Box truck camping tips..

[FIGJAM]

A 1" gap at the top of the panel would be enough to vent.

[AntiM]

Sorry AntiM, but you got that one backwards.

Still it would'nt be hard to vent the swamp cooler.

We have a free standing room AC which puts hot air into the room if not vented, sorry, that's what I was thinking of. And yeah, come to think of it, we leave a couple windows in the house cracked open so the swamp cooler flows properly. Sorry!

The playa is so dry that humidity in general feels cool, unlike back east, where it just makes you miserable.

[Canoe]

...If the swamp cooler is doing nothing but blowing in, how were you blowing exhaust out?

Just to be absolutely clear.

• Do not try to add a blower to exhaust the air (you get into push/pull pressure issues, while adding noise and power usage).
• Let the pressure from the incoming cool moist air displace the hot inside air and exhaust it (you need that vent so the hot inside air can be pushed out to make room for the incoming cool moist air).
• A great side benefit is that the space has positive pressure from the incoming cool most air. While that positive pressure pushes out any hot dusty air through the vent, the hot dusty air also gets pushed out through any small cracks, blocking dust and hot air from coming in through those. (also, if you ran a separate exhaust fan, if it's exhausting more than the swamp cooler is blowing in, then you'd be sucking hot dusty air in through those cracks)

As hot air rises, you want to exhaust the air that is at the top of the space. Particularly if you're trying to maximize efficiency to cool a larger space, like a box truck.
Two ways:

• make your exhaust vent near the top of the space
• place the intake of an exhaust tube near the top of the space - the tube can go outside at any height

For a box truck, if you're building a full height partition/wall to replace the opening of the rear door (like in ridingnitro's photo), then the first is easy.
If you're building a shorter partition and will be rolling the rear door down onto it (less to build, but you'll have to seal the partially closed door to the sides of the door opening and at the top...), then a hole in that short partition wouldn't be exhausting the hottest inside air, unless you use the second method. On the inside, run a tube (dryer exhaust tube?) from the exhaust hole in the partition up to the top of the space.

[junglesmacks]

Just to be absolutely clear, by "blowing out" I meant letting the inside air escape by whatever exhaust methods... not forcibly "blowing out".

[missprism]

that's incredible!!! great job! please consider setting up a workshop for fellow bay areans

[BoyScoutGirl]

Canoe and FIGJAM, thanks for all the detailed clarifications!

[Canoe]

Just to be absolutely clear, by "blowing out" I meant letting the inside air escape by whatever exhaust methods... not forcibly "blowing out".

Correct.
The hot inside air is forced out by the incoming cool moist air blowing in from the swamp cooler.
The only blowing required is done by the swamp cooler's fan.

(In fact, with the swamp cooler off, some people report that if the pad is still wet (or the pump still running to keep it wet), sometimes the wind is from the right direction and blows through the swamp cooler, chilling the space. The flap above the swamp cooler inlets on ridingnitro's photo can be closed to prevent the water in the bottom of the swamp cooler evaporating away while its off and you're out exploring.)

If the back of the box truck is open, then the denser cool moist air would fall out the back of the truck, replaced by hot playa air entering higher up. With any of the partition designs shown in the photos, this only happens when the "access door" is open, and that cool air is easily and quickly replaced by running the swamp cooler.

You could direct the incoming air flow from the swamp cooler up towards the hottest air near the top of the space, but that is inefficient and takes longer to cool the space down when you return from exploring BRC. If you let the cool moist air enter low in the space, then where you sit or lay is cooled first. And you're being cooled within moments of turning it on, no waiting for a half hour (or even longer, if you directed the flow upwards and tried to mix with the hot air in the space).
With the exhaust routed to take the hottest air from near the top of the space, cooling the space happens the fastest, for the least running time of the swamp cooler.

[missprism]

dunno if this has been said yet, but:

don't plan on using an airbed in the smaller box trucks. anything but the smallest airbed can't really fit, get snagged on the metal wheel well, and pops
i know from whence i speak.

only difference this year? bringing a padded sleeping mat instead of air bed

i'm confused? i thought the inside of box trucks were just plain flat wood, where is there a wheel well?

was thinking about getting the 16' with a cheap area rug underneath for protection and double height airbed. no good?

i'm 5'3" so i'm assuming i will need a lift gate too..

[ridingnitro]

dunno if this has been said yet, but:

don't plan on using an airbed in the smaller box trucks. anything but the smallest airbed can't really fit, get snagged on the metal wheel well, and pops
i know from whence i speak.

only difference this year? bringing a padded sleeping mat instead of air bed

i'm confused? i thought the inside of box trucks were just plain flat wood, where is there a wheel well?

was thinking about getting the 16' with a cheap area rug underneath for protection and double height airbed. no good?

i'm 5'3" so i'm assuming i will need a lift gate too..

FeetOfClay is talking about the 10' trucks, which have the wheel wells in the box. A 16' truck has a flat bottom as the box sits above the wheels.
A lift gate isn't really necessary, even for someone that is 5'3". My fiance is 5'1" and she did fine without one last year. Also, the trucks with the lift gates usually have diesel engines. (Which might or might not matter) If you need a step up to get into the truck, throw a milk crate or the like down as a step.

