Landracing Forum
Bonneville Salt Flats Discussion => 2017 and before: SW & WF => SpeedWeek 2014 => Topic started by: tallguy on June 19, 2014, 09:28:24 PM
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I am considering renting a car to take to Speed Week this year, including
spending 2 days on the salt. I understand car rental companies are not
very keen about this (or Burning Man, for that matter), so I would like to
be discreet. I would certainly do my best to remove any salt from the
vehicle before returning it, but don't want any unexpected "fine" or
"penalty" to be imposed on me. For all I know, rental cars have GPS
recording devices that tell where the car was taken.
Any advice on this would be appreciated. Please base it on experience,
rather than assumptions. Thank you in advance.
Tallguy (in northern California)
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Put plastic down on the carpet. There usually are some folks washing the wheel wells at the bend in the road. Which is a good idea to leave the salt there versus spreading it all over town. Carefully wash it at the car wash in Wendover before you head back to SLC. I had no problems with Hertz. Don't wear a racing style T shirt when you rent the car. Tell them you are going to Park City.
BR
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Put trash bags + duct tape in the floor boards & trunk (before you ever get to the salt). Use good duct tape - we cheaped out last year and regretted it. Wash car thoroughly before you take it back. Bring tarp or poncho to wrap up in when powerwashing car.
We rented from a national brand and had no problems. They either did not check GPS or didn't care. I think that the big thing for them is that they get their car back in one piece and it won't require them hiring out a $300 car wash. Only other big word of advice it so make sure you have a lot of gas when leaving Wendover for SLC. We almost ran out and had to draft behind a semi with the windows up and AC off for 35 miles. See the thread "Bonneville Spectator Advice" for more similar info.
Edit: it took nearly an hour to completely clean out the car. We vacuumed everything out 1st and then spent literally 20 minutes with the pay-n-spray.
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Arent the high school kids still washing cars on the main road thru town ? I just gave them $10 and told them I needed it really clean last time
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One option is don't drive out on the salt. Hook up with a team and go out with them and return with them or someone else. People are friendly.
I had a friend come from Australia about 15 years ago. He flew into SLC. Got a cab and had the cab take him to the nearest truck stop (he was a trucker himself). Within a few minutes he had a ride to Wendover. In Wendover he found someone going to the salt and was out there within an hour. With in the next hour he had conned someone out of a bike. He got everywhere like that for a few days and meet a lot of people and saw about everything there is to see.
About the 2nd year I went I took my '61 Chevy Wagon and Sunday night it rained and we all waited at the end of the road until Wed. when they were able to get one course open on some high salt but there was 2-4 inches of water out to the pits and in them so I wasn't excited about driving out there. I'd was talking to Gray Baskerville from Hot Rod when a van pulled up with some people he knew and asked him if he wanted a ride. He said yes and told me to jump in to so off we went. I spent the rest of the day out there bumming rides like that and helping people move their pits or packing up,
Sum
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Arent the high school kids still washing cars on the main road thru town ? I just gave them $10 and told them I needed it really clean last time
Last year - I want to say it was the folks who own the laundromat - they had two tanks and two pressure washers, just before you get to landsend. Knocked about 90% of it off - close enough until you can get to SLC.
I like that option - it leaves the salt where it belongs.
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If you are renting in Nor Cal, the rental car companies wont even care as long as its clean. I rent at the San Jose airport and just clean it good before giving it back. The 7 day rental is the same as 5 days and if you book in advance its cheap. Last week I rented a new Toyota mini van at the air port to go to the LA roadster show from Budget for $12 per day with unlimited mileage. I even stuffed a complete engine in it to bring back. At those prices I can even justify the wear and tear on my car. Tony
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I rent one out of OC when I drive up and not running. Don't use duct tape. Use clear packaging tape, leaves no white tape marks. Put a piece over the throttle pedal, brake pedal and emergency pedal before you go on the salt.i also tape the weather stripping seams at the lower doors. Never had a problem.....don't rent near an airport it's cheaper. Got a Kia last year with satilite radio too. Remember a CB"...........
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Tallguy, if you rent in California, I doubt they would even think about any salt if they even saw it. As much sand as they get in California, salt should not be much different. I have rented a lot of cars in Salt Lake City and have driven out on the salt before also. The main thing is to get the bulk of the salt off of the car. All the tips above cover it. Assuming you don't have a Speedweek t-shirt on going or coming, you should be fine. Drop a $ at the casinos and you can honestly tell them that you went to Wendover and gambled! :evil:
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Rent at a down town rental station. It's cheaper and they arent paranoid.
