Oct212010
Survival Survey: What’s Your Ideal Survival Vehicle?
Guest post by Liz Long
image by dave_7
Lisa has posted in “Prepare Like There’s No Time to Waste,” that she’s looking into buying a little four-seater car with good gas mileage in the $4,000-$5,000 range that’s cheap to operate and insure. We’re looking into a replacement car as well, and somehow I doubt it’s just our two families. Our family is thinking of buying something with moderate off-road capabilities. Of course, if you’ve read One Second After, pre-electronic cars hold a certain appeal as well. A souped up classic pick-up might be a ton of fun to drive!
Personally, I would like a car that can hold at least four people (this is TheSurvivalMom blog, after all, not the Single Commando Guy’s blog!), gets good gas mileage, be durable enough to go over minor obstacles (like curbs), and be unlikely to require expensive maintenance (less electronics = easier home repairs = better).
What qualities would you look for in a “new car” purchase right now? Why? Are there any specific vehicles you think would be good choices? What’s your ideal survival vehicle?
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Josh
We have an old dodge diplomat. Not the ideal vehicle I would want to use, but it could work.
strap buckner
Bicycle.
Dagny
Ditto on the bicycle for half my answer. I already have an excellent "survival" vehicle — a Honda Element. It's extremely reliable, versatile (2-person tent on wheels and spacious enough to carry a motorcycle), capable (the AWD is excellent in snow and I have Michelin LTX-2 tires on it so its even better). Gas mileage is only so-so (20-26mpg). I'm a Felix about keeping it maintained.
Whatever car(s) you have: maintain them and keep the fuel tank topped off!!!
My Element also has a hitch-mounted bike rack that holds my two mountain bikes. These mountain bikes — in conjunction with my bike trailers — provide a critical middle option between driving and walking.
Something I should stock up on is bike tires and bike trailer tires (new list). My bikes' wheels are at least inter-changeble.
The only advantage I see to an old car is in the event of a catastrophic EMP. There is not a consensus on whether all the newer vehicles would be crippled so I'm not giving up on my Element in that scenario. In any case, if things are that bad there likely wouldn't be much gasoline left to propel any vehicle — old or new. That really argues for motorcycles, bicycles and bicycle trailers.
LizLong
Regarding the advantage of an old car, it depends on the model. If you buy a new car and that particular model has only been made for a year or two, there won't be a lot of used parts or after market parts available in the best of times. If you have something like a Honda Accord or Toyota Camry that's under 20 yrs old but has been out for more than a couple years, there are a TON of parts around for it because the cars are so popular. And I know guys who like to work on cars. They can fix something like a 1960s muscle car themselves because of the relative simplicity of the machines and the lack of electronics. If you get something like a modern luxury car, even the dealer mechanics need a lot of highly specialized tools and machines to work on them.
The ability to get parts or modify something else to work in lieu of the correct part, and the ability of a regular guy with reasonable car knowledge to make basic repairs, are the two real advantages I see to an older car. Well, they also do tend to have A LOT more room to fill up with stuff if you can ignore the gas mileage.
Dagny
Good point on the extremely popular cars like the Accord and Camry — super reliable and common. My first car was a '69 Mustang, I was the third owner and I held onto it for 14 years. In the early years that I had it a trip to the junkyard would often yield parts. Not so much now. Finally sold it with 220,000 miles on the odometer because I was having a heck of a time finding a shop to keep it going. Went through three carburetors in as many months and that was the final straw (still sometimes question the decision to sell though — emotional attachment).
While those old cars surely are a lot easier for an average person to work on, parts availability will be an issue. And every year there are fewer of those old cars so it stands to reason that there will be fewer to cannibalize for parts. I suppose an extremely proficient mechanic could fix a broken starter or alternator. That kind of skill would be gold in end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it scenario.
If in addition to my primary vehicle I could indulge in an old car for BOV purposes I'd go with an old Ford or Chevy truck. For kicks I've long lusted for a 60s Land Rover but I'd need a mechanic riding shotgun.
Polish Prepper
First of all, it should be a diesel. Diesel engines, especially older ones, have virtually no electronics, and are able to run without any electrical power at all (except for one small valve that closes the fuel flow when there's no voltage applied). They have better MPG rating, and work on longer mileages. And can utilize a wide variety of alternative fuels: from biodiesel, through straight vegetable oil, to even animal fats. I heard that diesel engines can even work on alcohols, but couldn't confirm that.
Secondly, it should have 4×4 drive and as large carry capacity as possible.
