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SHTF vehicle / Bug Out Vehicle
Tuesday, March 12, 2013 3:26
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When the topic of Bug out vehicles is brought up, the
most common denominator is large trucks or 4×4 off road vehicles. Its as if
bugging out means mandatory travels through uncharted trails in the rain forest
of Ecuador or fording the nearest river.
most common denominator is large trucks or 4×4 off road vehicles. Its as if
bugging out means mandatory travels through uncharted trails in the rain forest
of Ecuador or fording the nearest river.
I happen to see things a bit different in this regard.
When it comes to “Bug Out” vehicles, reality tends to be far less exciting and
we learn that instead of going Indiana Jones in the nearest national park
you’re more likely to be driving on a paved road stuck in traffic for hours as
everyone tries to bug out at the same time. In this case, a reliable car with
good gas millage makes more sense than a 30 year old EMP proof car.
When it comes to “Bug Out” vehicles, reality tends to be far less exciting and
we learn that instead of going Indiana Jones in the nearest national park
you’re more likely to be driving on a paved road stuck in traffic for hours as
everyone tries to bug out at the same time. In this case, a reliable car with
good gas millage makes more sense than a 30 year old EMP proof car.
I also like to make the distinction between Bug Out
Vehicle (BOV) and SHTF vehicle (SHTFV). While a BOV is for getting you from your
current location to a separate other destination during a crisis or emergency,
the SHTFV is a car you use both for bugging out if required but also on more
mundane, ordinary tasks. It’s the car you use during long term SHTF events were
everyday life goes on, but there are more challenges and demands on regular
basis.
Vehicle (BOV) and SHTF vehicle (SHTFV). While a BOV is for getting you from your
current location to a separate other destination during a crisis or emergency,
the SHTFV is a car you use both for bugging out if required but also on more
mundane, ordinary tasks. It’s the car you use during long term SHTF events were
everyday life goes on, but there are more challenges and demands on regular
basis.
Ideal SHTF Vehicle
For daily use or for evacuating, I’m a firm believer
of what you have with you may be all you have during an emergency. That’s why
your SHTFV should be a viable BOV if needed, besides an everyday driver. Its
like a handgun in terms of defense: Its far from ideal, but the ability of
being there when needed makes it of great importance. You may have 5 minutes to
evacuate, or 5 seconds. You may leave for work and when you go back home
there’s nothing there left for you and your family, not even the BOV you had
fully stocked ready to go, and you’re stuck with your Prius because that’s what
you used everyday so as to save on gas while the BOV 4×4 truck sits waiting
until zombies attack. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, you wont get
emails or text messages notifying you of SHTF events or other disasters. It
just happens, and when it does what you have with you may be all you have to
work with.
of what you have with you may be all you have during an emergency. That’s why
your SHTFV should be a viable BOV if needed, besides an everyday driver. Its
like a handgun in terms of defense: Its far from ideal, but the ability of
being there when needed makes it of great importance. You may have 5 minutes to
evacuate, or 5 seconds. You may leave for work and when you go back home
there’s nothing there left for you and your family, not even the BOV you had
fully stocked ready to go, and you’re stuck with your Prius because that’s what
you used everyday so as to save on gas while the BOV 4×4 truck sits waiting
until zombies attack. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, you wont get
emails or text messages notifying you of SHTF events or other disasters. It
just happens, and when it does what you have with you may be all you have to
work with.
My priorities for a SHTFV would be the following:
1) Affordable: If I cant even buy it, then everything else matters little. The
price of spare parts and repairs should also be within your financial means.
This is the Achilles heel of most MOD/military vehicles.
2) Toughness: By this I don’t mean military style or
hard use off road, but tougher than the ordinary sedan vehicle. Most light SUVs
would fill this role well. The SHTV may be pushed into service for moving
around gear, furniture, supplies, etc. More capacity than a basic car would be
nice. Besides, during disasters and even due to economic factors, roads may be in
far from adequate shape. This I’ve seen it myself very clearly. Well paved
roads require more care and maintenance than most people realize. After a year
of neglect roads are noticeably worse. After a decade of neglect you really
need a truck or SUV unless you want to constantly replace tires, rims and
suspension. Yet another point is security. Here I’m talking both about car
accidents or having to push your way out of carjack attempts, who may cash
against you on purpose so as to force you to stop your vehicle. A more solid
vehicle is advice in either case.
hard use off road, but tougher than the ordinary sedan vehicle. Most light SUVs
would fill this role well. The SHTV may be pushed into service for moving
around gear, furniture, supplies, etc. More capacity than a basic car would be
nice. Besides, during disasters and even due to economic factors, roads may be in
far from adequate shape. This I’ve seen it myself very clearly. Well paved
roads require more care and maintenance than most people realize. After a year
of neglect roads are noticeably worse. After a decade of neglect you really
need a truck or SUV unless you want to constantly replace tires, rims and
suspension. Yet another point is security. Here I’m talking both about car
accidents or having to push your way out of carjack attempts, who may cash
against you on purpose so as to force you to stop your vehicle. A more solid
vehicle is advice in either case.
