em to the desert and subject them to hell anyway. Just pay attention to the mechanical condition. Running condition is way more important than anything else on a BM-bound rig.
Avoid ones that have sat parked in one spot for years. And make sure the refer works! (If you smell ammonia, don't even bother turning it on, it's gone. And if the refer's over 10 years old, it's got one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel.) The other inside appliances aren't super expensive, aren't deal-breakers.

If storage is an issue, sell it! Or give it away! It's still cheaper than renting one. Did you know most RV rentals charge $3/hour extra for running the generator? You'll drop $2k easy on a BM RV rental by the time it's all done.

phil · Post by **phil** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 12:25 pm

I assume 'refer' refers to the refrigerator?

BitterDan · Post by **BitterDan** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 2:01 pm

And make sure the reefer works!

Oh, do you mean like when you try to roll a joint and it won't smoke? I hate it when that happens!

Lord Of Ruin · Post by **Lord Of Ruin** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 4:19 pm

[quote="CapSmashy"]A quick check on Cruise America put a week long midsized RV (for 5) rental at around $1400 for the unit and estimated millage.

One quick and dirty option off the top of my head:

2 Costco car ports set up side by side and firmly staked in: ~$400 20x20 feet of covered space.

For beat the heat as long as possible comfort: radiant heat barrier foil ~$200 to line the inner roof in carport.

hunt for some indoor outdoor carpet. I found 8 x 10 finished edge rolls last year at Home Despot for around $20 each.

2 8 x 10 tents for under back half carport structure: ~$80 Tents will be sheltered from the brunt of th ewind by the carport structure and walls.

So for around $750, you can have a durable base camp that can be assembled between now and the event and one that can be reused for several events.

That "leaves" you with an extra $650 in savings from the RV to add to your supply budget to pick up a propane camp stove, a folding table or two, some chairs, etc. that can all be set up under the 10 x 20 are that is not occupied by tents for a communal living area.

As mentioned in the car port vs tent thread, the carports lend themselves to lots of creative expression space. Tapestries, painting, hanging bolts of discount fabric... limited only by your imagination.[/quote]

This is almost precisely what we did last year. We used 3 car ports in a U-shape, though. In the "cup" of the U, we put camo netting across to create I nice dappled "courtyard."

We parked vehicles behind to provide first level wind break. All structures were very, very well staked without rebar. Mostly we used 18" v-stakes set at 45 deg. angles to the wind. We also staked each foot of the canopies. Things rattled a bit in the wind, but didn't budge.

All that being said, I'm dumping it all to go to a travel trailer. My friends talked me out of an RV last year saying that "I'd lose the sense of the playa and feel disconnected." What fucking bullshit. They all spent their time huddled out of the dust and wind. I kept asking them...if you hate shelter so much, why not just go lay out there in the dust and get your sense of the playa? They just gave me dirty looks.

This year I look forward to:

A comfy bed (although my inflateable Intext bed was so unbelievable, I really can't complain.

A toilet that isn't smeared with feces from midweek on.

LoR