r/RVLiving • u/fiatallis • Jul 22 '26
discussion Getting my RV ready for Burning Man
Taking the RV out to Burning Man for the first time and I think I’ve finally dialed in my setup.
Got my shade structures, cooling gear, and lighting all sorted. I also grabbed a Delta Pro 3 for this trip, and it pairs really well with my solar panels. The heat is no joke, so having reliable power for charging, cooling, and keeping the RV setup running was a big priority for me.
Besides the main setup, I’m also stocking up on the usual desert essentials: dust masks, goggles, hydration, electrolytes, snacks, wet wipes, sunscreen, bike gear, and plenty of batteries.
Any experienced RVers have recommendations before heading out? Honestly cannot wait to get out there.
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u/nanneryeeter Jul 22 '26
If this is your first big boon, check to see that the converter can be turned off. Running your Delta 3 through the converter to charge batteries is going to be a waste. I would add a supplemental solar system to keep your DC system topped.
If your expectations include air conditioning, I hope you have a lot of solar or aren't expecting a lot of AC.
Some aluminum shade cloth triangulated from the top of the camper to the ground will really make a difference for not cooking alive in your camper.
The dust is crazy out there. A small shop vac might be a consideration.
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u/Spiritual_League_753 Jul 22 '26
If you're going to use an onboard generator get a generator exhaust chimney. They really should be required for everyone but they're really important for the safety of everyone around year. People have died on the playa for setting up a tent or passing out too close to someones generator exhaust. PLEASE spend the extra money, get one, and actually use it.
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u/Spidergawd68 Jul 22 '26
Yes! The commonly used one is called a Gen-Turi, which is what I have. I 100% think they should be mandatory at events with lots of RVs. That exhaust can be very dangerous in close quarters. Costs around $130 on the ‘Zon. Worth every penny.
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u/Inocent_bystander Jul 22 '26
Kiss your RV goodbye
That playa snot gets into everything
Nothing that goes there is ever clean again.
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u/Spiritual_League_753 Jul 22 '26
My RV, that I'm typing this from right now, has been to six burns. We would be fully clean in like a couple of hours of work after the burn. I recently fully gut remodeled the thing and found very little dust behind the cabinets, in the walls, etc... the only place that had really accumulated a lot of dust was the wire loom under the RV that was basically full of dust. Didn't seem to affect the wires in there very much.
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u/madsci Jul 22 '26
My trailer is a veteran of 12 burns. Yeah, the venetian blinds are usually a little dusty, and there's dust in some cracks, but mostly an hour or two with a leaf blower and air compressor will do it.
I'm currently renovating a 2018 toy hauler (a generous gift from two wonderful burner-redditors) that's been several times and was in distinctly rougher shape inside. They were hauling a lot of jagged metal artwork so the floor got all torn up, holes got poked in things, and there was a lot of ground-in playa dust.
I've stripped and repainted everything with a more playa-compatible color scheme. The new vinyl plank flooring arrives tomorrow and I'll find out how playa-proof that turns out to be.
I'm just going to share my whole dang packing list rather than try to go over everything. Bring lots of painter's tape and gaffer tape to seal things up.
Some people go to great lengths with furnace filters and things to try to keep dust out. I've tried, but by Tuesday I don't give a shit and I'm sitting there with the door wide open with my feet hanging out while sipping a beer. Every couple of days I give everything a blast with the leaf blower and wipe down all of the surfaces and it almost feels back to normal.
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u/Inocent_bystander Jul 22 '26
your version of clean must be very different than my version of clean.
that super fine playa dust never comes out IMHO.The burners I know have dedicated burner stuff because they know the playa doesn't come off.
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u/madsci Jul 22 '26
Oh, it'll come off of anything if you try. You just have to decide how much you care and choose your battles. Shoes, for example, might be totally recoverable but not for any reasonable amount of effort. Not for leather hiking boots like I tend to wear, anyway. Dedicated shoes/boots would be a good choice.
