Bug Out Vehicle

[MLPress #65]

Great list Jim! Thanks!

My own list(s) are far too long to be useful in an emergency and need trimming. I really like your approach - whether it's the end of the world or an evacuation from wildfires, the first step is just getting out of town when the roads are clogged. That's the whole point of our BOVs, and planning those routes in advance is both doable and probably crucial.

I'll think about what to add to your nice clean list so it doesn't get cluttered!

 

[LaOutbackTrail]

So this is an approach I haven't necessarily heard in this thread yet. We're all talking about bug out vehicles, right? Well Average Joe's do not necessarily have the funds to have a dedicated vehicle to sit idly by waiting on D-day.... with all of the gear ready to go. What about a B.O.T.? Bug out trailer? Packed, in the garage/shop, with everything read. Hook it up to your daily driven expo vehicle and bugger off!

I'm thinking this will be my camping approach, soon. Have all of our gear waiting in the garage. Fill the fridge, fill the water tanks and go!

 

[MLPress #65]

The beauty (and simplicity) of Jim's list is that it still holds no matter what your own transportation solution is going to be. As he said: "we all have to work with what we own." BOT is a good alternative, too. So is keeping your gear together to load into the family car if you need to. In which case, plan your route out of town according to the capabilities of your own vehicle and driving skills. I have 4WD, but need 11' clearance, etc. So I know there are underpasses and bridges I have to circumnavigate. Glad I learned that when not in a panic.

 

[LaOutbackTrail]

I have 4WD, but need 11' clearance, etc. So I know there are underpasses and bridges I have to circumnavigate. Glad I learned that when not in a panic.

Daggum what vehicle do you drive?

 

[teotwaki]

So this is an approach I haven't necessarily heard in this thread yet. We're all talking about bug out vehicles, right? Well Average Joe's do not necessarily have the funds to have a dedicated vehicle to sit idly by waiting on D-day.... with all of the gear ready to go. What about a B.O.T.? Bug out trailer? Packed, in the garage/shop, with everything read. Hook it up to your daily driven expo vehicle and bugger off!

I'm thinking this will be my camping approach, soon. Have all of our gear waiting in the garage. Fill the fridge, fill the water tanks and go!

Yes, B.O.V.s and I did just post "...in reality we all have to work with what we own" and "If you do not keep your vehicle loaded, have your gear organized so as to be able to leave home in 20 minutes or less".

I'd offer that the Average Joe may not be able to afford to buy or have room to store a B.O.T. although disaster issues were half the decision weight for buying my trailer. It doesn't even have to be driven away to be useful as it could be used for living in if my home is heavily damaged in a quake.

Ultimately it is up to each of us to evaluate our vehicles and lifestyle and Be Prepared. My truck has a Bug Out Bag in it that includes what I need to handle a long trek to get back home in case the roads are knocked out of comission. My overall plan is to hunker down rather than attempt the more romantic notion of bugging out. If there is an ultimate "Big Disaster" in Southern California the lack of water alone will drive people out of state in the same way the Dust Bowl of the 30's did.

 

[teotwaki]

Daggum what vehicle do you drive?

I think this is it...... LOL

 

[MLPress #65]

... but with that why bother going around? Looks like I could put it in reverse and just plow through the underpasses!

To answer your question - Earthroamer.

 

[Corey]

My daily driver is my bug out vehicle.
My ARB fridge is stocked with water at all times.
I only need to grab a few items to throw in it if I need to get away for a few days, or if I am stuck say at work during a huge snow storm.

That would be a duffel bag of extra clothes, and my solar gear box.
I have on my rear door around three to four days worth of Mountain House freeze dried food, and a small backpacking stove to boil water for them, and some utensils.

My roof top tent would serve as a place to sleep, or if stuck at work, I could sleep at my desk

If I was heading to higher ground such as the mountains, I would throw in a few guns too.
All that extra camping gear I take like on normal camping trips is not needed during survival mode.
As long as I have some clean undies, food, water, and a warm place to sleep, I am happy.

 

[Eaglefreek]

All you need is a flux capacitor installed and you can go anywhere in this:

 

[Mountainhound]

http://autos.aol.com/gallery/best-c...grid10|htmlws-sb-nb|dl7|sec1_lnk1&pLid=178898

 

[crazyeyez]

I've been reading some of this but got to thinking of the effect of EMP's on vehicles that weren't running. Did some searching and found this document http://www.empcommission.org/docs/A2473-EMP_Commission-7MB.pdf

Here's what I found...



I suspect that if this is true then other electronic items that aren't on should survive as well such as laptops, phones, etc.

I did a little reading in the document and it lookslike the biggest danger regarding vehicles vs. EMP is not the vehicle itself but the effect on traffic lights, gas pumps, cameras, etc.

wondering about this, just havent been online here lately...

they say the "doses" of EMP wouldnt hurt a car, but how much EMP would a nuke put out? one movie that gets me thinking of this, is The Day After (1983 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085404/ ). in the movie, the Sov's explode some nukes in space, therefore blasting the area (at least where the movie takes place) with EMP, knocking out cars and radios and what not.

 

[Hj61 12ht]

This is my BOV, there are launching spots 5mins walk away from my house, I can get to anywhere in Auckland in about an hour or so (no traffic jams on the water) and have more than 15 islands close by to camp on...
Can carry 4 people, camping gear and food for a couple of weeks...

 

[FellowTraveler]

This is my BOV, there are launching spots 5mins walk away from my house, I can get to anywhere in Auckland in about an hour or so (no traffic jams on the water) and have more than 15 islands close by to camp on...
Can carry 4 people, camping gear and food for a couple of weeks...

View attachment 110801

So far, I vote you are in the best spot to be for any SHTF situation. :ylsmoke:

 

[teotwaki]

It is worth going back through earlier posts and recalling that before you Bug Out, be well prepared to Bug In (stay home!)

1. know your neighborhood
2. know your neighbors
3. have a family communications plan
4. have power generation (solar, gen-set, wind)
5. know how to perform essential home repairs
6. have a plan to deal with garbage
7. have a plan to deal with human waste
8. have a plan for laundering & drying clothes (do you own clothes pins?)

 

[teotwaki]

USAF document: http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/410494.pdf

old 1961 study of building large B.O.V.s to handle USAF communications in a nuclear war environment. Skip to about page 57 to start seeing pictures including "Ground Effects Vehicles" (hover craft)