If SHTF and you need to GOOD, you will need a good bug out vehicle. To get to your destination you may experience obstacles like difficult terrain, bad weather, debris in the road etc. Let’s explore what makes a good bug out vehicle.
1. Off-road capabilities
Whether you need to cross a mountain trail or drive over a felled tree blocking the road, off road (four wheel drive) capability is a MUST.
2. Low Maintenance
Maintenance is extremely important when it comes to bug out vehicle, the last thing you need in an emergency is a failure of some kind, be it tires or alternators. Tires are the most commonly broken car part when off-roading so this is a high priority as well.
3. Cargo Space
When bugging out, or even for other purposes, having a good amount of cargo space is important. You will need room for both supplies and people. This eliminates many of the smaller off-road vehicles.
4. Redundancy
Many modern vehicles are ingrained with electronics, which if compromised, will render your bug out vehicle unusable. As tempting as it is to buy the newest, badest truck or SUV, having a vehicle that is invulnerable or only semi vulnerable to EMP or other electronic disruptions is important and often overlooked. Some of the most durable vehicles are the older ones, in particular diesel vehicles, which have basic engines without lots of electronics.
Additionally, diesel fuel engines can run off of alternative fuels like kerosene, heating oil, and certain jet fuels. In a pinch this could be a huge advantage.
5. Durability
Vehicles used to bug out must be durable; they will need to stand up to a variety of abuses during travel. Some of the most important parts of the vehicle are the axles, drive train and engine. Many off-road vehicle come with skid plates to protect the bottom of the car, otherwise it would be good to install one. Good bumpers are also great to have (greatly help to protect the engine).
6. Addons + Accessories
Four wheel enthusiasts love to put aftermarket parts and accessories onto their vehicles. With a few exceptions, your vehicle should remain as close to stock as possible. The exceptions are add-ons that will increase your vehicles durability and off-road capabilities. There are three reasons to keep your vehicle stock:
- Stock vehicles have been tested with their parts, and require much less maintenance over time
- Extra parts are expensive (good ones anyway)
- In an extreme emergency, extra parts will be easier to find if your vehicle has stock parts
7. Towing
The popular choice for hauling trailers is often the ball hitch
. However, Pintle hitches perform much better in off-road conditions. The last thing you need when bugging out is to lose a trailer.
8. Color
When in a bug out situation, you may need to leave your vehicle unattended or need to hide from criminal elements. Earthy colors like brown, green and black are best, with gray and dark blue being 2nd tier choices. Avoid bright colors entirely.
9. Efficiency
While lower mpg may be a good choice, the great majority of trucks and SUV’s are gas guzzling. Diesels offer a much higher fuel efficiency than regular gas vehicles in most cases. Additionally diesel vehicles historically last longer and are more durable.
More BOV Reading
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=155890
http://www.survivalistboards.com/showthread.php?t=3464
http://www.wilderness-survival.net/forums/showthread.php?p=12373
http://www.alpharubicon.com/bovstuff/perfectbovbr.htm
http://www.4x4abc.com/jeep101/
http://www.tomsebooks.com/UltimateSurvivalVeh.pdf
http://www.survivalistssite.com/~canuck/downloads/bov_basics.pdf
http://survivalblog.com/an_adequate_bug_out_vehicle_bo/
http://survivalblog.com/how-to-choose-a-bug-out-bike-by-b-b/
Suggestions?
Basically, a diesel 4×4 truck or SUV. I would recommend an older GMC/Chevy with good off-road tires, rear and front bumper bars, winch, tow kit, and a good rack. A skid plate and snorkel would be great add-ons, but not entirely necessary. There are many options but avoid small vehicles like Jeep Wranglers etc.
That's pretty general, dontcha thank… avoid this one vehicle. The one that just happens to have the best offroad capability. Thats funny, it's perfect for lots of people and scenarios. Why would you say that without justification. It's a perfect vehicle for a single person and if well equipped can haul everything one would need. Small is an advantage in many casses.