Dagny
Excellent points. I've been reading more about diesels on a teardrop trailer forum I frequent.
The bio-diesel capability does put them in a unique category for preparedness.
LizLong
I've been thinking diesel might be the way to go as well.
Kandi
Anything big enough that the family could live in it. Literally. Ex: the old movie Americathon.. Which actually the plot doesn't seem that preposterous anymore.
Hacksaw
I don’t think there is a perfect vehicle but I’m very happy with my Jeep Compass. There’s lots of them around, it gets about as good fuel economy as any 4×4 can have without going hybrid, and it’s quite capable in the dirt as long as you don’t plan on fording rivers or rock crawling. I’ve done quite a few critical modifications to help out if the going gets tough. There are a lot of small SUVs which are fairly affordable on the market and they’re for the most part good vehicles. If talking used and all wheel drive, look for an older Subaru Outback. All ‘made in America’ patriotism aside, they’ve been around a LONG time and they’re tougher than any other station wagon out there in my opinion…and more roomy than some modern SUVs.
rightwingmom
I'm partial to old Jeeps! Just give me a hitch for my small pop up or a trailer and we're golden!
Sunny
Old Jeep Wagoneer!
GoneWithTheWind
Our 3 year old Chrysler mini-van gets 29 mpg (less of course in town), can seat 7 and carry camping gear. I would never consider it an off-road vehicle but the front wheel drive is good in snow. When I bought it I specifically made sure it could carry a full sheet of plywood 4'x8' with the doors closed so it has lots of cargo room. We have slept in it on road trips(just two of us). I am thinking about getting two more rims and putting extra tires on them. If I wanted to I could put a couple of tires on the roof rather then use up inside space. (This idea came to me while thinking about driving the North Slope road out of Fairbanks.)
Sgt Joe
My personnal choice if I could get ahold of one would be the old AMC Eagle. It was a 5 seater, lots of trunk space, 6 cyl for gas milage, easy to work on. The car had a limited slip 4WD that could not get stuck even with all season tires on it. One winter my brother and I went deer hunting and we were driving down mountain roads that were not plowed and the snow was as deep as the top of the hood. I know parts would be scarce and that is the downfall now but this car was the perfect survival car. If only they made cars that good now.
elt2jv
@ Hacksaw: agree regarding Subarus; and all domestically sold ones are made in Indiana. I'd get an Outback model. We have a Legacy sedan, but did not buy it as a BOV.
@Sgt Joe: agree regarding AMC Eagles. They were way ahead of their time.
Common models with reputations for reliability and parts availability are good bets. I'd go with what I'm looking for now: either a 4×4 Suburban (got kids to haul) or a quad cab pickup. I'm not planning on going any smaller than a Jeep Cherokee. If parts weren't an issue, a Toyota Land Cruiser would really be the ticket. A Land Rover would be nice, too.
And I agree with the concept of having bicycles on hand and in servicable condition (includes the rider…) As a matter of fact, I'm going to take a look at an old folding bike a few blocks from home to keep in my company car. I work way too far from home (long, rural 40 miles each way) to count on hoofing it if the car is OOC.
SP
1995 Toyota 4Runner, 4WD. It’s a mini-tank.
Squantos
Old forest service owned and auction bought crew cab unimog with a 200 gallon bed tank is our basic emergency rig. …… we have lots of spare parts properly stored at home for the vehicle and I drive it to and from work at least twice a week ……. Ours is not as well restored as the one on this link page yet same configuration with a insulated camper on the bed………..
http://bringatrailer.com/2008/09/18/amazing-resto…
Unimogs are tough rigs………Stay safe !
Fla SD
I wouldn't worry as much about the EMP stuff (old vehicles.) First, if there IS some sort of EMP, it's also going to take-out the pumps at the gas stations, the credit card and ATM machines, and pretty much anything else we need to support our driving needs, anyway. Second, older cars are less reliable than newer cars. Sure, people will debate this. But, if older cars were more reliable, we'd still be driving/fixing them (instead of buying/driving new cars.)
Model: Enclosed cargo-body, all-wheel drive (electric/hybrid, or diesel.) I'm in the hurricane zone, and have participated in a half-dozen hurricane-related bug-outs. Pickups full of gear, get stuff stolen from then at rest stops and gas stations. You some sort of "enclosure" that you can lock to secure your gear from vandals.
A roof rack is another "must." You don't want to be storing your fuel inside your car. It also provide rails to lock cans and stuff onto.
