How Essential is an RV?

[collinj]

Next August I'll be doing my first multi-day ultra race (BC Explorer - Discover exactly how far you can go!). From those with experience, how important is an RV for success in such an event? I'm on a grad student budget, so I can scrape the money for an RV only if essential.

My crew will know they are in for an adventure. I was hoping I could squeak by on two minivans. I'll do my sleeping in one van, a la Dex Tooke, and my crew will camp or stay in a hotel when the weather is bad.

For those of you who have done RAAM or something similar, what has been your experience with regards to crew vehicles?

[Too Tall]

Next August I'll be doing my first multi-day ultra race (BC Explorer - Discover exactly how far you can go!). From those with experience, how important is an RV for success in such an event? I'm on a grad student budget, so I can scrape the money for an RV only if essential.

My crew will know they are in for an adventure. I was hoping I could squeak by on two minivans. I'll do my sleeping in one van, a la Dex Tooke, and my crew will camp or stay in a hotel when the weather is bad.

For those of you who have done RAAM or something similar, what has been your experience with regards to crew vehicles?

That is eight days on the road. I've done RAAM twice using a RV + van, that combo worked really well. You'll have to balance the equation yourself. The RV affords a great deal of flexibility for yourself and the crew that vans + hotels do not. That said, the logistics of "planned" hotel stops to rest the crew will crush you...."best laid plans of mice and men". If the crew is made up from very hearty types and your budget is slim than talk it over with the group, let them make the call. Your best chance for success is to have your crew intact and happy from beginning to end.

Eight days is a long time brother. If the crew does go that route than here is how I'd do it:
1. First 48 hrs. - No crew sleep stops. Leapfrog the vans.
2. Remainder of the race - One van "fetches" supplies and secures a hotel approx 8 hrs. bicycle ride time ahead of the race. This van sleeps/cleans up at that hotel. When racer/crew arrives swap vans (it is gassed up, clean and full of fresh supplies) and crews swap hotel beds.
3. Rinse and repeat.
The "resting" crew will need to be on alert to respond to vehicle breakdowns etc. If there is a situation you only need to send one person back to the race.

Since navigation and strategy (eg freaking out the competition by sending your van up the road to tail them) are less of an issue the above scenario or a version of that should work well using a min. number of support crew. You could do this with 4 people total. Sweet eh?

[dhoff]

wow, that was simple. Thanks TT!!!

I am getting ready to crew for RAAM next year and we do have a plan to have an RV. Your strategy, Josh makes a great deal of sense. CollinJ, Best of luck! That looks like a great event.

[Drew Clark]

I have done RAAM twice as part of a 4-man team (Hoosiers, 2007, 2010). We had great success WITHOUT an RV; in fact, I would recommend going without an RV.We used two large SUVs (think Suburban), an extended crew cab pickup for a follow vehicle, and a large passenger van for shuttling crew.