Also Jeeps have better approach angles than larger trucks or SUV's, and are lighter so they won't sink in mud (and are easier to push if you have some buddies with you if you do get stuck). A snorkel does no good if you don't waterproof your electronics (coat with dielectric grease and use rtv sealant), extend your axle breather tubes (and transmission vent tubes) as high as possible. Also if you're in deep enough water to need a snorkel your fan might get torn up and puncture your radiator (use an electric fan with a cutoff switch but keep the pully and belt on for your alternator, a/c etc.)Lockers would help (an open differential only spins one tire, not two, power goes to the tire with the least amount of traction). Regear your axles (if you opted for oversized tires) so you don't overwork your engine and tranny. Extra lights are nice for night time travel (not to tactical though), and speaking of winches, get one over rated for your vehicle, not the rated minimum. Your truck is going to be buried in mud and the winch will have to pull against the suction / weight of the mud. A shovel, basic tool kit, tow straps, tire puncture kit, first aid kit etc. are extremely important… esp. the shovel. Seems like overkill, just depends on how often you plan on getting stuck / where you plan on going. Although a basic 4×4 with some tow straps, shovel, and a come-along will get you where your going, you'll just get stuck more than you care for. Good luck finding what suits your needs.
It is very general, that would just be my first choice because of my specific needs. The article above describes individual traits of a bug out vehicle and not one type of vehicle because… well there isn't a perfect vehicle. Everyone has different needs and different weather/geography to consider and I highly suggest that each person or group evaluates their own needs before making a decision on a bug out vehicle.
Exactly. All those snorkels and mud tires are about worthless when you live in Arizona. We don't get stuck in mud, we overheat. So my list of priorities would be a little different.
My old Chevy Blazer will should get me where I need to go, it hasn't let me down yet and in four wheel drive it moves like a tank.
M.D. Creekmore
The Survivalist Blog
I go with M.d creekmores idea of a bov.
Maybe, just maybe, the best bug out vehicle is the one that no one would expect!
AMC Eagle Wagon, lol jeep developed drive train, Straight 6 torque. and fuel milage, room for 5 plus loads of room in the back and a functional roof rack, can go off road and still go quickly and handle if the main roads are still operable
Solid site / i will definitely come back again.
Terrific information!! i will definitely come back again soon..
Something to think about is how will you have fuel also.
You can only carry so much fuel,gear ,and food when time to GOOD.
As to the type of BOV I would want a '60 model 4X4
I don't know if these are popular in the US. I have a second tank on my vehicle which contains LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas or Propane). It's a lot cheaper in the UK than regular fuel (around half the cost), and although you only get 2/3 the MPG on LPG it really extends the range – I can drive at least 200 miles before I have to switch to petrol, which then gives me a further 380 miles before refuelling. Best of all, the shelf life of LPG is forever, unlike petrol which needs a stabiliser to store it. I do need to store some petrol however, as the vehicle won't start on pure LPG, it needs petrol.
LPG is often found at unmanned points (country stores, industrial estates, farmyards), so if the grid power is still on, you can still pump LPG. I'm working on a system to switch to bottled LPG, or refill the tank from a bottle as these are easily storable (and the empty bottles make good woodburning stoves). My barbecue and camp cooker also use LPG as a fuel, so it's a good all-round fuel to store.
I don't know about the use of LPG, but there are external gas tanks that a lot of people (especially in rural areas) use in their trucks. Usually they just sit in the bed of the truck and then the refuel by hand when they need to.
Also some bigger cars here have 2 tanks built into the car that can hold a lot of gas. Suburbans carry about 45 gallons.
"Also some bigger cars here have 2 tanks built into the car that can hold a lot of gas"
We don't get cars like that in the UK! I know what you mean though, a few years ago I had a US-built Ford Econoline (E150) with two petrol tanks. Mind you, it needed them as it only did 8 MPG around town.
lpg in a vehicle is also a poor mans fuel injection. You can climb steeper then with a carburated motor.
Lpg is known as a poormans fuel injection. You can climb steeper with Lpg than you can a carbed motor.
If it really hits the fan, a vehicle's only as good as your fuel supply, spares or resources to fabricate repairs. It won't take long before a vehicle's asset value plummets and can even become a major liability. Far more comforting to know how to survive and thrive without one when necesary.
I'm a huge believer in reliability! My 2007 Honda Accord is my bugout vehicle. I can't go offroad, but probably won't need to. Most bug out situations only last 3-5 days and if you've planned properly, you can get out via major roadway. I've got it packed with my Bug out Bag with enough for 3 days at least and I have a plan as to where I'm going to go.
Go with your most RELIABLE vehicle.