Go to the East end of the terminal and ride the light rail into town.
The taxes at the airport are about 25%. They are still paying for the Winter Olympics.
When you make the reservation don't list a flight number. Many people rent that never go near the airport.
Just play that game.
Last year my car was a new Cadillac with 11 miles on it. I showed respect and took it back looking like new.
Enterprise will NOT pick you up at the airport nor drop you off there. Use light rail or a taxi.
Then I wrote a complimentary letter to the rental location. It will benefit me this year.
Just be sensible.
FREUD
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i just took two pairs of shoes and changed when i got in and out of the hire car then put the dirty shoes in a plastic bag. It sound long winded but it works. Took the car back nice and clean and they didn't look at it twice. Some people in the next line had their car "off road checked"
Andrew
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I rented a car last year and drove all week on the salt it was my first time there.
I told the rental company (enterprise) that i was going to visit family/friends in Elko Nevada.
I suggest using plastic on the floors, i didn't do it and regretted it
I suggest getting the car washed each day before leaving the salt, tell them you just want a quick once over they charge less. I didn't do this either and regretted it
On the last day have them do a good wash pay a little extra. I did do this.
Drive slowly when leaving the salt, i didn't do this and ripped-off the under pan plastic, had to buy some bailing wire and tie it up.
Give yourself an extra day at home to use the hose to get the last of the salt off. It took me about 2 hours and still removed about 3-5 lbs of salt. I also spent about 1 hour with the vacuum and wet rag to clean the inside.
Turned the car in and never heard a word from them.
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i just took two pairs of shoes and changed when i got in and out of the hire car then put the dirty shoes in a plastic bag. It sound long winded but it works. Took the car back nice and clean and they didn't look at it twice. Some people in the next line had their car "off road checked"
Andrew
Thats the way we work it in the RV. Just take shoes off when getting in. The pressure washers at lands end took car of most of the salt but I just went round and had a scrape with a stick to get any caked on stuff off. No questions asked when we dropped it off.
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Use large trash bags and put your floor mats into the bags. Tie the bag with and secure it under the seat so that the knot doesn't get under the pedals. The bigger the bag, the better.
When you get in/out of the car, lift the floor mat/bag out and shake it onto the salt. With this method, even if a few grains get under the floor mat/bag combo, it doesn't get ground in. Also, taking the floor mat out of the bag at the end of the week means that it will be as pristine as it was when you placed it in the bag.
The larger the bag the better, you can slide it up under the pedals and slip it under the door kick panels and maybe eve under the center console. The more you can cover, the less you will have to clean.
For the outside: Wash, wash and wash. Stay away from the salt that looks like mud, because it is. Don't follow closely behind a push vehicle or quad, moist/pasty salt will spray up on your hood, windshield, roof... just look at the push vehicles in the parking lot for this condition.
Be smart, treat it properly/like an adult and you probably won't have any issues.
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Rent at a down town rental station. It's cheaper and they arent paranoid.
Go to the East end of the terminal and ride the light rail into town.
The taxes at the airport are about 25%. They are still paying for the Winter Olympics.
When you make the reservation don't list a flight number. Many people rent that never go near the airport.
Just play that game.
Last year my car was a new Cadillac with 11 miles on it. I showed respect and took it back looking like new.
Enterprise will NOT pick you up at the airport nor drop you off there. Use light rail or a taxi.
Then I wrote a complimentary letter to the rental location. It will benefit me this year.
Just be sensible.
FREUD
Just trying to figure out who wrote this.........
And what they did with Freud.....
We will not negotiate with terrorists! Do with him what you will........ :-D
Otherwise good info.
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I sometimes wonder what it is about salt racers and rental cars. The good Dr.'s usage of the cars has often been questionable in terms of good long-range care of the well-being of the car, and there's another very well known racer (whom, for the sake of his reputation, I won't name) that feels the appropriate way to bring a rental car to a stop (at least while on the salt) is to slow down and, when going at say, 10 mph or less, put the gear lever into the "P" position and let the parking pawl sing, clatter, vibrate, and buzz 'til the car stops. When I'm at the long end after a run and hear that noise I know without looking that
Scott- whoops, can't use him name -- is there to offer corngratulations or advice.
Any others? I'm holding back on their full names in case the rental companies look for them on this Forum. :-D
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Mike --
I think you're right. They've captured him. Probably will pay a large ransom to give him back.
