What's Your Ride of Choice?

[NGC2736]

Each situation will be different, so each BOV (Bug Out Vehicle) will be suited to the user and the surroundings. But it would be good to hear from everyone about just what method of "escape" they would prefer.

This is assuming that you don't plan to try and hunker down and ride things out right where you are.

I would like to hear the reasons for your choice, and what you consider to be the advantages of this vehicle.

(And there are no right or wrong choices- we're here to learn and consider all the possibilities.)

[julesmac8]

Seems my reply to this thread disappeared into a void??
Did anyone see where it went? My answer about horses, wagons, Land Rovers?? :?

[NGC2736]

Honest, I never saw it. But it sounds interesting.

I myself like horses, as there is no fuel problem mostof the time. But then a Land Rover seldom gets sick from eating green apples or loco weed. :lol:

Repost your ideas,jules. There must have been a glitch in the system.

[angryamerican]

My everyday ride is a 4x4 Jeep Cherokee. only to be used as a BOV if necessary. My wife drives a FWD Mercury mystique. also not to be used as A BOV. Our preferred BOV is one I am making. It is being scratch built from the ground up. It has a protected area for the family and I and a slightly less protected cargo area. I have designed the Cargo area to take snap in modules. In other words we have light weight wooden crates filed with various survival gear with a wheels latch type of system that can be quickly rolled up the ramp then snapped into location and ready to roll.

Each pod as I call them, is tailored to the season, and holds enough stuff for us to hopefully get to our little retreat up north. It is full time all wheel drive with a tube chassis. The power plant is a rebuilt Chevy 350 carbureted engine. I've stuck a turbo 350 transmission on her to transfer power to the wheels. Ime working on augmenting the fuel with a hydrogen system. no this engine will not run on the little bit of hydrogen that will be produced so gas is still needed. The alternative fuel system is made to augment the fuel. help to stretch it out for as long as possible.

The fuel tank is big enough to get us ware we need to go and that's it. with the hydrogen system it will give us a much greater range, incase we have to go around trouble getting to our BOL. biggest draw back of the hydrogen system is the need to carry extra electrodes and alot of water.

[NGC2736]

AA, since you're building it yourself, I assume there won't be any electronics to get fried by EMP. It would really suck to load up and buckle in and find out it wouldn't run because the "brain" took a hit.

And my hat is off to you for the effort you're putting into this. It is this type of effort, before it is needed, that will make all the difference if the day comes that it's "now-or-never".

[angryamerican]

NGC2736 Wrote:AA, since you're building it yourself, I assume there won't be any electronics to get fried by EMP. It would really suck to load up and buckle in and find out it wouldn't run because the "brain" took a hit.

And my hat is off to you for the effort you're putting into this. It is this type of effort, before it is needed, that will make all the difference if the day comes that it's "now-or-never".

Points and condensor system. very few modern electronics. Had to run an altrinator thow thats my one weak link.

As to the effort I would be doing it any way. thats the type of stuff I love to do. I have built many a race car for the local circle track boys and have built a few for myself. this is just the next logical step for me.

My darling wife has a rule. we must have duel uses for survival equiptment. This rig will also be used on a few week ends on the trails and mud holes on out land up north. so as I said I would have done it any way. :lol:

[julesmac8]

The gist of my idea was depending on where I lived: if I still live where I am now; I guess a Land Rover would be my choice for a BOV and if I have some acreage like I really want to do; then I'd like to have horses and a couple of wagons. I know of a fella who lives in OK and he makes wagons. Does a pretty decent job too.
I will try and see if he has a website or anything.

[SemperParatus]

BOV of choice? I can pick anything I want?please register to see images in the messages. hereRegister here! Ok,,,assuming Air Force 1 is not available,, what does a 4WD FEMA supervisor vehicle look like? I think it would be best to blend in and be discreet. Can't hurt for them to think you're their boss. Makes them expect you to tell them what to do instead of the other way around. The greatest generals don't win by superior firepower. They win by superior tactical thinking. Think like a general.

[HOP]

I have a 4x4 pickup I would add a trailer to haul gear suplies and whatever. I have a kidy cart for my bicyle and a canoe cart all of which would fit in my truck the canoe cart has a 300# cap. and ataches to the bicyle ride to the river or lake put the bike in the canoe and paddle to where ever pull out cart and bycle and peddle to next water point, the kiddycarts cap. is 100# so the canoe cart is a good choice all around . No fuel isue to speak of.

