Campervan Rental + Insurance

[Andrei]

So i want to rent a campervan or just a van to sleep in for BM
Any experience with this? any advice?
(from what i found only Wicked campers allow to rent legaly for BM. Rest of the companies either charge a penalty $1000-2000 or say that insurance will be void if i go to BM.)
I am 23 years old and regular car rental companies carge me arround $25 per day more when i rent anything bigger than an economy car.
Any suggestions on campervan or van rentals are welcome...


My second question.
Most of the terms and conditions for renting a car include that I am not covered when driving offroad which includes playa (its specificly specified for smart people like me 2

so, does anyone know how and were can i get insurance policy to cover the van on playa?
(I am not planing to burn it but i am not rich and traveling a long way from Canada so want to stay out of trouble)

thank you!

[theCryptofishist]

Have you considered a box truck?
I wonder if you'd be covered from the credit card company you use to pay. Look at the fine print and see. Otherwise, maybe Doc Pyro has some advice. He gets some sort of parade insurance for his camp and their mv.

[Andrei]

its too much trouble for box truck. no ventelation no A/C. on the other hand more space..

as for the credit card, i dont have frist class visa.

[junglesmacks]

Many people camp in cargo vans or box trucks.. including myself. Budget is known to be one of the only burner friendly major rental companies. Their insurance will cover you on playa.

Not sure how you're planning on getting all the way to BRC. Are you trying to rent something in Canada and drive down? Fly/train part way and then rent? Cargo vans are sold out in Reno @ Budget but 10' and 16' box trucks are still available.

Not sure about the minimum age. Any questions, you could just call the location on Gentry Way. They're 110% very burner friendly.. no need to hide your intentions. Tell them straight out what's up and they'll help you out as best they can. Here's an excerpt from the Budget site:

"In most U.S. states, Budget Truck Rental locations rent to customers 24 years and older. Some Budget Truck Rental locations also may rent to customers between the ages of 21-23 with the following requirements:

Renters 21-23 years of age must present two valid forms of acceptable identification, a valid driver's license and one other form of ID. For details, please see FAQ “What kind of credentials do I need?”
At time of rental, an additional $18-per-day underage surcharge for drivers 21-23 years of age will be applied."

http://www.budgettruck.com/faq.aspx#agereq

Again.. call the Gentry Way location in Reno and see what they'll do for you. They may waive this altogether. They're that cool.


Check out this thread for some discussion that may interest you: http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic.php?t=35289

[Rice]

So i want to rent a campervan or just a van to sleep in for BM
Any experience with this? any advice?
(from what i found only Wicked campers allow to rent legaly for BM. Rest of the companies either charge a penalty $1000-2000 or say that insurance will be void if i go to BM.)
I am 23 years old and regular car rental companies carge me arround $25 per day more when i rent anything bigger than an economy car.
Any suggestions on campervan or van rentals are welcome...


My second question.
Most of the terms and conditions for renting a car include that I am not covered when driving offroad which includes playa (its specificly specified for smart people like me 2

so, does anyone know how and were can i get insurance policy to cover the van on playa?
(I am not planing to burn it but i am not rich and traveling a long way from Canada so want to stay out of trouble)

thank you!

Hi Andrei,

Canada is not that far. I'm flying into San Francisco from Saskatoon, then driving out to BRC with a friend. Got tired of the 3000ish KM drive down...

I use a tent. Have access to some shade. Am able to get all my gear into two hockey bags. Then I buy water, food, etc when I pass through Reno or Fernley.

[Canoe]

its too much trouble for box truck. no ventelation no A/C

Ventilation lets in hot air. And you'll have to cover the RV's windows to keep the heat/sun out.
Where are you going to get the power to run the A/C? Generator time adds much to the cost, and it uses gas, and they may charge you to change the generator's filter.
Swamp/evap cooler is much cheaper to run.
Check out designs and parts here:
http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic. ... start=1350
There's a Costco in Reno for the deep cycle battery, and you can have the other parts shipped in to a UPS Store to pickup in Reno. Quickly assembly and take it along to the Burn.

[CornMan]

The rental companies in the U.S. will not rent camper vans unless gas prices begin to become expensive here. Gas is dirt cheap in the U.S. right now, so they rent whales instead of camper vans.

[Andrei]

thanks everyone,
I think you guys are right. I really do not want to pay $1800(the best price i found) for somthing like that.

I am not thinking about a tent, good shade and gas generator + window AC

The swamp cooler idea is great, but kinda dosent feel safe... i would like to sleep through the morning. doing more research on how to make it possible.
I know that i dont like it when its hot and humid, but if you balance the two out maybe it will work... I'll have to test that swamp cooler somehow before signing up for that lol

[FIGJAM]

Coolers, unsafe?

That's a new one on me.

Been using them for 50 yrs.

On playa you'll get a 30 degree drop in temp from the outflow on the cooler.

[Andrei]

FIGJAM, what was the temperature in your tent when you used the swamp cooler?
by what time it gets too hot?
and how big was your tent and the cooler?

thanks alot

[FIGJAM]

I sleep in a box. (6x6x8)

A great big uninsulated box.

It does'nt get hot.

I need a blanket when napping in the hottest part of the day.










If you have the cooler blowing right on you, you'll stay cool.

[Canoe]

I sleep in a box. (6x6x8)
A great big uninsulated box.
It does'nt get hot.
I need a blanket when napping in the hottest part of the day.
If you have the cooler blowing right on you, you'll stay cool.

Now be fair.
No insulation, but your trailer "box" has more than just white paint.
It's painted with a sunlight/heat reflective elastomer roof coating.

[theCryptofishist]

I sleep in a box. (6x6x8)
A great big uninsulated box.
It does'nt get hot.
I need a blanket when napping in the hottest part of the day.
If you have the cooler blowing right on you, you'll stay cool.

Now be fair.
No insulation, but your trailer "box" has more than just white paint.
It's painted with a sunlight/heat reflective elastomer roof coating.

Fat lot of good it does him under that shade structure.

[Canoe]

No insulation, but your trailer "box" has more than just white paint.
It's painted with a sunlight/heat reflective elastomer roof coating.

Fat lot of good it does him under that shade structure.

Heat radiates all around, not just directly from the sun.

[pink]

You have to remember that the air humidity is very, very low. The evaporative cooling effect makes a swamp cooler much more effective than a/c. My first year I tried a shower behind the water truck on a hot day and was freezing afterwards. As in goosebumps and shivering cold. And it was damned hot out.

I use evaporative cooling in Death Valley where humidity is around 3%. A wet shirt can give you goosebumps when it's 120 in the shade.

Just sayin'

[junglesmacks]

I sleep in a box. (6x6x8)

A great big uninsulated box.

It does'nt get hot.

I need a blanket when napping in the hottest part of the day.

You, sir.. are also a mutant species McGyver of camp design.

Figgy - "Ok.. someone get me.. an avocado, a paper towel tube and a bowling ball. I'll whip you up a Super Psychotron 5000 BTU swamp cooler in no time.."

[FIGJAM]

Well everyone knows AH=Avocado Hours!!!

The bigger the better.