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I'm doing Bonnaroo in an R.V. this year...(4th year rooer, 1st in an R.V.)
I was curious if there is anyone out there who has taken an R.V. to Bonnaroo before, who could help me out with a question or two... I am taking a 30' 5-7 person rented from Cruise America out of Nashville
In terms of air conditioning, how long were you able to run it off the Generator? Could you keep it on all the time? Or did it seem to burn through 1/2 the tank in a couple hours?
Can you keep the Generator running 24/7 if you're just keeping the refrigerator cold? Or does this also burn through gasoline quickly?
Has anyone utlilized the service they now offer where they will empty your septic tanks and refill your water tanks? If so how much does this cost?
(If anyone here has taken a 30-footer) how much storage space is provided underneath the R.V.? Is there enough room for coolers and such, or just a couple duffel bags?
I've considered bringing some extra five gallon jugs of Gasoline to refill the tank...any thoughts on this??
Anyone who has done both, how did it compare to camping it?
From having campers for a couple of years this is where I can help.
If you arrive there with a next to full tank you will be fine on gas for the generator and running the A/C
You do not need the generator for the refrigerator...this also runs on LP gas...make sure that they give you a full tank of LP. On my camper the frig automaticly swithes between 120 Volt (generator) and LP gas. There is usually a guage on the outside of the tank or a monitor inside the camper that will show your fresh water, gray water and black water.
I know from NASCAR races that the charge is around $30...I asked this question also..
I would bring a 5 gallon water jug or two to refill the water in the fresh water tank on the camper.
No need for the gas...
Storage space depends on the camper.
Bring some 2X8's to level the camper side to side and front to back. Or go to wal mart and get sone Lynx Levelers..cheep..
The generator on our motorhome uses about a gallon an hour. Like was stated in the above post, your fridge will run off of the propane tank. I would just recommend that you fill your gas tank before you get in line to enter Bonnaroo. Be very conservative with your water and bathroom use just in case the honey wagon can't get to your RV. I read that last year they were only able to service those who were next to the main roads. There were two separate trucks. One to fill the freshwater tanks, and one to empty the black and grey tanks. So the cost would be $60. for both services.
Are you guys serious?!?!? They only charged you 30 bucks to fill your water and an additional 30 to empty the waste??? I distinctly remember getting reemed for like $100
Question: Are you really going to run the generator and AC nonstop? If so Why?
I have a 3000 watt Honda generator and I plan to bring 10 gallons of gas for the weekend. This will be no different then a NASCAR race. I would imagine I will have less run time here due to the shows I will be seeing.
How much the generator uses depends on the generator and how much load you have on it.
For fresh water I have two 7gal water jugs to fill my freshwater tank (it holds 30).
Is there places to get freshwater from there?????
Depending "how bad" the bathrooms are in the VIP area I will need to get pumped out once..maybe. If I can last the whole weekend I will just stop at a truckstop on my way home and dump my tanks there...around $15.
The most $$ at any event I ever went to was $30 to pump out the tanks...Have exact change!!!! Do you really want them to make change for you?
Gene, To answer your question: Yes there are watering stations throughout the camping station where you can get fresh water (Tennesee well-water mind you; safe for drinking but not exactly evian) This is where most campers take their freezing cold, improv showers. But getting water here is not usually a problem.
If I can turn the A/C off when I'm gone during the day, but still be able to come back and have that thing cooled off in 15 minutes or so, I will do it that way.
My thought is this (and this might be a principal difference between a Nascar race) is that Bonnaroo every year I have gone (which is every year except the inaugural in 2002) Has reached 95 degrees + with almost 100% humidity.
Now if the RV is baking in the sun, and I want to come back to the R.V. at 3 or 4 in the afternoon and be able to sit in the A/C, But if it takes an hour to cool down than forget it, I'll keep it running all day.
(and believe me, there are a few who can handle a whole day in that heat, but MOST people need a break, even just to come back to your tent and sit under a tarp) That humidity can be overwhelming, atleast 2 people have died of Heat stroke every year.
Another thing is that it reaches these temperatures early...I mean I've woken up drenched in sweat, in my tent, at 8 a.m. almost every morning at Bonnaroo so far. In this case I'd probably keep the a/c on all night, although i could probably do with waking up early kicking it on, than going back to sleep.