By the way, I really like this site, do you have a discussion Forum?
More on this topic of vehicles here, http://www.todayssurvival.com/?p=186
Go with a off road motor bike or scooter as roads and bridges may be out or damaged and traffic jams will be a problem in an evacuation. Some get 100+ MPG so 2 5 Gal gas cans will give you 1000 miles of driving. They can be carried in a truck bed as a backup for your BOV.
I like a jeep with a small off-road / military trailer.
Small, nimble, and very capable if setup with nicer axles, better tires, etc… short wheel base good turning, and a small trailer for all your gear :)
Exactly, now theres a smart man.
I agree 100%. I have a well outfitted 99 Wrangler and I built a 4X7' trailer with identical deck height as the jeep. Uses the same wheel/tires and carries 3 spares all together (1 on jeep-2 on trailer). The trailer weighs 500lb empty but I believe I can drag it full of survivables anywhere I can coax the Jeep. The trailer is also good for general utility uses. It will hold almost a full cord of firewood! Check it out here http://ruffrider.vox.com/
I'm using an 1988 Dodge ramcharger, I modified the suspension and added better tires, plus it gives me the room I need to put my extra bags and other stuff that I might need. It has enough room for my family. My Dodge has Dana 44 axels and I'm running 35" tires on the vehicle, I'm also looking at adding two wenches front and rear.
James – Two wenches? What will the wife say? All you need is one winch on a 2" hitch mount that you switch to the rear if you need to. You should have a brushguard bumper up front with with a hitch which would be more practical than two winches. Think about it.
get a semi
Cool Car!
My BOV is already at my site…..
No sense in trying to outrun any radios, bullets, helicopters, etc.
I have determined after hours of reading, and becoming mentally defunct by now, that I am NOT one to become a REFUGEE!
Just not my lifestyle….
Stay within 2 hours maximum drive of your "site" and leave at the first warning or, be trapped.
(prep your site with everything you will need, and make it safe)
As far as bug-out-vehicles, sure is a great idea having these fancy high teck4x4's…
but a cheapo 10 speed, pump, patch kit, saddle bags mouse trap, and maybe even a bike trailer, should be your main back up!
Of course having a high tech mountain bike all equiped with every do-dad possible, tons of spare parts enroute, and at site, would be great!
but some rusty but working, ol' 10 speed will get you very far, so when all the other survivalists, who are also surrounded by the many, many, many un-prepared hordes, or "golden Hordes",
bugging out, are stuck with there tons literally of survival gear, tools ,food etc., in a super highway traffic jam completely^%$#%$#^%$#, you ride right on by, wearing rags, rusty ol' 10 speed, a few plastic bags on ure back!
then when u get to ure site, ya change into your camo, grab ure main/equiped load carrier, etc., and know full well that u are surrounded by caches up the ying yang, and are safe…for now!
the same thing at your Main site, as your cache system,
i suggest , by following Crestons advice, by having more than one site, and also having at least a few expedient fallout shelters.
make your main site the main place, but have a plan b.
have a very well fortified retreat, surrounded by your cache system, but also have
other plan b retreats and hidden cache's, and hidden expedient fallout shelters!
Man, maybe even have a plan f, to get the "F= &%$$# out of the entire region, or continent!
One other cheap idea i suggest is having a truck inner tube, fishnet and rope, pump and patch kit, and a homemade paddle. tie Baja bags , or garbage bags to ure stuff, and swim/float across that water obstacle.
dudes (and babes), … i could go on, but highly suggest that ya keep a very low profile,
wear rags, rusty gear ENROUTE to yure site!
Ya do not have to look like a very wealthy Rambo, just to go a few hundred freaking miles, or however far ya gotta go!
your $20,000 4×4 equiped with all yure crap is a waste of money, if eventuall gas is $500.00 per galon, rationed, or illegal to have, or the army police are taking everyone's gear/vehicle/etc., "for the greater good"…
Put your $20,000 dollars into a cache/expedient fallout/SYSTEM i say!
if ure plan a fails, have a plan b, if that fails also, have a plan c, etc.
finally, even if all these back-up plans fail, make sure ure in great shape, and master the basics of woodlore and woodcraft!
be able to forage/hunt/fish/ and be a "Mcgiver". ( ya know that gidget gadget dude, on that t.v. show?)…
Be able to make your own back pack out of nature, etc.
foraging/plant identification etc.
learn, and master the old pioneer, and Aboriginal ways!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Last but not least, i suggest that u get some kind of back-up community group happening.
going lone wolf is a crazy hard life…
and remember…tRYING TO HELP OTHERS IS HUMANS AT THERE FINEST!
we will probably want to re-build North America?
