How to Ship Your Burning Man Gear to Reno

If you are flying into Reno, or driving a vehicle that is already full, shipping gear ahead is the single biggest logistics unlock available to you. It turns a cross-country haul into a carry-on and a rental car.

How the service works

1. 1Add "Ship packages to Reno" to your build and tell us roughly how many packages to expect.
2. 2We send you the receiving address and your package reference once shipping is on the booking. It is not published, so wait for it rather than guessing.
3. 3Ship any time after July 1, with your reference written on the outside of each box — or order from Amazon with our address as the delivery address and your reference in the second address line.
4. 4We receive, log and hold every package, and confirm each arrival with you.
5. 5Before your handoff, we load everything into your trailer so it is already on board when you take delivery.

What ships well

• •Dry goods and non-perishable food
• •Costumes, clothing and warm layers
• •Camp decor, signage and shade hardware
• •Lighting, EL wire and batteries (check carrier rules on lithium)
• •Tools, stakes and rebar
• •Bulk water and drinks, if you are willing to pay the shipping weight

Shipping direct from Amazon

You do not have to pack the boxes yourself. You can buy what you need on Amazon, set our receiving address as the delivery address at checkout, and put your package reference in the second line of that address so it prints on the label. With Prime, it is usually cheaper than paying to ship a box you packed, and it saves you having gear delivered home only to send it back out. Amazon is the only retailer we accept a direct shipment from — a sealed carton with a packing slip we can match to an order means nothing is a surprise at handoff, and we cannot say that about an unmarked box from a site we have never heard of. Shipments from any other retailer are refused at the door.

What does not ship

• •Direct shipments from any retailer other than Amazon
• •Propane, fuel, or anything else classed as hazardous
• •Perishables and anything requiring refrigeration
• •Fireworks, flame effects or pressurized cylinders
• •Anything you are not willing to have sit in a warehouse for a few weeks

Packing and labeling rules

• •Maximum 20 packages per rental unless you arrange more with us in advance.
• •Keep each box under 50 lbs so one person can safely handle it.
• •Label every box you pack with your full name and your package reference, on the outside, in marker, not just on the shipping label. On an Amazon order the reference goes in the second address line instead.
• •Number your boxes (1 of 6, 2 of 6) so we can tell you immediately if something has not landed.
• •We accept UPS, FedEx, USPS, Amazon.

Questions about something unusual you want to ship? Email trailersonplaya@gmail.com before you send it and we will tell you straight whether we can take it.