One thing you said is that it has to do with the load on it, I imagine this thing is going to have to work double-time to cool the R.V. down when it's that hot inside, if you keep kicking it off and on, as opposed to keeping a steady cool temperature.
I wouldn't be suprised if they were charging $100 to do the pump. Bonnaroo has a tendency to be pricey.
Gene, I thought I remember seeing something about VIP RV'ers having access to electrical this year?
(Wont benefit me, but I'd look into it if i was you)
Yes NASCAR races get hot (they are in the south during the summer). My air has no problem cooling down the camper within 1/2 hour. I don't know how much hotter than Myrtle Beach, Atlanta, Bristol during the summer you can get..
Again I might make it without needing the truck to pump me out.
Back the the generator...if you leave the camper for more then 3 hours it would be worth it to turn if off and re-cool everything. That is if the AC kicks....You will have to see.
As far as them providing electric...I would still use my generator due to that power at events like this is "dirty". I don't want any problems with my AC and electronics later.
Bristol would probably be 3 hours or more from Manchester. I don't know what route you guys are taking back home, but if you take I-40 towards Knoxville, there's a Flying J at the Watt road exit. It does have a free dump that we use all the time.
I don't know who gave me that Karma, but I think it's a good thing. I bookmarked the rv dump site. That'll come in handy during our travels. BTW, this is "jenniferl" from popupexplorer. It's good to see you over here, Gene. I know you'll have a blast at Bonnaroo.
I've never experienced heat worse than the 100 degrees with 110% humitidy I experienced in Myrtle Beach in July. Rivaled only by Bonnaroo...If you've done that you'll be fine at Bonnaroo.
When you say as long as my A/C doesn't "kick"? Does that mean it may short out and break down while I'm there, or just blow a fuse that I'll have to reset?
That's a nice Generator...presumably nicer than the one I'll have on my rental. So the 7.2 hour full output WOULD be maxed out on a 120V A/C correct?
Judging by your comments, I think I'll be o.k... I've said it before, but your help has been invaluable and very much appreciated Gene, it's been hard to get this type of info from someone who has done it in a Bonnaroo like atmosphere...
Yeah, that would be fun to hang out etc. I asked for the days off at work just in case, but my husband doesn't want to go. If I can talk him into it, we'll be in general admission. I'm afraid that if we decided to go at the last minute that the RV passes would be sold out. There's no way I can go back to a tent at this point now that we're used to the motorhome.
This will be my 3rd roo, and I apologize for even bringing this up....when we were driving in last year there were more than a few RV's being searched on the interstate coming in, they were easy to spot with the '1-800-RV....' painted on the side. Be safe.
No apology neccesary Jstall. I appreciate the heads up.
This is actually Bonnaroo #4 for me so I'm pretty well prepared otherwise. I've just never done the RV thing
To add to your post though...
..I would advise all to watch their speeds in and out of Bonnaroo most closely when you're just outside of Coffee county. Machester police seem to be O.K., but the surrounding counties don't benefit financially from Bonnaroo the way Coffee County does, and seem to look to make that up in traffic tickets.
Hi all- My husband and I have an RV parking pass in the VIP section, but were curious- do these spots have electric available?
We want to bring a pop-up but it needs to be plugged in for the a/c to work, which is our main concern If the electricity isnt available, we will have to send out an SOS to VIP section RV-ers- we need to either split the cost with another couple/small group or if they own it, pay them directly if they want to make some extra cash. We just cant be hauling a generator around, especially since we dont own the pop-up to begin with.
BRING EXTRA GAS. Two years ago on Sunday afternoon the generator in my Cruise America RV wouldn't turn on because we had less than a quarter tank of gas remaining. It's a safety feature. Last year I flew to Nashville, picked up the RV, then bought two large gas cans at K-Mart for a few bucks. You're gonna need the extra gas to return the RV anyway, so you may as well bring some extra gas to the fest as a backup. you don't want to be caught without AC. That's the whoe reason you're bringing an RV!
Make extra keys for all the peple in your group.
There is no electricity available at Bonnaroo.