Although, when he visits Berdoo, he always takes his shoes off before entering. Maybe wants to not get Birdoo on his high-priced tennies. Don't know. Not much he does surprises me lately.
This from the guy who's coached me on how to drive max speed out of a rental in reverse.
Stan
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You people really do things the HARD WAY.
Ask Freud for clarification.
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I agree about HARD WAY.
This is not rocket science.
Rent the car, clean it before u return it and take what comes.
No reason to wash it every day. If it's your own car for certain DON'T WASH IT DAILY.
It just allows salt water to have 7 chances to seep into every crack and crevice.
The build up keeps extra water from getting inside.
If it's a renter...open the doors, use the wand and wash the floors, the
seats and then the underside. Vacuum the inside and by morning it will be pristine and dry.
Bro Kepner learned me that method. That's the way they did with the Space Shuttles.
Take full coverage in case you drown out the electronics under the dash.
That way they will bring you another car so you can get back to SLC and it will be clean.
I am an authority on everything that your Mother told you not to do and many things
she never even considered.
I you eat your breakfast cereal at an odd time and want to to be considered a meal use
teriyaki sauce on it and you can call it dinner.
FREUD
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"I you eat your breakfast cereal at an odd time and want to be considered a meal use teriyaki sauce on it and you can call it dinner.
FREUD"
What a great idea! Now why didn't I think of that!
Regards, Neil Tucson, AZ
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I rent one out of OC when I drive up and not running. Don't use duct tape. Use clear packaging tape, leaves no white tape marks. Put a piece over the throttle pedal, brake pedal and emergency pedal before you go on the salt.i also tape the weather stripping seams at the lower doors. Never had a problem.....don't rent near an airport it's cheaper. Got a Kia last year with satilite radio too. Remember a CB"...........
GAFFERS TAPE from a music store works really well not much cleanup and very strong
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If you rent in California read your rental agreement VERY carefully as most car rental places only cover rental for State of rental and an adjoining state..rates go up otherwise.
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I have rented in CA before. I told them I was doing work related travel and would be going to Las Vegas, Tahoe maybe Arizona. No issues.
DW
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I have rented in CA before. I told them I was doing work related travel and would be going to Las Vegas, Tahoe maybe Arizona. No issues.
DW
Yep, we get cars through here, SE Utah, all the time with Nevada plates where people fly into Vegas, rent a car, and then loop around here through Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming,
Sum
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Maguromic, thank you for the information posted 6/20/14.
I was very surprised by your report of a rented vehicle for
$12/day. It's been quite a few years since I rented a car,
and today I tried to find a price (online) anywhere near $12/day,
for rental from Budget and/or other companies. Didn't have
much luck.
Could you please advise regarding how you got such a nice
low price? Thanks.
Tallguy (near Oakland, CA)
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Get your friend at the body shop to get it for you.
They have a way with rental agencies that we can't duplicate.
FREUD
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I have done this many times and there has never been a problem. When renting, the counter person might ask you where you might be going. "DO NOT" tell them the Salt Flats. You are traveling on business to different areas for the week. I would line the carpet area with plastic (Home Depot) as the salt is very hard to remove from carpet. Returning the car to the SLC airport, in a town called Toole there is a Blue Beacon truck stop (24 HRS) on your right hand side going in. Probably will cost you about $30. to remove the salt but the key is give the guy doing the work another $30. or so (Don't be cheap) tip and tell him to make sure he gets all salt off. Return car to rental agency. If they find salt on the car I have been told by one person Hertz charged him $650. detail charge. Good luck.
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Check the rental agreement. You are probably violating it when off-road at the salt. That may well open the door to personal liability and void your insurance. That said, I have not only done it but used the car as our tow vehicle. Follow the advice in the posted responses an run a sprinkler under the car for hours moving it regularly. It will take a little effort, but will be ok if you are thorough. Someone is going to buy that car and it will be that person who will probably bear the loss. I have seen rental cars severely abused. Be respectful and have fun!
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Tallguy, I start on rentalcars.com, then compare the prices on Price Line with the pop window and look for the inefficiency in the system. When I checked this morning the best deal I found was $22 for a full size car at the San Jose airport. Just keep hitting it every day and find the sweet spot and besides it doesn't cost anything to reserve a car on rentalcars.com. I think at the Oakland airport you should be able to find some great deals, but its pointless at SFO, there always out of cars.