[edbrez]

dunno if this has been said yet, but:

don't plan on using an airbed in the smaller box trucks. anything but the smallest airbed can't really fit, get snagged on the metal wheel well, and pops
i know from whence i speak.

only difference this year? bringing a padded sleeping mat instead of air bed

i'm confused? i thought the inside of box trucks were just plain flat wood, where is there a wheel well?

was thinking about getting the 16' with a cheap area rug underneath for protection and double height airbed. no good?

i'm 5'3" so i'm assuming i will need a lift gate too..

or a leg up

Make sure if you are getting an airbed to ensure to insulate yourself from the airbed. It will sap the heat from your body when it gets cold in there.
Good quality sleeping bag should work and extra covers just in case...

[gaminwench]

We added a couple of 5lb dumbbells to the strap on the door; enabled us(me) to close it from the ground, it also stayed at halfway when we wanted.

[junglesmacks]

The plus side of lift gates is that they make rad toys at very random times..

[theCryptofishist]

I would need a lift gate...

[illy dilly]

Do Budget trucks not have an option for one of the silver ramps that pull out?
Wouldn't it be easy to just leave it out all week, and then you can walk right up it to the door?

I understand it presents a Slip/Trip hazard (one of our campers hurt them selves in 2010 cause we left our ramp out), but a solar light or tow fixes that right up.

[9ah]

If you have a lift gate... Make sure you have everything turned off when not in use... It's no fun having a dead battery on a 24ft truck in NYC, I can only imagine it on the playa.

[lucky420]

the 16 footers dont have the pull out ramp. Our 24 footer that we took in 2010 did have the long pull out ramp. Put LEDs on it and it stayed out all week.

the 24 footer was like a ballroom...

[junglesmacks]

the 16 footers dont have the pull out ramp.

Not true. They all have pullout ramps. It's tucked under there, promise.

[lucky420]

Lol that's what he said...

Guess I better look closer next time. Okay wait I do recall it. I never use it in BRC but did use it when I moved last summer

[TomServo]

If you have a lift gate... Make sure you have everything turned off when not in use... It's no fun having a dead battery on a 24ft truck in NYC, I can only imagine it on the playa.

Its also not fun...for some people...to find a severed arm by the tailgate. Most residential rentals should come with ramps.

[theCryptofishist]

If you have a lift gate... Make sure you have everything turned off when not in use... It's no fun having a dead battery on a 24ft truck in NYC, I can only imagine it on the playa.

Its also not fun...for some people...to find a severed arm by the tailgate. Most residential rentals should come with ramps.

Not fun at all...

[junglesmacks]

Sad to say that it looks like TTITDs good graces with Budget have run out. I spoke with our friends on Gentry Way this morning and the situation is not good.. and believe me, it's not up to them. Waiting on mod approval now to announce the details.

Word to the wise: You may want to start thinking of a different way to do BM if you're a Budget box truck camper/user anywhere within NV/NorCal.

[Dr. Pyro]

Damn, that's a bummer.

[Asquared]

i want to sincerely thank all of you who contributed to this thread. first timer, read this thread twice, and feel super comfy with the box truck choice.

i also spoke with steve today. if you want to go this route, i'd call them. NOW.

<3

[missprism]

oh no! please post details asap! i just rang them and couldn't get anyone on the phone..

[Bounce530]

If you have a lift gate... Make sure you have everything turned off when not in use... It's no fun having a dead battery on a 24ft truck in NYC, I can only imagine it on the playa.

That's odd...
The battery(s) for the lift gate shouldn't be tied into the rest of the electronics on the truck, it should only run the pump that operates the gate. So if the main engine battery dies the liftgate should still work and vice-versa.

[Drawingablank]

Sad to say that it looks like TTITDs good graces with Budget have run out. I spoke with our friends on Gentry Way this morning and the situation is not good.. and believe me, it's not up to them. Waiting on mod approval now to announce the details.

Word to the wise: You may want to start thinking of a different way to do BM if you're a Budget box truck camper/user anywhere within NV/NorCal.

Yes, I am reeling after conversing with them today. My budget was already strained, but this looks like a deal breaker.

[missprism]

I just spoke with them and confirmed that this will prove to be a very difficult option for many people this year. With limited trucks, the prices have gone insane. What a shame!

[luckyg]

I called yesterday and they wanted $77 per day plus .99c a mile.

More than double last years price.

I hope nobody pays this price. I'd say they are trying it on to see if they sell at that price and then maybe in a couple of months when nobody bites they might drop it down again.

Surely they would prefer similar income levels to previous years rathe than none at all.

[missprism]

i was quoted the same. they suggested waiting until online reservations were available for a potentially lower price

also they said next year would be better.. strange goings on..

[Savannah]

I called yesterday and they wanted $77 per day plus .99c a mile.

More than double last years price.

I hope nobody pays this price. I'd say they are trying it on to see if they sell at that price and then maybe in a couple of months when nobody bites they might drop it down again.

They might--if they're not all booked by then.

If a person simply can't afford the new price, then yeah--I do hope they try back in a few months. Can't hurt. In the meantime I am bummed for DrawingABlank and others in that situation.

Surely they would prefer similar income levels to previous years rathe than none at all.

If it's more than twice what they were charging last year, they will only have to do half as much business to make the same amount.