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So, I've been doing Roo with an RV for the last three years and absolutely love it.
As much as I enjoy having a real bed, fridge and sitting area (not to mention running water and kitchen), the most important thing to me, FAR AND AWAY, is the ability to stay cool in the A/C when I'm sleeping.
This year none of my normal group of Bonnaroo friends are going, so there's no way I can afford the RV rental on my own. SO I'm looking at renting a cargo van (very cheap!) and putting an inflatable mattress in there. I'll then have a tent/sitting area set up outside the van to hang out during the day.
Has anyone tried this before? Is the van's AC system enough to keep the interior cool in the morning hours? How much gas did you go through?
RV's don't use much gas at all when you're running the AC, but then again the RV uses a separate generator to power it. Not sure how (or if) a van's efficiency might differ...
Thanks in advance for any perspective you might have. I'm sure someone out there has done this...
Post by alphalykos on May 19, 2010 18:37:41 GMT -5
Are you renting a diesel or a gasoline van?
A diesel van running all night can REALLY choke your neighbors, bad Karma, and gas will do that PLUS maybe kill you from carbon monoxide (or your neighbors. REALLY BAD KARMA).
Have you thought about using 12v exhaust fans?
I'm sleeping int he back of my Jeep Cherokee this year and have an exhaust fan to blow the hot air out. AND I'm covering the thing in a metallic colored tarp and space/emergency blankets.
It's gunna look like a big baked potato in aluminum foil. LOL
I'm with alpha on this. I really don't see running a vehicle for several hours at a time going over well with neighbors so close together in GA, especially at a festival that is as avid about going green as Bonnaroo is. I have actually seen several people being confronted about running their vehicle while at roo. What you may want to look into (and I have done in the past) is bringing an extra car/boat/truck battery that is fully charged and getting a power inverter that can run some fans.
A diesel van running all night can REALLY choke your neighbors, bad Karma, and gas will do that PLUS maybe kill you from carbon monoxide (or your neighbors. REALLY BAD KARMA).
Have you thought about using 12v exhaust fans?
I'm sleeping int he back of my Jeep Cherokee this year and have an exhaust fan to blow the hot air out. AND I'm covering the thing in a metallic colored tarp and space/emergency blankets.
It's gunna look like a big baked potato in aluminum foil. LOL
I did the space blanket thing in a suburban last year and it made All the difference in the world. a little ventilation and space blankets to the sunrise are the way to go for car sleeping. I ran the engine some, but I felt like it was really inconveniencing my neighbors. Save your gas for a 30 minute daytime chillout and just black the windows you will be fine until 9 or so.
I appreciate the replies, and the suggestion for the solar blanket.
Just to clarify, so I don't sound like a total prick willing to contaminate my neighbors' lungs... the company I work for is closely connected with the bonnaroo promoters so I actually have the great pleasure of camping in the artist area.... last year i was right behind the which stage. I will be able to park in the same area as the tour buses/RVs in my van, so I won't really be choking out any tented neighbors. In fact, the one drawback of hte artist camping is that there are a lot of engines running and a lot of exhaust...
That said, I'm intrigued by this solar blanket idea. Did you drape it over the outside of the car or somehow affix it inside the vehicle?
I've definitely used battery powered fans in the past, so I might just go that route and save the gas anyway, if i can figure out how to darken the vehicle. One thing that's good about the cargo van is that there are no side windows (i think)
pretty sure it's regular unleaded vehicle so that won't be an issue
thanks again
if anyone else has other thoughts or advice, please share!
Post by OldLadyRoo on May 23, 2010 16:00:46 GMT -5
My husband and I have camped in a van for the past 3 years. We take the back seats out, natch, and put in a futon mattress. We carry two 12' EZ Up canopies. One goes over the van and the other is used to cover a sitting area. We don't use the AC, unless we need a jolt of cold during the day. The canopy keeps things cool in the am and we sleep until 10 a.m. or so. A couple of small battery operated fans help circulate the air. The canopy makes all the difference... Have fun. We are missing this year since we have a child's graduation but will be van camping in 2011....!
Post by OldLadyRoo on May 23, 2010 16:02:23 GMT -5
Yo - Lowerdeck - did you see Jediah at the Mill St. Complex in Southbridge? It's a well kept secret, isn't it? We live in Central MA and have prob seen you around! Have fun at the farm.
Yo - Lowerdeck - did you see Jediah at the Mill St. Complex in Southbridge? It's a well kept secret, isn't it? We live in Central MA and have prob seen you around! Have fun at the farm.
Cannery at 12 Crane. I'm over there constantly.
I've only been to the Mill once, to see Johnny Winter.
old lady - thanks for the advice - putting an EZup over the van definitely sounds like a great call.
Were you guys in a smaller minivan or an actual cargo van? For some reason I don't think my EZup is quite tall enough for a cargo van... but maybe i'm misreading it
Post by fearthestupid on Jun 1, 2010 20:06:59 GMT -5
old lady roo hit it right on the head we have an e-150 ford ez-up will work just make sure and secure the open doors...in the wind they can knock stuff around pretty good. we use a silver reflective tarp actually over two vans and two shelters...works great
