Which Forum To Ask For Buddies To Share RV Costs

allyn · Post by **allyn** » Fri Nov 21, 2008 5:09 am

Folks:

Being new here; I need to ask where can I seek others to share costs of renting an RV to go to Burn 09 from Portland, Oregon?

Or, instead of that, trying to find someone with space in their RV who's going to '09 from Portland?

Thanks

Mark

Arminius · Post by **Arminius** » Fri Nov 21, 2008 5:49 am

I don't think I'd want to share an RV with stranger that I met on-line. I'm pretty adventurous. But that's too much of a risk even for me.

But I wish you the best of luck in your search.

Post by **AntiM** » Fri Nov 21, 2008 7:16 am

There is an official rideshare board which will open later on the main site. The Share Resources also is an unofficial forum for rideshares and travel arrangements, but must fall within the no commerce rules of the eplaya. If you are looking for Portland burners to meet and greet beforehand, that's the regionals forum.

And please remember, post it once in one forum, cross-posting the same thing in more than one forum makes the mods ... cross. You may bump a thread, just don't keep starting new ones. Biggest rookie mistake out there when searching for rides.

If your post is in the wrong place, I will move it and let you know.

pinemom · Post by **pinemom** » Fri Nov 21, 2008 8:01 am

Yes, Cleara!

Go to the regional up there. That would be a great start.
And dont listen to anyone who says doing something with someone unbeknownst except for online here.....
If I had taken that kind of advice I wouldnt be where I am today!
Married to the bestest Burning MAN, Having a theme camp, and being part of a GREAT Village full of wonderful peeps I met here...First, and not in person!
I had an idea, I invented a sewing social prior to me going out for the first time. "stitchers n Bitchers of Reno" www.snbreno.ning.com
Ive now been doing this sewing social for coming up on 4 yrs!!!!
I invited people over that I had never met in person!!!!!!!!
One of which would become my husband, TiTwi(Thisisthatwhichis)!!!
Mister JellyFish, Kernul Killbuck, BBSue,Miss Velevtina Sinner,RiskyBurn,MozY BonZ, etc ....etc....etc...etc....etc....
somewhere in the realm of 300 burners personally....40,000 know of but havent met...YET!

FEAR of the unknown is garenteed to keep you in the dark and alone!

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Fri Nov 21, 2008 10:53 am

You might want to reserve your RV now. They are usually booked up months in advance.
And have a plan about how you are going to keep it clean and clean it up afterwards. These are not trivial things.

Dr. Pyro · Post by **Dr. Pyro** » Fri Nov 21, 2008 11:24 am

And if they ask if you are planning on taking it to Burning Man, do the honorable thing. Lie to them. "Absolutlely not! Who wants to hang around a bunch of filthy hippies in the desert. Not me, nosiree Bob. Me and the missus are taking the kids to Knotts Berry Farm. Have you ever had their boysenberry jelly? To die for! I'll be sure and bring you back some."

pinemom · Post by **pinemom** » Fri Nov 21, 2008 11:44 am

you can get a pretty good "burning" detail in Reno at most of the car washes.
they know what it is here...and they know how to do it!
not sure what it costs?
shit, we havent even washed the truck yet!
hahaha

Post by **Sham** » Fri Nov 21, 2008 12:39 pm

Play dust is like nothing you've ever tried to clean before. It very alkaline and doesn't wash off easily. You need vinegar to break it down before you can get it off. Most places that you rent an RV from look for playa dust and really whack you on the cleaning costs. The outside of the vehicles are not the big problem, the inside is usually the killer. We always try to keep the doors shut especially during the dust storms. This year my art car was trashed by the dust and it took days to clean. I am still finding playa dust inside and I most likely will never get rid of all of it.
If you're using a rental car, be sure to keep the interior clean, and if you have to clean it, just use a dry micro-fiber cloth to wipe the dashboard area.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Fri Nov 21, 2008 3:20 pm

I can tell no difference with vinegar at all.
Clean what you can dry, always.

I use water and a sponge or brush to clean it off what is waterproof.

allyn · Post by **allyn** » Fri Nov 21, 2008 7:46 pm

Folks:

Thanks for the heads up and warnings about dust, rental RV's, sharing them with strangers, and cleaning.

So, I tossed that idea out the side window to let it tumble on the road and am looking at another one.

I am operating at a bit of a handicap as I don't even own a car. I knew that Green Tortoise used to do a bus run to and from the burn, but I havn't heard if that's still going on.

The idea that I would like to bounce here is the idea of buying a cheap used van here in PDX, use it for my trip, and then selling it when I get back. I figure it sort of like renting it, but there would be no rush to clean it and get it back to the rental joint when I return and need to decompress.