See that humble, poor looking, rag wearing,"bum", travelling extra light, flying by at a good pace, with a couple garbage bags tied to his back and bike? or slowly trudging onward…as if to nowhere… going here, then there, seemingly…nowhere?
(yes, not travelling straight as a crow flies, right to the site …)..
but taking a few extra days, a few extra, well travelled paths, and not so well travelled paths…always looking backwards…
making sure he is not being followed…
the freaking out, anger, will be dangerous for those unprepared…
for those prepared, imagine how dangerous they will be if their truck breaks down, or there is a traffic jam…
yes i am right here folks.
hopefully this letter will, humbly help some one.
it is my plan, i have been working on it for years… remember, even a cheapo chinese made dollar store knife will cut up a fish, buy $20,00 bucks worth and ya now have 20 dif knives for 20 dif caches to spread around!
lose that $200.00 rambo super special survival knife and ure @(&^(&@#^……………
a $2 bottle of water makes a great canteen, hung on a string off yure belt, a $5 dollar hunk of plastic or tarp makes a great poncho, or tarp tent. Mud, and branches/leaves make great camo.
the only things i ALWAYS HAVE ON ME NO MATTER WHERE I GOis my primus firesteel, my buck knife, my leatherman wave, and my knife sharpener.
( i have back-ups close by and far away…do not worry !
looks can be decieving…judge not and ye shall not be judged!
My BOV is already at my site…..
No sense in trying to outrun any radios, bullets, helicopters, etc.
I have determined after hours of reading, and becoming mentally defunct by now, that I am NOT one to become a REFUGEE!
Just not my lifestyle….
Stay within 2 hours maximum drive of your "site" and leave at the first warning or, be trapped.
(prep your site with everything you will need, and make it safe)
As a tried and true way to "bug Out" ,lest we not forget the best way we have been using since we learned to pick ourselves up off the floor!
Our own 2 feet!
You may not be able to carry much, but you don't need: gas, tires, spare parts, etc…
And I can see a vehicle much easier than I could a person, especially one that is smart enought to avoid roads, etc.
Or, get a mountain bike, put some saddle bags on it, or even a 'trike" kinda slow and awkward in rough areas!
Be sure to either carry spare tires and tubes, and a patch kit and pump, OR, get the newest solid tires..they never go flat!
With a little bit of ingenuity, you can rig a small 2 x 4 trailer on a hitch, and pull along quite a bit with you!
Don't rely on motorized vehicles that may be apt to ruined by an emp, or if you run out of gas.
Get an older model truck, with NO computer system, and carry spare parts:
battery, starter, alternator, ignition, points, condensor, rotor, cap, wires, plugs, etc.
Learn how to use an 8lb or larger propane tank to run that engine, if you have ever have the need!
BTW:
Buy a decent pair of boots!
Do not make the mistake of just trying on a pair in your size and packing them away!
I did.
I paid with pain!
My feet were severly blistered on the heels and balls of the feet.
In less than a week, I was barely able to even walk!
I spent 10 day in those things, and discovered all the things that could go wrong….
Like:
Not having another pair as back-up's, in a different style, manufacturer, and so forth.
I learned the hard way, and I was in a place that was 15 miles from the nearest town, even further from medical assistance if needed.
So, be careful with your feet, watch what you buy, and buy the best you can afford…
(Walmart is not on the top of any of my lists, like: Sports authority, Big 5 sporting goods, Target, Foot locker, etc, etc!)
Most places import all their shoes/boots from CHINA!
Even the managers there showed me the fallacy of the stuff they sell….Injection molded junk, and badly assembled on a good day!
Buy your shoes/boots from places like: Buster Brown, and Redwing!
Columbia Boots are made in Georgia, and even go to 4e in width. My 11 4E's are Logger boots-heavy, strong, deep lug soles and heels-made for professional outdoor works and construction, Worth every nickel at $170.
BTW:
Buy a decent pair of boots!