4×4 or AWD is a must. But, high ground clearance is useless. You are better-off with a car that's low-profile AWD, and can travel at 1000+ mph (than a to-heave, ready-to-roll-over Jeep.) We have had to cut-through flooded/muddy medians and such countless times during our adventures — or crawl through the sand. AWD/4×4 gets you off the beaten path, or out of the stopped traffic jams, and cruising again. (Just enough height to clear a standard parking curb is all you REALLY need.) Also, MOST jacked-up 4x4s still have a differential that's low to the ground. So, their ability to clear a rock in the middle of the road/trail is about the same as yours…
We own a Volvo Cross Country AWD station wagon. We regularly/comfortable/safely cruise 100+ mph (fully-loaded) across the country. <– I have the tickets to prove it. We also installed a trailer hitch, and we tow an enclosed box/cargo trailer. It seats 4 people comfortably on long trips (five or kids on shorter trips.) Even our full-sized Labrador Retriever in the back!
Jeep Cherokees, Wagoneers, other "short"SUVs would also be suitable.
Stay away from the big-rigs and the gas-guzzlers!!! During bug-outs, the first places to board-up their doors/windows and run out of supply are gas stations.
ASSUME you will be caught off-guard with the disaster occurs (e.g. with your fuel tank on empty.) Keep enough fuel at home to fill your car; and enough jerry-cans full to bring along to get you at least eight hours (500 miles) away. You'll have to drive at least that far, until you find more fuel.
Peace.
Fla SD.
Fla SD
Follow-up:
We are ALL more-likely to encounter "smaller" more localized, day-to-day, or week-long events/disasters, than an EMP strike. Hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, fires, floods, local riots, etc. EMP-proof vehicles should be more of a last-concern, than a "primary" concern. I'd be more concerned about fuel-type (e.g. the permanent loss of GASOLINE due to Peak Oil shortages, or exorbitant costs) and focus on an electric-oriented or diesel-powered car. (Or, the best of both worlds, and diesel-electric hybrid.)
Vehicles: If you live coastal, or near a major navigational waterway like the Mississippi River or the Great Lakes, I'd suggest either a decent diesel-powered sailboat, or a diesel-powered trawler.. A sailboat provides you with a literally endless bug-out range, in relative comfort. A trawler is very fuel-efficient (for a boat) and carry quite a heavy load in comfort.
Once you get away from shoreline, you have put yourself out of reach of 99.999% of the population (including the government officials.) The US Coast Guard has less manpower than the NYC Police Department!
Slow-moving sailboats and trawlers are also the LAST concern for authorities and such. We have boated all around the country (coast-to-coast, and everything in between.) When we drive go-fast boats, we get pulled-over by the water patrol and such REGULARLY for what they like to call "safety inspections." Yet, on sailboats and trawlers, we have NEVER been stopped, or even received a second-look. We have parked/moored/docked/anchored illegally and everything — and no one ever batted so much as a suspicious eye in our direction.
Long-range boats can get you out of the country, to third-world places that are literally lost in time (and economics/politics.)
The ULTIMATE bug-out vehicle would have to be something like the self-sufficient Lagoon 420 hybrid catamaran sailboat. Low-draft means that she can sneak into shallow anchorages (even up to the beach) where other boats can't go. Her hybrid solar, wind, and water-powered generators (under-sail) make her the perfect self-generating platform. With desalinators/watermakers aboard, she has endless freshwater, too. Just toss a line overboard for fishing, or dive for a few crabs/lobsters, and harvest tropical fruits — and you are mostly-self-sufficient.
With the watermaker, you can also sell freshwater. (Freshwater is more expensive in the islands than diesel fuel.) So, you can augment your fuel/food budget via the sale of freshwater.
But, few of us have the $$$$$ for the "ultimate" bug-out vehicle…
Peace.
Fla SD.
LizLong
Interesting points about a boat. I do not now and have never lived close enough to a coast for a boat to be a real option for me, so I've never even thought about it.
I don't think anyone thinks an EMP is a most-likely scenario. Newer cars tend to have more electronics, which makes home repairs harder. It's really more about repair and replacement parts, not an EMP. There aren't a lot of spare parts available for any model BMW compared to the number available for any Honda Accord or Toyota Camry. A junkyard won't have as many parts for a new model Accord or Camry as it will for one a few years old. The guts of a 1967 Mustang are simpler with less parts than a 2010 Mustang, although a previous poster has a good point about those becoming harder to find with the passage of so much time.
Fla SD
Boat: It doesn't have to remain in your backyard. You could "bug out" TO the boat (wherever it might be?)