Some tips:
weekend rates start after 12PM on Thursday
5 day rental is usually the same rate as a 7 day rental
when you buy the cheap gas option at the car return you still get hosed because they add a hefty airport tax on top of gas charge unlike the gas outside with the built in tax on the pumps.
This is my rental reservation to show you its not hog wash. The airport tax was $2 less than my rental :-o Tony
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Thanks a million. I'll give it a try.
Tallguy
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Utah rental car tax is still paying for the Winter Olympics.
Buy a taxi ride to an off airport location and the tax drops.
FREUD
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My best at Oakland a few years ago was $11.37/day. New Mazda. Had to pay $45/night at the SF Marriot for parking. Considered leaving it on the street to be towed away -- and ordering another one for the next day. Came to my senses.
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.... Had to pay $45/night at the SF Marriot for parking. ..
We were going to stay at a Marriot over Christmas a year ago in Florida with family (where they wanted to stay because they had 'points) and the room was like $180 a night and then we were going to have to pay also the parking fee. What a rip-off. We can stay at Motel 6 or La Quinta or any other number of motels and not pay a dime for parking. I was not un-happy when the stay was canceled :-D,
Sum
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Fry FREUD.................
He was declared 4 F and is waiting in line to get food stamps and
pregnancy protection for his new Lamb.
DSHS liked the name of a LSR project that is registered for
supplemental monetary support because it is for girls and
their Mothers that are not interested in going to school.
The funding is under the name GED. Greasy Engine Darlings.
Twins, Air Cooled and Kick Starters. SCTA has been notified
of the need for a new class.
Now quit pickin' on FREUD
Supreme Commander US Army
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Just reserved my rental today. I'll be showing up on Sunday (that's when my room starts) and have the car for a week. Hertz,I know this is crazy, is the cheapest and less than 1/2 mile from my home in a shopping center. $141 for the week Ford Focus type compact. Enterprise says NO to Utah. Last year I hada Kia, satellite radio etc. Looking forward to helping #422 AA/BGMR Charlie Reno and Scott Brown.....JD
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We've rented a "Standard SUV or similar" at Alamo in SF when we fly in from the UK and will be turning up in Wendover on Sunday night for a Monday visit to the salt. We move on to Price for the night and I've got a guy organised who is going to clean the car on Tuesday [while I go through a million pictures from the day before!]. We'll only have the Monday at Speedweek but we've a lot of ground to cover this time. We'll be back for a longer visit in a year or so...
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We've rented a "Standard SUV or similar" at Alamo in SF when we fly in from the UK and will be turning up in Wendover on Sunday night for a Monday visit to the salt. We move on to Price for the night and I've got a guy organised who is going to clean the car on Tuesday [while I go through a million pictures from the day before!]. We'll only have the Monday at Speedweek but we've a lot of ground to cover this time. We'll be back for a longer visit in a year or so...
All that way and only staying one day? You will have a good time!
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.... We move on to Price for the night ...
What is in Price? Bo Huff?
Sum
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.... We move on to Price for the night ...
What is in Price? Bo Huff?
Sum
Being from the UK, that one is lost on me? :-)
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.... We move on to Price for the night ...
What is in Price? Bo Huff?
Sum
Being from the UK, that one is lost on me? :-)
You said you were going to spend the night in Price, UT. Not much there, but just east of there in Sunny Side and East Carbon you can find Bo Huff...
http://www.shopbohuffcustoms.com/ (http://www.shopbohuffcustoms.com/)
....who has been doing customs his whole life even when they went out in the 70's.
I've got pictures of some of his cars and ....
(http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/carshows/ss-8-s.JPG)
(http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/carshows/ss-19-s.JPG)
(http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/carshows/ss-13-s.JPG)
... a car show there sometime back on my site here...
http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/carshows/cs-ss-2001-1.html (http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/carshows/cs-ss-2001-1.html)
Have fun wherever you go :cheers:,
Sum
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.... We move on to Price for the night ...
What is in Price? Bo Huff?
Sum
Being from the UK, that one is lost on me? :-)
Thanks for the tip, that's on our way so we'll let 'em know and maybe pop in!
T
You said you were going to spend the night in Price, UT. Not much there, but just east of there in Sunny Side and East Carbon you can find Bo Huff...
http://www.shopbohuffcustoms.com/ (http://www.shopbohuffcustoms.com/)
....who has been doing customs his whole life even when they went out in the 70's.
I've got pictures of some of his cars and ....