Do not make the mistake of just trying on a pair in your size and packing them away!
I did.
I paid with pain!
My feet were severly blistered on the heels and balls of the feet.
In less than a week, I was barely able to even walk!
I spent 10 day in those things, and discovered all the things that could go wrong….
Like:
Not having another pair as back-up’s, in a different style, manufacturer, and so forth.
I learned the hard way, and I was in a place that was 15 miles from the nearest town, even further from medical assistance if needed.
So, be careful with your feet, watch what you buy, and buy the best you can afford…
(Walmart is not on the top of any of my lists, like: Sports authority, Big 5 sporting goods, Target, Foot locker, etc, etc!)
Most places import all their shoes/boots from CHINA!
Even the managers there showed me the fallacy of the stuff they sell….Injection molded junk, and badly assembled on a good day!
Buy your shoes/boots from places like: Buster Brown, and Redwing!
ATV or Sled (snowmachine) is the way to go in Alaska. Everything, everyone has discribed will only work in certain areas in Alaska and since it is very densely forested with permafrost/drunken forests and lost of musk kep, regular trucks and the like don’t always work.
I have a ATV (Grizz 350 with a wench) and a Sled (skidoo tundra) that both have hitches for my “packing” bucket, which is actually a loading bucket for hunting moose. I can put durable “tires” on or take them off due to the terrain as well as the time of year for weather. It can also float when needed.
It depends on region. As much as I would like to take my truck(s) with my sled and atv on a hitch… you just can’t do it. Always have some type of alternative.
I'm gearing up my 1988 Chevy Suburban. It's a tank, has 9 seatbelts, tons of cargo space inside as well as on the roof rack, tons of power, can take a hit and could pull down a house. It's not cheap getting a good BOV ready to go, but it's worth it. An understanding wife is also a big help. Mine just rolls her eyes and let's me do my thing.
I live on a very remote and well guarded/gated military base which is nice for the peace of mind, but a move to Juneau, Alaska (my home town) is in the sort of near future. I like to be out of the way. Thanks for the post, upinak… looks like I'm going to need a couple of sleds as well… good stuff.
Be well, gentlemen.
Consider a white pickup, cargo van or older suburban. Since you cannot predict what the bugout situation will be consider that you want to melt into the background. white vehicles are everywhere, your city uses them to check water meters. Your electric company uses them to read the meter and contractors use them. They are ubiquitous and do not attract attention.
Its hard to beat a dirt bike for getting out tough situations, the only problem is you can't carry a bunch of equipment with you.
land rover defender 110 offroad kit
99 F-150 Ext. Cab, 4×4, Transalp (Honda Dual Sport Bike) goes in the back, trailer with camper and put the canoe on top or pull the 22' sailboat and stay on board (even on the trailer if needed), and canoe still goes on top. Inflatable kayak packs in the canoe. Lots of rivers and lakes in my region…and fish. Have a small utility trailer making into an all terrain trailer with dirt bike wheels and the bike can pull it too! Secondary spot is cabin on the lake in a remote area, so only need to go about 60 miles.
Very good points here, especially as to redundency…..as to boots, lol, I have and use combat boots and mickey mouse boots, they are broken in!
hi. nice post. thanks!
really this is great!
actually i am not a vehicle expert, but i've seen this post in FrontierSurvival.com and it shows like this:
"Transportation: You may also want to keep your car's tank at least half full, since gas pumps may not work if there's no electric power. By the time you reach a gas station, you may be likely to find it sold out – or charging exorbitant prices, because the owners know you didn't have any choice but to pay what they ask. Much better to leave with a full tank of gas, and enough in spare containers to fill up on the road, if you have to, in order to reach your destination. And remember a big vehicle can be a handicap. It's not a bad idea to have smaller, more maneuverable vehicles, and a smaller travel trailer, so that one can "squeeze through" in a tight traffic situation. Another point a big SUV or pickup burns a lot of fuel. This is bad news when there's no fuel available!"
it's better to have a small car than to have huge one.
good post. i just wanna share this site: http://www.carparts.com/ very interesting.
I'm currently making an old hearse into a bug out, it's a 1983 Cadillac Fleetwood and it is a monster!