Conserve your resources and you shouldn't need to use the tank dumping or refill services.
Post by dunedingirl on May 11, 2006 9:15:58 GMT -5
We are bringing our RV and dry camping for the first time w/ it. We are leaving Florida Wednesday about 3 am and are hoping to get to Nickajack Lake by 2 or 3 that afternoon and we are hoping to get an early start Thursday and head into Manchester. This is our first big trip in it since we got it a few weeks ago and have never owned an RV before. If anyone can think of anything we are forgetting, please let us know.
We have 5 people going and each one of us is buying a 5 gallon solar shower and I bought a shower enclosure from WalMart for $35...Each person can write their name on it and when their water is gone then they are done showering. We are only going to use water for necessity and are hoping to dump at a Flying J when we leave Monday morning. I heard they were charging close to $100 for filling and dumping if they could get to you. We are bringing extra water, diesel (for our truck) and gas so we are ready. We are buying 2 Honda 2000EU generators w/ a parallel port and we are hoping for the best. We have never gone further then 2 hours away w/ our new RV and we have never been in the mountains so I am freaking out a bit but I trust hubby and he says we are set so...
dunedingirl, Why are you bringing solar showers if you have a camper? They have water available there, just bring some 5 gal water containers.
If you need to get pumped out depends on the size of your holding tanks. I know I can go 4 days with 4 guys and still have room.
Why two generators? I have a Honda EU3000is the maximum of fuel that uses is 1/2 gal a hour. If I turn on the eco throttle it will ramp up and down to match the electrical load.
What to bring?
Blocks of wood to level to camper. A carpet for under the awning. Water containers. I will think of more...
Post by dunedingirl on May 15, 2006 9:35:56 GMT -5
Bug512,
Thanks for answering my post, we really appreciate any and all help sent our way
We are using solar showers for a couple of reasons...I don't really mind the shower thing outside and we don't want to use up all of our water taking showers and filling our tanks needlessly w/ shower water. Our group has 3 girls and 2 guys and one of the girls is famous for being high maintenance :Pwhen it comes to primping and showering at festivals. We only have a 35 gal gray tank and we don't want to fill it up and overflow out there. It is easier to just say this is your allotment of water and when it is gone you are done. I am not sure how much water you use showering but I am afraid it would be full half way through the weekend w/ all of us using it.
We are getting 2 generators because unfortunately down here in FL we get hit w/ hurricanes and we figured it would be better to have 2 just in case, that way we could share 1 w/ other family members if need be. Also, the 2000 is lighter and I am handicapped so we always have to think if something happened and hubby couldn't break down for some reason I could probably handle the smaller ones easier. We will get some water containers, we have the rugs and levelers...keep thinking of stuff we might forget, it sure helps!
We took a trip this weekend and hubby turned right a bit sooner then expected so we now have to figure out a way to reattach the awning arm to the RV because he ripped it out of the side of the trailer...Oh well, it still works but it definitely looks red neck tied on with rope...yee haw! We are getting so excited!!!!
dunedingirl, Make sure you look at the runtimes of the 2000watt honda on a tank of gas.....I just say this because I have some friends who purchased the two and are sorry that they did...
As far as the showers go it's get wet.....stop the water......soap......rince.....Make sure you can turn off the water good at the shower head...If you can't go to home depot and buy a shutoff valve...they ate by the shower heads.
Post by dunedingirl on May 16, 2006 7:33:53 GMT -5
bug 512,
Too late...I ordered the 2 2000eu's from Wise Sales yesterday morning...I can't lift that big 3000(over 100 lbs) so we ended up getting the 2 2000's(about 40lbs ea). We are only going to use them a few times a year and we have extra gas cans for gas so I think we are going to be okay.
As for the shower, you and I know how you should shower but I can't tell my friends what to do...Trust me, I have tried but she just won't listen about stuff like that. We figure the more we can keep stuff outside the less we will be traipsing in & out of the rv dragging dirt and possibly mud inside.
We are going to be in the Handicapped accesible area due to 2 car wrecks I had a while back..The closer the better, I can't walk really long distances very well so my Dr. just gave me a handicapped parking pass so I can hopefully get close and save myself some walking...