Buying it used, it should not depreciate as much as buying new; then turning around and flipping it upon return, I should get nearly what I paid to buy the darn thing.

Any thoughts?

Cleara

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Fri Nov 21, 2008 7:50 pm

http://www.greentortoise.com/adventures ... tival.html

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Fri Nov 21, 2008 8:00 pm

Any thoughts?

Yup -- one thought; two words: School bus. Best dollar-per-cubic-foot transportation value around.

Buy it directly from the school district (or from the contractor who operates their buses, such as First Student).

Of course, I may be biased, since I have a 1992 Blue Bird that used to belong to the Skappoose School District near Portland.

Lots of info on www.skoolie.net.

thisisthatwhichis · Post by **thisisthatwhichis** » Fri Nov 21, 2008 8:02 pm

That's a great idea Allyn, if you can afford the up-front-costs........

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Fri Nov 21, 2008 9:54 pm

Sharing an rv or van isn't impossible.
They are just cautioning you.

A van or class C rv can be used for other things.
A large rv can be too unwieldy.
You may wish to keep something for next year or other uses.

If you aren't going to use it again, a large vehicle or rv or trailer may be a good deal though.

If you keep it, parking arrangements are to be considered. if any.

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Sat Nov 22, 2008 7:56 am

I'm with Elliot, a bus is the way to go if ya can afford it. There are plenty of great examples of modified busses out there.

http://www.vonslatt.com/bus-main.shtml
http://steampunkworkshop.com/bus1.shtml

Another option would be to make a small house on a trailer like the tumbleweed home.

http://freshome.com/tag/tiny-house/

http://tinyhouseblog.com/stick-built/ma ... to-go/101/

A van is good to.. you could "extend" your space out the back with a dome or large tent and have it semi-attached to the van.

I'm working on getting a large trailer and making one myself.

Also good are yurts..
http://tinyhouseblog.com/category/yurts/

And my personal favorite DOMES!!
http://tinyhouseblog.com/category/dome/

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Sat Nov 22, 2008 10:09 am

Do look at Mr. VonSlatt's bus in either of those two links above. His bus interior is a masterpiece.

But you don't need to go that far in order to use make good use of a bus. Here is "the same photo" of MY bus interior in 2007:

Much improved in 2008 -- even have the shower working -- but no photo.

klondike_bar · Post by **klondike_bar** » Fri Nov 28, 2008 4:49 pm

I plan to drive down, and i see you say the dust gets everywhere.

I dont care about my stationwagon. the paint could be sandblasted off all week for what i care.

my concern is what the dust will do to the actual important parts. Will it mess with the transmission,brakes, intakes, etc? I plan to return home in one piece...

cullen · Post by **cullen** » Fri Nov 28, 2008 5:01 pm

Elliot wrote:
Any thoughts?
Yup -- one thought; two words: School bus. Best dollar-per-cubic-foot transportation value around.

Buy it directly from the school district (or from the contractor who operates their buses, such as First Student).

Of course, I may be biased, since I have a 1992 Blue Bird that used to belong to the Skappoose School District near Portland.

Lots of info on www.skoolie.net.

i'm really thinking about this, one of those bookmobile, or a ups truck.

if i get back in February it should give me time to trick it out before burning '10

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Fri Nov 28, 2008 9:11 pm

one of those bookmobile, or a ups truck

If you can find a bookmobile, or bloodmobile, or some such, then you may get some decent insulation and other features that not present in school buses - and far less windows. But those vehicles are rare. School buses, on the other hand, are everywhere, and at sensible prices.

UPS never sells their vehicles. They overhaul them until they are no longer worth fixing, and then scrap them as matter of maintaining a neat corporate image. But you can certainly find similar vehicles as bread vans and whatnot.

Dork · Post by **Dork** » Fri Nov 28, 2008 9:41 pm

klondike_bar wrote:I plan to drive down, and i see you say the dust gets everywhere.

I dont care about my stationwagon. the paint could be sandblasted off all week for what i care.

my concern is what the dust will do to the actual important parts. Will it mess with the transmission,brakes, intakes, etc? I plan to return home in one piece...

In 8 years the only damage I've encountered that could be attributed to the playa was a burned out alternator on an art car. Dust got in, mixed with the salt air in SF as the beast sat during the offseason, corroded the works. I've heard tales of this happening to others. The bigger problem seems to be the trip there and back, loaded well beyond reason. Make sure your rig can handle the drive there and back and you'll be fine.

The dust can be cleaned out. It just takes a couple of tries at washing the exterior and some lemon furniture wipes across all surfaces in the interior and anything missed during the wash. I just took a nice black car out there last year for 3 weeks and managed to get it clean enough to sell a week after returning home.

cullen · Post by **cullen** » Sat Nov 29, 2008 5:23 am

Elliot wrote:
one of those bookmobile, or a ups truck
If you can find a bookmobile, or bloodmobile, or some such, then you may get some decent insulation and other features that not present in school buses - and far less windows. But those vehicles are rare. School buses, on the other hand, are everywhere, and at sensible prices.