(http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/carshows/ss-8-s.JPG)
(http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/carshows/ss-19-s.JPG)
(http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/carshows/ss-13-s.JPG)
... a car show there sometime back on my site here...
http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/carshows/cs-ss-2001-1.html (http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/carshows/cs-ss-2001-1.html)
Have fun wherever you go :cheers:,
Sum
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Sum took us to Bo's place a few years ago. A lot of nice cars and Stuff there Bo seems like a good guy. :cheers:
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Rent at a down town rental station. It's cheaper and they arent paranoid.
Go to the East end of the terminal and ride the light rail into town.
The taxes at the airport are about 25%. They are still paying for the Winter Olympics.
When you make the reservation don't list a flight number. Many people rent that never go near the airport.
Just play that game.
Last year my car was a new Cadillac with 11 miles on it. I showed respect and took it back looking like new.
Enterprise will NOT pick you up at the airport nor drop you off there. Use light rail or a taxi.
Then I wrote a complimentary letter to the rental location. It will benefit me this year.
Just be sensible.
FREUD
I have been looking at Enterprise rates. For a 1 week rental they are $147 cheaper if you rent downtown. That is quite a savings for me.
I don't think I have enough time to make my return flight (9:45 am), because they don't open until 7:30 am. My solution is to rent the car downtown and return it at the airport. That raises the rental fee but it is still $124 cheaper than renting it at the airport.
Thanks for the input. I didn't realize the pricing difference.
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Think about this.........
Just leave the car at the rental site. Drop the keys thru the slot and ride the train to the airport.
Taxi fee is about $15. The train cost me $1.25 and dropped me off at the airport entrance.
The rental places allow drop off w/o them being open.
I went to the one at 404 South, 300 West in SLC. Just call them about unattended drop off. 801-534-1888
If you still have questions just call me 425-422-6944. I plan to post some more suggestions for car cleanup in SLC.
FREUD
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I already made my reservations, but I'm sure I could change them when I arrive. Thanks.
I always do the car clean up in Wendover. Last year the family of one of the first motels had a cleanup area set up in their parking lot. I had to wait for an RV in front of me, but they did a nice job. They did the inside and out. There wasn't a set fee. I think I gave them a $20. In the past I had used the car wash and done it myself. An issues I have at the car wash is all the salt in it. After you clean the car you have to drive through the salt that has fallen from yours and previous cars. That leads to a minor cleanup at the motel. Your ideas would be apreciated.
One year I had an issue with a film left in the wheel wells after spraying the salt out. It was some residue that didn't hose off. It was easliy hidden by a light spray of penetrating oil and wiping off with a motel towel. Now I always pack a small can of penetrating oil. If you use duct tape to install the interior plastic the penetrating oil disolves the residual glue. I am going to try packing tape this year as recomended by someone else. I don't use garbage bags on the floor. I bring along some heavy plastic. The garbage bags are too easy to rip getting in and out.
Another non rental car thing I do is using a cooler for luggage. Using the airlines guidelines measure your cooler to make sure it isn't oversize. Some coolers have wheels and a handle just like luggage. Once loaded the cooler gets a wrap or two of duct tape to keep it closed. I have a laundry bag I put everything into inside the cooler. When I arrive my first tops is for drinks and ice. Pull the inner bag out of the cooler and load it up. Half way to Wendover I have cold drinks. Do a SLC city search on Google for your favorite discount chain, then a Mapquest for directions from the rental location. There is a Wally-World 1.6 miles south of 404 South 300 West with easy access to hwy 80.
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Another non rental car thing I do is using a cooler for luggage. Using the airlines guidelines measure your cooler to make sure it isn't oversize. Some coolers have wheels and a handle just like luggage. Once loaded the cooler gets a wrap or two of duct tape to keep it closed. I have a laundry bag I put everything into inside the cooler. When I arrive my first tops is for drinks and ice. Pull the inner bag out of the cooler and load it up. Half way to Wendover I have cold drinks. Do a SLC city search on Google for your favorite discount chain, then a Mapquest for directions from the rental location. There is a Wally-World 1.6 miles south of 404 South 300 West with easy access to hwy 80.
This comment just made me re-think my packing strategy, thank you for the idea. Prior to this, I was planning on getting one of those cheap foam coolers, when I landed in SLC, and either give it to someone or throw it away on my last day there. Your idea gives me more options with the ability to carry more COLD drinks and some food, instead of having to solely rely on vendors.