My bug out vehicle is a Schwinn Searcher commuter bike with a home made trailer for my gear. I NEVER have to worry about running out of fuel, nothing electronic to get scrambled, I can pick it up and carry it if I get stuck. Once I set up camp I can leave the trailer and use the bike for recon. My sons both have bicycles customized and and ready to go, and I have a tag along bike for my 5 year old daughter to ride behind either one of them, or myself depending on who is pulling the supply trailer. I have a private secure bunker to head to about 4 miles from my home equipped with water, canned goods, cooking supplies, and additional ammo. Forget trying to find gas for a vehicle that would be an obvious target. No vehicles are safe.
Which holds true btw, the Jeep and the Chevy Camaro are the preferred ride of the baby boomers generation.
BTW, the Jeep model looks like a tank!
All depends on your funds.
As broke as I am I’m looking at an older Suburban or Bronco.
If I were to have a rich relative I never knew I had keel over, or my lotto numbers hit it big, I’d be buying a Unicat and a motorcycle.
Of course a Unicat costs more than a house where I live, so it’s not likely I’ll end up with one.
I'm an American I will stand and fight.
Those cars are so cool !
The best bug out vehicle should be a diesel.
Good life expectancy , More reliable in general. less to go wrong.
Cold temperature tolerant
Diesel fuel is safer to store. Fire or explosion is greatly reduced.
Diesels, work best under load over long periods of time.
More readily available in emergencies. Shorter ques at the filling stations. (Can run on cooking oil,Kerosene and Jet fuel)
Diesel engines offer increased torque. Pulling/ Towing power
Less fuel per mile.
Store's about ten times longer than gasoline.
i am NORTH AMERICAN…i will defend my southern neighbour, and Canada to the bitter end.
but on my terms.
“The enemy advances, we retreat; the enemy camps, we harass; the enemy tires, we attack; the enemy retreats, we pursue” Mao Tse Tung
i will never fight an Alamo type battle if i have to, guerrilla warfare tactics have been mastered.
Vietnam has proven that. a lesser force can destroy a greater force.
Sun Tzu "art of war'.
i value my life. i want to live. i will fight, but only on MY TERMS, and in so doing, i will do so wisely!
I decided on a M109A1 "Deuce and a half, 6×6" 1971 AM General w multifuel diesel engine. This is the "comm or shop van bodied version of the M35 troop transport. Added second 50 gal fuel tank w crossover, plus did the interior of box as RV IE full bed, sink, tub/shower, tv/dvd, microwave, hot water, 2 refrig, plenty of storage. I installed 4 110 volt deep cycle batteries, shore power hookup and onan generator. There is 40 gal water w'pump under bed. Has both A/C and D/C power. I added an M105 1.5 ton matching trailer. Vehicles are Govt Surplus and dirt cheap. Military installed new engine, trans, drivetrain in 1991 and had 17,000 miles on it when I aquired it two yrs ago. It has both upper and lower case for 5gear trans. Aircompressor is integral ( can deflate/inflate tires for terrain adjusment) Many more aspects to mention here. Just reading blog and decided to chime in.
Diesel, awd for sure. Jeeps and Land Rovers and Toyota are amongs the first choices for me. Then I'll go for a mitsjubishi or a nissan.
Hi, Thanks for commenting me on this post. Small 4×4 vehicles are the best options for any taravel.
The best bugout vehicle is a sailboat (if you live on the coast)
My B.O.V. doesn't need all that stuff. If i bug out it will be house by house, till i die.
In order for increasing survival rate, each member of your family should know how to survive in case of emergency and from where to get your emergency preparedness and safety kits and what to do when any emergency strikes.
Hummer H1 with the adventure package which includes under carriage protection and a winch as well as dual diesel fuel tanks. This takes the capacity to over 50 gallons. If you add the jerry can rack you can carry another 50 gallons thus 100 gallon capacity plus you can drive over any cars that may be blocking the highway as you GOOD! You can pick up a used 1980's-2002 H1 for under 30K and these engines are good for 200,000 miles easy. After 2002, they become more expensive but the engines and safety features increase. I would stay away from 2006 Alphas. They are way overpriced and parts will be hard to find. 2004's are the best deal right now if you need to use the vehicle on a regular basis plus it still uses the same parts as the US Military version. The Allison, US Made, engine in the '04 is one of the best. Dollar for Dollar, pre- 2003 H1 are the least expensive with the most GOOD bang for the buck. Besides if the Army and Reserves can't go anywhere then no one else can. If you do get an H1 add a snorkel so that you can forge rivers if necessary. It is worth the few hundred extra and are easy to self instal.