Think of it this way: How long could you live in your car or truck? We've lived-aboard our boat for 6+ months before (with our dog) — comfortably! We might even move back aboard our trawler soon?
Also, what's more expensive? 4 acres in the country + a home; OR a 40-foot trawler or sailboat.
And, if issues get too close to your homestead, you're kinda stuck. Whereas, with a boat, if things get too weird, you set-sail for new harbors/anchorages. (And, you don't have to re-pack to do it! All of your stuff is still there, still in it's correct place.) Boats are also great to pre-position stuff in. Whereas a car/vehicle, is typically serving as a daily-driver, too. So, you can't keep it crammed-full of "stuff."
Note: I LOVE YOUR BLOG! I support your old-school vehicle approach/theory. But, I'd encourage you to look at an old Jeep Cherokee or Wagoneer. PLENTY of parts and accessories for them!!! 4×4. Affordable. Lockable. Can tow small trailers/loads. Large roof area. (Just not as fast as I personally prefer.) Dodge Druangos are pretty good options, too. Or, some sort of pickup truck (with a lockable camper shell.)
Again, I prefer to be at the FRONT of the pack when I gotta fly (as opposed to bringing up the rear.) The one who gets to the FRONT of the herd, gets hotel/motel room on their way out of town. Those in the back of the pack, spend the night sleeping in their cars. (I know, because we have bugged-out for a half-dozen hurricanes!) Hotels. motels, shelters, camp sites, parks, rest areas — are all FULL if you're drinking a clunker, and bringing up the rear.
Fla SD.
TheSurvivalMom
Great advice, and I've been enjoying every comment you've made tonight! We get the smartest commenters around here! A boat is a very interesting bug-out option. I know my kids would LOVE to be out on a boat for days, maybe weeks, at a time, and your suggestion of a trawler is a good one. It's not a flashy boat, but there are times when flash is the last thing you need.
TheSurvivalMom
Good list of suggested survival vehicles. We've appreciated our larger SUV, although it is something of a gas-guzzler. It's just nice that the kids can sleep in the back, there's plenty of room for luggage and supplies, and we can always pull a trailer if need be. However, when it dies, I'm going to come back to this thread, make a list of all the suggested vehicles, and go shopping!
Pearls
We bought a 2003 Ford Excursion 7.3 diesel 4×4 for the "survival" reason. It has the old, excellent diesel engine and there will be plenty of parts available as its the same engine as the 250 trucks. Gas mileage isnt that great, but I dont drive it everywhere. I am a home body. But still, filling up the 44 gallons at $3.00….well, you do the math
We have also added a winch to the front which we have used many times to help others out of the ditch or pull friends' landscaping out of their yard 
We also have a 1979 jacked up Bronco 4×4 that will do just fine as a "One Second After" vehicle. I used to hate it, but it has grown on me and its nice to know its there if needed.
TomBergstrand
VW Baja Bug that seems to go anywhere . 1641 cc , 53 HP and is my usual prospecting vehicle . No back seat so I can haul more "stuff".
irridesent
Ok, unless I'm mistaken, I'd like a horse. Drive to the country, find an old farmer, and ask if he would barter for a horse in exchange for you feeding it, cleaning out the barn, fixing up his/her house. If gas skyrockets (it already has) and/or emp happens, old bessy might be worth her weight in food!! Yes, you will still have to go get her but it is a good way to meet someone who has spent their whole life living off the land and along with gaining a new friend(s), you would learn a thing or two as well as helping someone out; you both benefit.
TheSurvivalMom
A horse might be just the 'vehicle' to have in some TEOTWAWKI situations. My kids have been taking Western riding lessons for quite some time, and one reason for it is to have that knowledge and skill, just in case. There's a lot to learn about the care of a horse, so your trade-off suggestion is a good one, along with all the new learning involved.
TomBergstrand
Do some research on mules . They are just as strong if not stronger and not nearly as "skittish" .The only difference is that the saddle also needs a cubbins and a britchen .
darantd3
If I had the 10 to 15 grand it would cost I would buy myself an ex british army wheeled scout car like the ferret or 6 wheeled saxon which are sold here in the USA by an importer company I belive is found at http://www.khakicorpsimports.com, However for now I have a equipped F150 4×4 with dual fuel tanks and the bed turned into cargo boxes and a crew cab to carry those close to me with a passenger seat spare.
However if things hold together 18 more months I,ll have a saxon and feel really lucky that I have an ex army buddy who has a garage and tool shop to help me modify and fine tune it