how do you get your camp out to the playa?

havoc · Post by **havoc** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 1:07 pm

i'm working on a small camp/art project this year and am struggling a bit with the logistics of getting our camp (the shade structures are my biggest concern) from indianapolis to the playa.

last year i drove my matrix from indy to BRC and back...i got racks for the shade structure and crammed everything else + three passengers inside. i'm not planning on doing that again for a number of reasons, especially the fact that we'll have three times as many people and three times as much infrastructure.

my little crew is currently planning on taking the train from chicago to reno, then getting 2 rental vans for the last leg.

i've googled around and found 2 camps in the midwest area that sell space on their trucks, but they're not set up for 2011 yet so i'm twiddling my thumbs. :) in all likelihood, i will get in touch with one or both of them and end up going that route, but - being open to new and exciting ideas - i wanted to put it to you, the lovely citizens of eplaya: how do you and/or your campmates go about getting your infrastructure out to the playa?

muchas gracias and namaste! <3

-havoc

peachandpapa · Post by **peachandpapa** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 4:58 pm

The only logical answer is for your small camp to pool enough dollars to rent a 10ft truck, or better yet, a trailer. As a camp grows, so do the costs and logistics. We have a camp of ten and now use a 15ft panel truck to haul everything.

Good luck!

Post by **Elderberry** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 5:03 pm

We rent a big truck.

Post by **mdmf007** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 8:46 pm

2 Kenworth's and a slew of box vans.

Trishntek · Post by **Trishntek** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 9:17 pm

jkisha wrote:We rent a big truck.

Ditto

Post by **Savannah** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 10:18 pm

Cargo van (2 seats, biiig empty space) can be managed by most drivers; moving trucks or box trucks for the confident.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 2:03 am

Corolla w/ a Thule rack.

JStep · Post by **JStep** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 10:03 am

Buying a school bus from a friend and hauling a campmates trailer.

ibdave · Post by **ibdave** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 7:39 pm

Older RV towing and box trailer that's filled to the gills. The trailer is parked full and gets opened a week before we head out... Major dust cloud

Laughing Forest · Post by **Laughing Forest** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 10:34 pm

If your heart is good and your intentions are noble then the universe will manifest all your needs.

I works for me.

Om Shanti, Om

Sic Pup · Post by **Sic Pup** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 5:05 am

Laughing Forest wrote:If your heart is good and your intentions are noble then the universe will manifest all your needs.

I works for me.

Two sentences, two conflicting views on radical self reliance.

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 9:18 am

Decommissioned school bus, with improvements (ongoing).

Post by **Elderberry** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 9:45 am

Elliot, I'm so envious of people like you that have the ability to accomplish projects like that.

havoc · Post by **havoc** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 10:12 am

Laughing Forest wrote:If your heart is good and your intentions are noble then the universe will manifest all your needs.

I works for me.

Om Shanti, Om

namaste to you, LF, but...as a natural and professional project manager/organizer/cat herder, i just can't roll that way. i'm generally the one making the manifestation possible for the free spirits, and i honestly like it that way. :)

jkisha wrote:Elliot, I'm so envious of people like you that have the ability to accomplish projects like that.

ditto! that thing is freaking beautiful and amazing!

thanks for all the info, peeps...it's really neat and educational to see and hear about what everyone else does! namaste!

-havoc

Post by **Elderberry** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 10:24 am

Laughing Forest is someone's sock out trolling.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 10:26 am

I'm a traditionalist:

Post by **Elderberry** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 10:31 am

WOW...think of the MOOP factor caused by twenty mules!

havoc · Post by **havoc** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 10:31 am

lol, nice...are you driving or is that you on top? :P

Sail Man · Post by **Sail Man** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 11:54 am

havoc, since ur taking the train why don't u just ship out ur stuff on the same train?

This year we're going with LAPES for our infrastructure deliveries.

havoc · Post by **havoc** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 11:58 am

sail man, i *love* that idea, but unfortunately amtrak has some pretty weird and restrictive rules about sizes and weights and so forth for freight.

my carports that are so perfect and durable on the playa are starting to feel like big anchors. :(

lol @ that picture...that's amazing. :D

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 12:06 pm

Thanks folks! But "Millicent" is still not painted, so maybe you would like to come help me with that? (We were going to do it on Playa last year, but that fell thru.)

Anyroad, a school bus can be a good transportation value. In today's economy there should be real bargains, like $2000,- for a perfectly good 15-year-old bus, fresh from the school district.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 2:52 pm

jkisha wrote:WOW...think of the MOOP factor caused by twenty mules! :shock:

Nose bags and diapers.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 2:53 pm

havoc wrote:lol, nice...are you driving or is that you on top? :P

Oh, I'm inside, the air conditioned boudoir is quite lovely, I'll have you know.

havoc · Post by **havoc** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 10:23 am

theCryptofishist wrote:
havoc wrote:lol, nice...are you driving or is that you on top? :P
Oh, I'm inside, the air conditioned boudoir is quite lovely, I'll have you know.

arriving in style, i see!

C187 · Post by **C187** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 11:51 pm

Sail Man wrote:havoc, since ur taking the train why don't u just ship out ur stuff on the same train?

This year we're going with LAPES for our infrastructure deliveries.

:lol:

I know a guy in Cincinnati that's been talking about setting up a theme camp biased on the delivery method above. He'd have the drop point on 6o'clock and let to settle where ever it stopped at. Who care about the other camps, they where in the way.

@havoc - Box truck is really the way to go from our area. Just need two people that feel the need to drive it and place everyone's stuff in it. I normally see people charging by the square foot, and flat fee's for broken down bikes. If you have enough space offer to haul for people in the area not in your group. At least then you'll come close to breaking even.

Otherwise the cargo van, or even two of them isn't a bad idea if it'll hold everything. Another thought would be to have someone in Reno days ahead and UPS stuff to them. I don't know how well that would work, or how annoyed the hotel clerk would be.. :/

Sail Man · Post by **Sail Man** » Sat Apr 30, 2011 3:53 pm

C187, he could also employ an AC-130 to help clear a path. And I doubt the BLM rangers could do anything about having weapons on the playa when your turning lazy circles a couple K up

Though they suck to fly in when your hung over like a bitch

Thecatman · Post by **Thecatman** » Sat Apr 30, 2011 5:40 pm

Elliot wrote:Decommissioned school bus, with improvements (ongoing).

Thats a cool rig. Assuming you use I 80 and its a weekday you head for the playa, I'm gonna watch for that beast.
Be sure to honk and wave if you see me working along 80, from stateline to exit 32.

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Sat Apr 30, 2011 9:04 pm

I honk and wave all the time!

oneeyeddick · Post by **oneeyeddick** » Sat Apr 30, 2011 9:47 pm

Due to the price of Gasoline I am building a trebuchet in my backyard and I am gonna launch all of my stuff to the playa this year, one piece at a time.

Sail Man · Post by **Sail Man** » Sun May 01, 2011 3:10 pm

oneeyeddick wrote:Due to the price of Gasoline I am building a trebuchet in my backyard and I am gonna launch all of my stuff to the playa this year, one piece at a time.

Something like this OED?

But if you use this instead, you'll get greater range. and as an added bonus, that cop you scared last year, will actually crap his pants this time