Virgin Burner Couple Looking for an RV to share

[lalamo]

Hi my fellow burners!

2019 will be the first burn for my boyfriend and I! We're SOO EXCITED but WOW we didn't realize how hard it would be to plan.

At this point, we've booked about 3 RVs to have them cancel on us when we've mentioned that Black Rock is our destination.

BUT I WILL NOT GIVE UP!

We're looking for folks who have some extra space and are looking for some extra hands at playa. We're up for anything and are looking to make some awesome friends.

PLEASE reach out to me if you have any advice, tips, or have some extra space in your RV / CAMP.

Hope to connect with someone soon.

Cheers!

[Bless]

Cruise America is very friendly toward burners and the whole event. You shouldn't have a problem renting from them as long as they still have inventory left.

[Luigi]

Hello! you don't say where you are coming from, but my advice to first timers is to keep it simple!

Rent a cargo van, get an inflatable bed, camp gear and check it out. RVing is nice, but a lot of work to clean after the event. As far as sharing, that's a whole bunch of potential drama. Basic: shade, water, food, bikes.

Even if you end up in a camp with your van, be self sufficient and you will be happy.

[lalamo]

Thanks Luigi!

We're coming from Miami.

Cargo van might be my next option!

[Savannah]

The lovely thing about a cargo van (besides the fact that you can strap bikes to the interior walls, and it can literally hold everything that 2 people should need) is that you can literally hose out the back of it at a car wash. Bring some shammies and a spray bottle of vinegar for the other dusty bits in the front. Flat sheets are nice for the seats upon exodus, although a good industrial vacuum @ a car wash can help.

You can also sometimes tie a tarp from a van to some poles and make shade (you will still need a little shade besides the van itself; you won't be able to sleep past 9am or so in a van).

You can also fit a whole shade structure inside, though. Don't get a cheap $50 EZ-Up, get something from Sportsman's Guide perhaps, and some rebar and ratchet straps or good rope, and overstake the heck out of it.

RVs are nice, but they're a lot of work. I can afford one, but it's just not worth it for me (and bigger than I want to drive). For others, they're indispensible.

That said, El Monte is another brand besides Cruise America that I see @ the Burn all the time. I can't vouch for their reputations; I just know that they are willing to rent to Burners.

[Skuzzy61]

We are going with El Monte this year, and so far the service/support has been impeccable. We are doing a one way rental this year, dropping it off in Reno, then flying home.

Prices were reasonable as well (relatively speaking, of course). I'll let you know how it all turns out.

[Captain Goddammit]

Just buy your own.
“RV” can be a huge 2 million dollar bus or a tiny little “tear drop” trailer that a big motorcycle can tow.
Get an old trailer, clean it up, paint the inside and doll it up.
It’s cheaper than renting, and way better. You can even sell it off when you get home if you don’t wanna keep it.

I don’t understand why so many people think they have to rent a motorhome to have all the comforts plus dust storm shelter.

[Savannah]

So true--Motzy's trailer only cost him $2,000 used. It had ants, but the playa killed them. He's used it for 5-6 years now. If I felt comfortable pulling a trailer behind my truck, I'd go that route in a heartbeat. I'd probably have to store it professionally during the year though.

[Luigi]

Last cargo van I bought in Reno - 1999 Chevy with 175k miles ran no problems, only thing I bought was tires - for $2000. Two burns later sold it for $2500. Platform bed queen size foam......comfy.

[Skuzzy61]

Some of us have no place to store RV's or trucks or any towable something.

Heck, the only thing I get out of an RV is a dark, quiet place to sleep (in a decent bed), a kitchen, and some privacy for taking the morning constitutional.

Oh, and a comfortable ride for 1800 miles. I do not know why, but I can drive an RV all day long and not get tired or feel sore the next day.

[Token]

If I felt comfortable pulling a trailer behind my truck, I'd go that route in a heartbeat.

Huh? Any there I was all these decades believing TTITD gets us to push our comfort level

Cmmon, you know you can do it!

It’s real nice with a small travel trailer in tow. Setup and strike are trivial.

[tattooedreceptionist]

I've had very good luck on outdoorsy the past few years! They have an option for "burning man friendly" that is usually checked with the "festival friendly" option, although I feel most renters don't really know what they're checking...their bad? I tell every renter where I am going from the start and this year was the first cancellation in 4 years. The guy looked up the event AFTER I made the RSVP and he was pretty shitty about a refund. Outdoorsy refunded the full rental amount thankfully.

I drive my truck from Florida and pick up in Las Vegas. Book as early as possible!! If you're driving, you can really find a trailer anywhere along the way. If its outside the event area, it can run pretty cheap compared to a 1 week rental near the event. I've rented in Idaho, Arizona and Vegas and have been lucky to not be gauged by "burning man pricing" -- this year i got a sweet deal, $750 for 12 days

Definitely be honest with where its going. Tape the shit outta the window welts and weatherstrips, have an outdoor tent if possible for de-dusting before entering the trailer. Even with these few things you will def know it spent a week in the dust. Good luck and feel free to PM, Ill be happy to offer any information I can

[Savannah]

If I felt comfortable pulling a trailer behind my truck, I'd go that route in a heartbeat.

Huh? Any there I was all these decades believing TTITD gets us to push our comfort level

Cmmon, you know you can do it!

I appreciate your faith in me.

. . . Odds of my handling a trailer well are 50/50 I'm actually a cautious, (paranoid), considerate driver, but I @#$%ed up a parking job after 12 hours of driving in 2016 and have been worried ever since. Heck, the desert was the reason I got my license (quite belatedly) in the first place! But I don't own or drive during the year; it doesn't take financial sense in a town with good public transport. I have literally had possession of a vehicle . . . 7 times outside of my best friends' refresher lessons, 5 of those were Burns, 2 of those were storage-related. I handled a cargo van for the first last month in the rain; couldn't see a goddamned thing! Very exciting.

It’s real nice with a small travel trailer in tow. Setup and strike are trivial.

Oh, I fantasize about that constantly.

At minimum I will get the crew cab again, but the biggest truck bed I can get.

[Token]

At minimum I will get the crew cab again, but the biggest truck bed I can get.

I don’t know why, don’t think we ever met, I somehow think of you as jumping out of one of those extra big 4x4 trucks, saddling up a horse, and riding out in one of the great outdoor states like Montana, Dakotas or some such to rustle up the cattle...

Great story on BM already opening the door to driving. Beware the suicidal bunnies

[Savannah]

At minimum I will get the crew cab again, but the biggest truck bed I can get.

I don’t know why, don’t think we ever met, I somehow think of you as jumping out of one of those extra big 4x4 trucks, saddling up a horse, and riding out in one of the great outdoor states like Montana, Dakotas or some such to rustle up the cattle...

Goddammit, bless you forever. Token, you might be my favorite Burner I've never met.

(I do love horses; ridden a very little, nothing special).

Great story on BM already opening the door to driving. Beware the suicidal bunnies

I DO. I went down Jungo Road with my dear friend Tonya half my life ago (I don't think ePlaya existed to counsel me otherwise) and counted 100 of those death-seeking bastards before we may have hit, 101, 102, and 103 in quick succession. "There go the Joneses!" she shrieked. (What presence of mind! She was driving of course; this was in the Before Time.)

We counted 126 before we found the city. One of 'em crossed in front of us, then RETREATED, then . . . tried to outrun us entirely, straight ahead. It was wild. He lived.

That road was so dark. You couldn't even be sure you were still on it. No pavement. No edges. 20mph for several hours. Since we survived (in a SEDAN) I consider it a great story. It looked shorter on the map . . .