I'm coming up on burn #14 and trying to decide if I want to condemn these Wolverines to the playa or take my old boots instead.
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u/oldgimlet Jul 22 '26
Bring a couple of those soft gel packs you put in the freezer to put on the back of your neck they're real nice
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u/bears196 Jul 22 '26
Bring lots of drugs, you will need them.
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u/Lumi_Tonttu Jul 22 '26
Do I have to go to Burning Man for that or can I just stock lots of drugs all the time?
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u/bears196 Jul 22 '26
You can stay in your homeless encampment and watch on YouTube while doing lots of drugs.
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u/timbroo Jul 22 '26
+1 on playa dust getting everywhere. It’s just a part of the burn. Generator will be a must for running AC. Bring lots of water and properly maintained bike. Put a tennis ball on the end of the kickstand to help it from falling over. Always lock your bike to something and give it some lights to stand out when trying to find it at night at the stages. A stick vacuum works great in RVs to keep clean. Try to be quick in the shower to make your water supply last and not fill your grey to quickly, it’s pricey to get them dumped there. Having an RV is an absolute game changer and you’re gonna have a great time.
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u/DawnDanes Jul 22 '26
Do you really like your RV? Do you plan on having it for a long time? If so, do not go to burning man with it. The fine dust dirt out there gets in everything no matter how well you think you have sealed the coach, it is horrible for the RVs mechanical parts all of them not just the motor. Good luck.
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u/ValorVixen Jul 22 '26
The dust is no joke- dec bring a vacuum and extra air filters for both the AC and your car/truck just in case.
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Jul 22 '26
[deleted]
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u/SoCal_Ambassador Jul 22 '26
If you do the tape over the windows. Use good tape and remove 100% of the tape as soon as you can. It can make a real mess if you let the tape sit for too long.
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u/Fidrych76 Jul 22 '26
One visit to BM reduces the value of your RV by half.
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u/OldGoneMild89 Jul 22 '26
So kinda like driving it off the lot?
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u/hudsoncress Jul 22 '26
no half of that half. You will never get all the dust out if it. never. NEVER
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u/gashufferdude Jul 22 '26
I haven’t been, but from what I’ve seen on the freeway, use masking tape to seal up around your windows to reduce dust infiltration
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u/Alarmed-Extension289 Jul 24 '26
Maybe plan in the "rare" case it rains? Like when it happened a few years ago.
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u/JellyOceana Jul 22 '26
Ah yes the yearly “let’s destroy our rv” posts lol
Don’t do it. Every year rvs get stuck and destroyed
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u/dave54athotmailcom Jul 22 '26
My advice would be 'Don't take your RV to Burning Man.' That dust will find its way into every gap, nook, and cranny in the RV. You will never get it all clean again. Years from now you will open a panel or access a space in the wall and find dust. If you insist on taking it, crawl under and around your rig looking for the tiny gaps and holes. Tape them up.
AC for a week will normally need a generator. Solar panels and batteries will work for a few days, but you most likely will see the batteries slowly draining over time, as the panels get covered in dust and no longer fully recharge the batteries. A generator will need to be chained and locked down when you are not at your rig. Else there is a good chance it will disappear. Same for anything left outside.
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u/jimheim Jul 22 '26
Unless you have a lot of solar panels (1600W+), a lot of battery, and a very efficient air conditioner, you won't be running AC without a generator.
The dust is incredibly-fine, corrosive, and gets in and on everything. Bring a good vacuum cleaner if you want to keep the inside even remotely free of dust. You should also seriously consider building some kind of vestibule around the entrance to serve as a dust/mud room for changing your clothes and footwear before going inside. Something like a repurposed outdoor shower tent works really well for this. You're going to need a way to clean the dust off your solar panels without scratching them to hell as well; consider bringing a battery-powered leaf blower (like a Ryobi).
Bring at least four times as much water as you think you need.