The Stories, the Milestones, and the Memories that make up Family RV
Friday, September 7, 2012
RECENT YELP REVIEW
9/7/2012
Just returned a Navion RV to Family RV after renting for a week for Burning Man.
The service and responsiveness of Family RV was great. Yes, the fees were high, but they know you're going to Burning Man and charge a premium for it. I would too. Check-out was fast and easy. The walk-around on the RV was thorough, and we made sure we both understood what damage was there and that the notes on it were clear. System walk-throughs were thorough as well, but had I not had all of the prior exchanges I might have been a little lost after leaving the lot. Suggestion for FRV: send people out (especially Burners, since they'll be out of cell range) with a detailed manual for the RV - preferably one written for that specific vehicle in plain English. The instructional videos were nearly useless to really understand how our particular unit worked in a dry camping situation. I have never rented an RV before, but am very experienced in the backcountry. The crew there suffered innumerable stupid questions from me in preparation for my trip about the operation of the generator, usage rates of propane and fuel, use of pumps, AC, spare generators, water capacities, etc. They were great, and it made all the difference in the deep Playa.If you're taking an RV out there you have to know that these things are not built for extended "dry camping". They're meant to be driven to a campground and plugged in. You need to operate the systems differently in the desert. If you don't, you are indeed screwed. Burners complaining: take a look at the 10 principles and ask yourself if you really used them in your situation, or if you're being just another "Sparkle Pony". Extreme self reliance is just that. I can only say that after my experience I can only assume that most of the negative reviews from the Burning Man crowd were likely to be their own fault. I saw several of the other RVs that were returned at about the same time as we returned ours, and if I were the owner of those RVs I would have demanded additional cleaning as well. Remember if you're going to BRC, the dust gets everywhere, and it's alkaline in the extreme - it eats metal. You got charged because you didn't pressure wash the undercarriage? No S#@%. It said on the extra paperwork you singed that you would. Didn't hose out the engine compartment or wipe down the generator? Same. I know of one family that OWNS an RV and still rents one for the Burn. We took the rig through a truck wash in Reno, then spent 5-6 hours detailing the inside, then had it hand washed again. We returned it the way it came out, and got our full deposit back the next day. So yes, I would happily rent from them again, and recommend that others do the same. Just take responsibility for yourself and prepare and you'll have a great experience.
The service and responsiveness of Family RV was great. Yes, the fees were high, but they know you're going to Burning Man and charge a premium for it. I would too. Check-out was fast and easy. The walk-around on the RV was thorough, and we made sure we both understood what damage was there and that the notes on it were clear. System walk-throughs were thorough as well, but had I not had all of the prior exchanges I might have been a little lost after leaving the lot. Suggestion for FRV: send people out (especially Burners, since they'll be out of cell range) with a detailed manual for the RV - preferably one written for that specific vehicle in plain English. The instructional videos were nearly useless to really understand how our particular unit worked in a dry camping situation. I have never rented an RV before, but am very experienced in the backcountry. The crew there suffered innumerable stupid questions from me in preparation for my trip about the operation of the generator, usage rates of propane and fuel, use of pumps, AC, spare generators, water capacities, etc. They were great, and it made all the difference in the deep Playa.If you're taking an RV out there you have to know that these things are not built for extended "dry camping". They're meant to be driven to a campground and plugged in. You need to operate the systems differently in the desert. If you don't, you are indeed screwed. Burners complaining: take a look at the 10 principles and ask yourself if you really used them in your situation, or if you're being just another "Sparkle Pony". Extreme self reliance is just that. I can only say that after my experience I can only assume that most of the negative reviews from the Burning Man crowd were likely to be their own fault. I saw several of the other RVs that were returned at about the same time as we returned ours, and if I were the owner of those RVs I would have demanded additional cleaning as well. Remember if you're going to BRC, the dust gets everywhere, and it's alkaline in the extreme - it eats metal. You got charged because you didn't pressure wash the undercarriage? No S#@%. It said on the extra paperwork you singed that you would. Didn't hose out the engine compartment or wipe down the generator? Same. I know of one family that OWNS an RV and still rents one for the Burn. We took the rig through a truck wash in Reno, then spent 5-6 hours detailing the inside, then had it hand washed again. We returned it the way it came out, and got our full deposit back the next day. So yes, I would happily rent from them again, and recommend that others do the same. Just take responsibility for yourself and prepare and you'll have a great experience.