Box Trucks Converted to Sex Suites on Wheels for Casual Hookups in San Francisco Area

Hook Up Truck Hits The Street Offering Haven For Casual, Safe Sex

May 1, 2014

CBS SF - The Hook-Up truck – a conceptual “art” installation consisting of a box truck converted to a sex suite on wheels, including temperature controls, birth control, safe sex accouterments, and a camera option, in case you and yours decide to make the escapade a YouTube sensation, is finally open for service the weekend of May 2nd and 3rd.

The “Hook-Up Truck” is the brainchild of artist Spy Emerson. According to their website, the box truck is a car service, like a mobile hotel room, available for short-term rentals.

“The room is designed with cleanliness in mind.  I’ve created a very minimalist room.  Everything is wiped down and cleaned before and after every person.  It’s probably cleaner than the BART or any public toilet you’ve used.”

• UPDATE: ‘Hook-Up Truck’ Rolling Through Oakland, San Francisco’s Mission District

The room has no bed or bedding.  Instead, there’s a custom-built metal-and-wood bench covered with vinyl, which is stain-resistant.

“Instead of a traditional bed – which is bedding and absorbent – this is a bench, in the shape of a ‘C’,  and designed to facilitate positioning for the average-sized bodies,” Emerson said.

Emerson said her lawyer has checked, and as far as he can tell, the hook-up truck is legal. No permits or inspections needed.  But until they’re sure, the use of the truck will be free of charge.

“It’s not necessarily a grey area.  It’s an unlegislated area,” Emerson said.  “It hasn’t been done yet.  I’ve got a wonderful attorney who has consulted with all the legal people who could guide us.  He’s really putting out the effort to find where we need to register or what we need to do to make this legal.  So there isn’t a place for us yet.  This weekend, we’re starting out free.  I’m not accepting any money yet.”

Emerson said she knows there are people who are upset about the hook up truck.  Her message to them:  “they need more fun in their lives.”

“I think a lot of this finger-wagging and blaming and anger comes from jealousy.  This is great.  It’s making people feel really happy.  It isn’t anything nefarious or ugly.  It’s making sex safer and more fun.  Anyone who finds something ugly about this is looking for something negative.  I’m sorry for them.”

Emerson says she does have some rules, though, including “No drunks!”

Saturday, from 6-9 p.m., it will be in Oakland’s Uptown neighborhood for the Art Murmur, before heading to San Francisco’s Mission District where Emerson will be on the air with Radio Valencia at 10 p.m.

Street musicians are scheduled to stop by, possibly to serenade the “sexcapaders.”

On Sunday, it returns to Oakland for a party at NIMBY on Amelia Street from 5-9 p.m.

The truck also can be reserved through mobile dating apps “for immediate dispatch.” It can also be pre-booked for festivals, weddings, or holiday parties. Users of the truck must be at least 21 and registered with the service online.