3) Reliable: You’d be surprised to see how many fancy
SUVs and trucks have a poor track record in terms of reliability. Inform
yourself before making any purchase. Japanese cars are among the most reliable.
Think Toyota, Nissan, Honda, and Mitsubishi. Reads plenty of reviews and talk
with your mechanic
SUVs and trucks have a poor track record in terms of reliability. Inform
yourself before making any purchase. Japanese cars are among the most reliable.
Think Toyota, Nissan, Honda, and Mitsubishi. Reads plenty of reviews and talk
with your mechanic
4) Commonality: This will mean easier to find spare
parts and more mechanics that know how to fix your vehicle, or more literature
available to learn to do it yourself. A vehicle that is more of an oddity will
present greater challenges. If imports ever stop or become too expensive for
your pocket, you may have to rely exclusively on the second hand and used spare
parts market. The more popular the model, the most likely you are to find what
you need.
parts and more mechanics that know how to fix your vehicle, or more literature
available to learn to do it yourself. A vehicle that is more of an oddity will
present greater challenges. If imports ever stop or become too expensive for
your pocket, you may have to rely exclusively on the second hand and used spare
parts market. The more popular the model, the most likely you are to find what
you need.
5)Gas millage: The chosen vehicle must have good gas
millage for two reasons. First, a car with poor MPG will rarely be used, this
means its less likely to be in use when needed. Ideally, this vehicle would be
your daily driver, used for commuting, taking the kids to school, etc. Second,
if you ever have to evacuate and use it as a BOV, it will be able to cover more
distance with whatever amount of fuel you have left or are able to come up
with. An extra 5MPG efficiency may be the difference between getting to your
evacuation location with your supplies or hardly getting close to it at all.
millage for two reasons. First, a car with poor MPG will rarely be used, this
means its less likely to be in use when needed. Ideally, this vehicle would be
your daily driver, used for commuting, taking the kids to school, etc. Second,
if you ever have to evacuate and use it as a BOV, it will be able to cover more
distance with whatever amount of fuel you have left or are able to come up
with. An extra 5MPG efficiency may be the difference between getting to your
evacuation location with your supplies or hardly getting close to it at all.
6) Ground clearance and AWD capability: I’ve been
caught by roadblocks, protests or other forms of disturbance or civil unrest
more times than I care to remember. People in first world countries just don’t have
that sort of experience. It was years of dealing with that, sometimes three or
four days a week. What I learned was that a)I want a vehicle that can go up the
curb, over the sidewalk, bulevard or off road so as to escape trouble b)I want
AWD so as to not get stuck while doing so.
caught by roadblocks, protests or other forms of disturbance or civil unrest
more times than I care to remember. People in first world countries just don’t have
that sort of experience. It was years of dealing with that, sometimes three or
four days a week. What I learned was that a)I want a vehicle that can go up the
curb, over the sidewalk, bulevard or off road so as to escape trouble b)I want
AWD so as to not get stuck while doing so.
7) Big enough but not too big: While the vehicle has
to be big enough so as to carry people and gear, as well as have the mass so as
to push an average sedan to some extent if needed, the vehicle shouldn’t be so
big that its difficult to maneuver and squeeze through places so as to escape and
avoid trouble. Everything you need and nothing you don´t.
to be big enough so as to carry people and gear, as well as have the mass so as
to push an average sedan to some extent if needed, the vehicle shouldn’t be so
big that its difficult to maneuver and squeeze through places so as to escape and
avoid trouble. Everything you need and nothing you don´t.
For me, this boiled down to the Honda CR-V. It´s boring
reliable if taken care of and fills nicely most of what I had in mind.
reliable if taken care of and fills nicely most of what I had in mind.
FerFAL
2013-03-12 03:00:46
Source: http://ferfal.blogspot.com/2012/10/shtf-vehicle-bug-out-vehicle.html
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