Pillow Fort

The Pillow Fort is a (28'?) towed trailer.

During Burning Man, it is a comfy, dark, air conditioned spot to hang out in.

During the rest of the year, it is used to store much of the camp's other furniture/cushions. 

Pillow Fort Set Up

Updated for Burning Man 2025.

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The Pillow Fort is fairly easy to set up, and this guide will help you along the way!

Pillow fort tricks:

If the front passenger door feels stuck or locked, but it's not locked, you will have to press in right above the latch while pulling the latch open.

If you want to prop the door open, which we do whenever the pillow fort is open to the public, use the hook on the outside bottom of the door

The pillow fort has D-hooks along the top exterior edge located every 18" which can be connected to tarps.

We try to build a shade structure over the pillow fort so the sun isn't hitting directly on the roof. This helps keep it cooler.

Physical Setup

After the pillow fort has been dropped off, you need to stabilize the back corners so it doesn't tip backwards. There are stabilizing jacks located inside the passenger door on the right. Install two of them under the rear corners. Important: They should be positioned so as to provide support to the main, load-bearing steel frame of the trailer.

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Stabilizing Jack Installation Instructions

The long bolt in the center of the jack stand is threaded; At the top of the jack stand is a large nut that fits into a pocket to keep it from turning; The center bolt raises and lowers by turning the long bolt with the T-handle, either clockwise or counter-clockwise; Place under a section of sub frame close to the corners. The manufacturer recommends using wood or concrete blocks under jacks.

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They are not strong enough to support the weight of the trailer, so don’t jack them so far that they are pushing the trailer up in the air. They are only intended to keep the trailer from tipping back when people walk to the back, and to keep the trailer from rocking back and forth.

Warning: If you install the jacks when the trailer is empty, and try to remove them when the trailer is loaded, you will find that the added weight pressing down on the jacks makes it extremely difficult to remove them. You should install the jacks immediately on delivery when the trailer is at its maximum weight so they will be easy to remove.

The infrastructure team will provide power to the trailer by connecting the NEMA SS2-50P plug, located on the front exterior, to a spider box.

The pillow fort contains gear that goes elsewhere in camp such as audio and lighting equipment, and some gear that will not end up being used on playa but needs to be stored someplace sheltered. Before you empty the pillow fort, you will probably want to set up a tent where this equipment can be move and stored during build week.

Decor

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Be careful with the felt baffles hanging under/around the LED loops, these are installed in additional hooks around the LED loops. If the felt baffles fall off they can be reassembled and installed, but be careful to not bend/rip them.

The 2 black mesh bags with round plastic orbs are placed in the back. It's possible to hang them using only two points, so that they hang higher. You might have to temporarily remove the foam 'cuff' from the ceiling in order to hook them in.

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Two look like this:

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The entrance exhibit is meant to evoke an underwater / seafaring vibe, as if you found the gear from an old sea captain's cabin that had sunk below the sea. It provides a lit focal point when you enter the trailer. It also provides intimate and cleanup supplies, like condoms, lube, wet-wipes, nitrile gloves, paper towels, a little trash can, and a flashlight to help people clean up, in a well-lit space so visitors see it and know to use it.

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Congrats! You've set up the pillow fort and it is now ready for lounging. Invite others to nest when you decide to leave its cool embrace.

Pillow Fort Technical Specs + Upgrade Ideas

The Pillow Fort is an 8' x 28' tow trailer.

It has a series of three rows of metal mount points on each side.

It has four power outlets along the floor, and ceiling level wiring in the bow. 

It has two air conditioning units mounted on the roof. 

It has thin  strips of wood layered over a flimsy compressed wood backing.

Currently, yoga mats with insulation behind them are stapled on to the wood strips, with a duct layer surrounding the edges and staples.

The work table is 48 " width and the two shelves on top are 16" high x 16" deep.

So the back panels are 48" x 16".

Most of the panels are one yoga width length. 

The two forward outlets are being used by the current wiring scheme. 

The rear power outlets are not being used. It has 4? power outlets on the outside.

Possible Upgrades / Renovations

Add some sort of lube/rag container to be placed next to the beds in the back, potentially next to the power outlet.  Unsure how to make this not a tripping hazard but it would come in handy. Maybe a wall mounted kleenex box?

Add another strip of lighting to the left side of the trailer near the ceiling, to mirror the existing strip. An RGB strip that can provide blacklight would be ideal. It could be wired to some of the power at the top of the 'work table'. 

Finish covering the exposed wood in a few places, like near power outlets. Fabric stapled has been the go to method. 

Resealing the yoga mat padding with some sort of less toxic tape, after restapling the existing tape to the wood strips, would be one way to improve it. Tarping or upholstering or gorrila tape are all possible ways to seal this up.

Eventually, supports through the metal frame is probably the most durable solution to the padding problem. 

A tapestry or art piece over the front of the work table when you first enter would be great. Remove the yoga matts from it if necessary.

Adding some sort of power bank for charging batteries/phones would be another easy upgrade.

Miscellaneous Specs & Notes

Pillow Fort Outside Paint Colors

PPG1236-6 - Jamaican Sea

PPG1159-7 / Singing the Blues

Ppg 1205-7 Fall Gold

Ppg 17-22 / Dynamo

NAPOLEON / PPG1013-7

ROSE GLORY / PPG1181-5

MOONDANCE / PPG1043-2

RUM PUNCH / PPG1190-7

Camp Rugs

These rugs can be power washed in a dry sunny place and air-dried.

2025 Reserved for Pillow Fort

Qty 2 - 5x7 Grey / Grey Wave 

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5x7 Low Pile Grey Black Abstract Modern

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2025 Reserved for Lotus Belle 16' Kink Fort

Qty 2 - 16' Radius Half Circle Sisal Base

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2025 Reserved for 20' Lotus Belle Tent

Qty 2 - 8x10 Thin "Ruggable" Red Persian

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6.5 x 8 Low Pile Pink & Grey Persian

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5x7 Thin Shag Persian

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Thin 63" x 87" Light Grey Persian

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2025 For Passage Between Lotus 16' and Pillow Fort

Qty 3 - Thin Black & Grey Striped 4x6

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2025 Uncommitted

Qty 2 - 2.5' x 6' Very Pink Very Shag

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Blue-Green Wave Outdoor Rugs (match container wave pattern)

We should have 3 large ones, about 8x10 and 1 small one, about 5x8. As of 2025 there is a large one in the Pillow Fort which has been washed, and the other ones appear to be in the Empire Fort and would not have been washed.

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5 x 7 Shag Blue / Beige Persian

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8x10 Beige on Beige Checker

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5x7 Grey Shag Checkers

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5x7 Beige Shag Diamond Pattern

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