GOOD when the getting is good and Avoid the Golden Horde!
My current vehicle is a 2002 Acura MDX. Not a jeep or LR, but AWD W/lockable differential. Range is about 300 miles (20gallons x 15mpg, worst case scenario), but two 5 gallons and one 2 gallon tank in my garage extends my range another 180 miles. I fill up every 2-3 days on my way home from school, yes I'm that paranoid.
Now I'm about to break 5 of the rules above, but what about a PRIUS? Yes, the epitome of hippie california hybrids. It can go 500 miles on one tank of gas, that's amazing for bugging out!
Let me know what you guys think…
I gotta give props to the Chevy Suburban. I have an 89 Burban (my bug out burban if you will) and it has a bunch of rust and plenty of dents, but let me tell you, its still a very solid vehicle (I plan on doing some work to it here in a bit and paint it flat black and put truck bed lining along the bottom after i use some rust inhibiter and do a little extra metal work, not going for looks, but function). I followed one of my buddies out to a few large hills going thru some rough country and fields, him in his 2003 Chevy pickup and me in my burban. Except for the last 200 yards, i was in 2 wheel drive the whole time going thru deep ruts and deeper snow, with bad, balding tires (another one of those things i want to fix lol). but it has 144k miles on her now, i bought it with 130k, and so far all ive done was replace the oil, spark plugs/wires, and put on dual exhaust. its given me far less problems then i ever thought it would from that old 350 V8 and ive lived in it for a few weeks straight while i was away working (I used to build and repair railroads, lots of traveling). i was considering selling my Lincoln, but i think instead il keep her and devout my burban to a full time bug out/camping/fishing rig instead. I dont have to worry about beating it up off road (one of the reasons i didnt buy my buddies Excursion or a newer burban or truck) and it will go thru anything and everything, and it has minimal electronics and is super reliable, what else could you want for a purpose built rig?
Horses make a great BOV as well. If you need to get far fast, a truck will do you better, but consider pulling a trailer with your horses. You can load them down with the goods you need. You will not have to worry about parts, etc. with a horse. All it will need is food and water–and (depending on where you are) there is plenty of that to be found.
Horses would be a great bug out 'vehicle' – they can go just about anywhere, and especially if you need to bypass all roads, a horse would definitely be your ticket out of dodge!
Land Rover 109 is my choice. A minimal investment. Blends in. If you have to you can take it apart and fix it with hand tools. A ton of inside storage space. A roof rack. It came from the factory with two spare tires, (not on the bottom either. One is on the hood, the other is on the back door. If you are hit with an emp, or just leave the lights on, there is a crank under the back seat, to hand start the engine. From the factory there is a place to put a padlock. And as a plus you can remove the grill, and cook on it. These trucks have been used for decades in remote parts of the globe and they still work.
Excellent and wonderful read !!!!
[…] Diesels are also capable of running off of bio-diesel which can be something you manufacture yourself. To discover more helpful hints and tips about deciding on the best bug out vehicle visit http://www.survival-spot.com/survival-blog/bug-out-vehicle/ […]
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Great set of tips mate. Here you have shared good bug out vehicle tips which is very helpful for everyone especially persons like me. Thank you so much for sharing your great knowledge with us.
I am so much admired on its durability.The designed,color,and car model was very extraordinary and very unique as well as also to it's performance in and off the road.
good article
This was such a great tips for us car buyers.The information you gave really helped me on making decisions regarding on what kind of vehicle that i need to choose for my daily transportation that I can trust most along the way.
Let’s simply start by locution this final Survival Vehicle is pretty Earthroamer XV LTS final Survival Vehicle Bug Outcool. If you have got five folks or less and had to form it to your change shape location throughout TEOTWAWKI, this may be a awfully nice thanks to get there. this can be essentially a changed flooring camper connected to a Ford Super Duty F-550 truck chassis so entirely tricked out.
good work
What a bunch of nonsense typical of a car infatuated society. If all hell breaks loose where do you think you are going to get the fuel and the parts to keep these hunks of metal running
The least amount of electrical parts in the vehicle the better. Electrical is a nightmare to work on if something goes wrong. Not to mention surviving an EMP.