Tubing is a blast, but you must be well prepared. There is a rental station from which you can rent tubes for people and your cooler. With rentals you also get a free bus ride to and from the river. You must also buy a parking pass. These can be purchased at the Diamond Shamrock on Power and McDowell.
For a cheaper alternative, you can take two truck and buy your own tubes. You can buy tubes at the convenience stores around Mesa. Walgreen's seems to be the cheapest. There are two Walgreen's. One on Power and McKellips and the last one on Power and Thomas. These three places are in about a 3 mile strip.
Bringing a cooler is a must! Water is one of the most important drinks in AZ. Don't forget the tube for the cooler as well.
Plan 3-6 hours for a trip.
If you buy your own tubes, take two trucks/vehicles. First you park one at the bottom of the river and then take the other truck with all the tubes in it to the top. There are different exiting points. Be sure you know which one you are at. The exits will determine the time you are there.
These items will make your trip easier:
1. ROPE
2. some old bottom sheets you no longer care about.
3. a cooler
4. water
5. old tennis shoes you no longer care about
6. a bag (or 2)
7. towels (leave in the the truck at the bottom)
When you are actually ready to go in the river bring all the tubes down and arrange them in the water around your cooler. Then take the rope and tie the tubes together (the best way is to loop each tube to the cooler and the tube next to it), then put your old sheet over your tube. To get in the river, everyone except the two strongest people out of the group get in their tubes and then the other two push every one out towards the current. Then they can get in.
There are many different areas of the River some travel faster and some areas can come to a stand still. Try your hardest to stay in the dead center of the river. Some currents will in fact pull you towards trees. Also be aware of large rocks sticking up if the current is low. Remember to never swim away from the current but with it.
The bag is for everyone to put there shoes in and tie to the tubes. You want to be sure to have shoes when you walk, because some people break the laws and bring glass bottles. In many areas and at the bottom of the river there is glass.
DO NOT BRING ANY ELECTRICAL DEVICES THAT ARE NOT WATER PROOF. Pretty much every item you bring will get soaked, unless it happens to be in the cooler and everyone is careful.
The river is one of the best past times because while your there you have no contact with the rest of the world and your just kicking it with some friends. You can meet many many people there and if you pick certain times the river has themes... like Mardi Gras.
This activity is not very kid friendly.