UPS never sells their vehicles. They overhaul them until they are no longer worth fixing, and then scrap them as matter of maintaining a neat corporate image. But you can certainly find similar vehicles as bread vans and whatnot.

i've been ebaying and googleing for state auction sites i've found a few for under 3 grand bad economy + deployment cash=good time to buy.

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Sat Nov 29, 2008 8:40 am

http://www.floridachurchbus.com/

motskyroonmatick · Post by **motskyroonmatick** » Sat Nov 29, 2008 9:45 am

Here is where I go to check on bus prices and to dream a little. Not a very dreamy site though.
http://triggbussales.com/buses.cfm

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Sat Nov 29, 2008 10:57 am

Generally, used bus dealers have rather high prices. You'll probably get a better price buying from the school district, or the operating contractor, or an auction who sells for them.

That said, if I did not already have my bus, I'd be on my way over to Trigg in a flash. I paid $5.500 for my 1992 Blue Bird 40-footer two years ago -- direct from First Student.

A dealer may sometimes have one that he has failed to sell to a "normal" customer, that he might want to unload cheap. Most of us in the "skoolie" hobby dream of finding a bus that has had the seats slashed and the windows broken by vandals.

That 1981 "conventional" that Trigg has for two grand might go out the gate for a lot less.

Florida Church Bus has a good reputation on the Skoolie forum. But if I understand it right, he buys his buses in the north-east, so they tend to be rusty. I may be over-sensitive to this as I live in a rust free area.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sat Nov 29, 2008 12:56 pm

Rural school districts may work well.
A relative bought a clean, long one for $1000.
I understand shorter ones cost more.
Interstate buses are built better.

Ambulances can make a good base if you're looking for that size.

cullen · Post by **cullen** » Sat Nov 29, 2008 2:14 pm

thanks guys, yeah i'll have to look more into it and see what i can do. i think 6 months should give me enough time to get some stuff done on one. my uncle knows how to weld so that will help me out a bit.

Sail Man · Post by **Sail Man** » Sat Nov 29, 2008 2:30 pm

Another option I havent seen mentioned yet is an old ambulance, notably a type III Modular style. I see alot of them floating around my parts, usually snapped up by contractors. They are equipped with 2 batteries, heavy duty alternators, inverters for ac power, along with great storage options. Throw in a fridge, microwave, flat screen, now your really coding

cullen · Post by **cullen** » Sat Nov 29, 2008 2:53 pm

Sail Man wrote:Another option I havent seen mentioned yet is an old ambulance, notably a type III Modular style. I see alot of them floating around my parts, usually snapped up by contractors. They are equipped with 2 batteries, heavy duty alternators, inverters for ac power, along with great storage options. Throw in a fridge, microwave, flat screen, now your really coding

now that sounds like an idea. i'll have to start looking into those now too. lol

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Sat Nov 29, 2008 3:09 pm

I'm typing up a "School Buses 101" for youse guys. I'll probably post it as a new thread in the "Tips And Hints" section. Should have it done by tomorrow -- leaving to ride in a Christmas Parade now.

Yes, shorter buses tend to cost more -- go figure!

Yes, a small rural school district is the best place to buy a bus. The last one they parted with here in my town... they gave away! -- nobody bid on it. Even more importantly, you can probably spend some time with the mechanic and learn "the nitty-gritty" about each bus.

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Sat Nov 29, 2008 7:52 pm

I've done the modular ambulance thing. Got a medic one unit directly out of service from the fire department. Great truck, but it had it's good and bad points. It did have a big alternator, but that's not worth buying or not buying a vehicle for. You can slap a big alternator onto anything. It had great storage and was incredibly well-built. Every door and compartment had a full-length stainless piano hinge. Everything had lights. It even had a stomach pump.
It was REAL heavy.
It isn't a great choice for a camper because the headroom was pretty low and there really wasn't that much space, and you don't have an over-cab area. It is extremely solid though; it isn't going to leak and fall apart like a stick-built motorhome will.
If you buy one you need to immediately remove or paint over any forward-facing red lights.
It also wasn't that cheap. School busses can be had for much less.
Elliot is right, school busses are the best bang-for-the-buck out there.
The diesel rear-engine ones are the best. I'd avoid the front-engine gas motor rigs. They get horrible mileage and are way underpowered, painfully slow.

Which Forum To Ask For Buddies To Share RV Costs

Which Forum To Ask For Buddies To Share RV Costs

Thanks for warnings; here's another thought

buy a bus