[shadow-watcher]

Sadly I had to get rid of my mobile freedom device.
I had a ford explorer. It was almost as good as my old jeep, but it surpassed the jeep in maintainence.
The transmission was going and the worth was less than the cost of repairs.
I unloaded it and bought my dream car a mustang. Not good for a bov, but I have plans on buying a suv beater for the winter. I miss having a big ole romper for my romping needs.
I do still have my motorcycle, but that does me no good for the family. I guess it would be good for navigating short trips for stuff.

On a side note, having spare parts is a good idea all around, but having a spare altenator is handy for turning your mower into a generator.

[Lothar of the Hill People]

This is my first post so be gentle. I would choose some form of stripped down 2wd truck with a mechanical injected diesel engine. The idea here is simplicity. it would have as long a travel suspension that I could afford on the cheap. Tires would be the tallest and narrowest that I can fit on the front and slightly wider in the rear. Front skid plates and heavy duty bumpers,front and back. It would have a minimal creature comforts probably heater and radio with very light doors and roof.

A second idea would be a tube frame vehicle with two independent drives using front wheel drive transaxles from a salvage vehicle. Electric front with diesel engine in the rear or two electric motors with a diesel driven on board generator creating power enough to drive the vehicle straight from the generator while recharging the batteries, Yes this sounds a abit complex but this vehicle would have a lot more low end grunt than ICE engines due to the nature of electric motors and be a quiet vehicle for sneaking around.

Top speed of either vehicle would 75-80 mph tops on paved roads and 45-50 off road. More speed in a resource-poor environment should be for motorcycles and light aircraft strictly for scouting purposes in large convoy situation.

[angryamerican]

Lothar of the Hill People

Welcome to the family. looks like your off to a great start. please remember to stop by the introduction forums and introduce your self.

I like the idea of the mechanical injected diesel engine. what I worry about is the rarity of the replacement parts. Your second idea is right up my ally. I can see me building some thing like that. Probably would have converted my original hand made BOV to that type of system If I hadn't scrapped it in favor of personal buggies like the Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links. I was thinking of putting some type of electrical alternative system on them.

[Lothar of the Hill People]

Thanks AA, I saw you'd opened a forum and decided to come check it out. I use other handles on the other 2 forums we share. As soon as I've reached my 5 post threshold I'll pm you.

Other than a motored bike, I think that a scaled up version of the Scorpion Go Kart with a decently sized two or four-stroke air cooled motorcycle engine drive train would be the simplest BOV you could bulid at home. Older Two stroke singles are especially simple and quite reliable. They can also be push started fairly easily.

Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links.

[Chemtrail Kathy]

(10-03-2007 08:52 PM)NGC2736 Wrote: Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links.Each situation will be different, so each BOV (Bug Out Vehicle) will be suited to the user and the surroundings. But it would be good to hear from everyone about just what method of "escape" they would prefer.

This is assuming that you don't plan to try and hunker down and ride things out right where you are.

I would like to hear the reasons for your choice, and what you consider to be the advantages of this vehicle.

(And there are no right or wrong choices- we're here to learn and consider all the possibilities.)

What I want and what I bought are two different things. Being single 50 yr old woman I don't have much choice.
I recently purchased a two owner old Toyota pop up camper. Never seen one before, the top pops up like an old VW camper van.

The second owner removed all the cabinets, but left me the sink, and propane stove to be put back (once I make new shelfing or purchase some old cabinets from the wrecking yard out of an old RV)

I really want this old Jeep 4WD that is camoflauge painted, real nice but they want a pretty penny due to the paint job.
But I could only get what my credit card would allow me to pull cash advance out on.

I'm happy, I'm 30 miles from the hills, it's a gas efficent truck with a built on camper that I can stand up in, cook, and have water. Plenty of room for my dehydrated foods and cases of water best of all a place I can lay my head to sleep.

Thank you for having a great site, it's good to know I'm not alone in planning.
CTK

[angryamerican]

Quote:What I want and what I bought are two different things. Being single 50 yr old woman I don't have much choice.

We are here to help ask any question and we will be happy to give our advise and opinion. Welcome to the family.

Quote:I recently purchased a two owner old Toyota pop up camper. Never seen one before, the top pops up like an old VW camper van.

The second owner removed all the cabinets, but left me the sink, and propane stove to be put back (once I make new shelfing or purchase some old cabinets from the wrecking yard out of an old RV)

Sounds awesome I myself like getting stuff thats been gutted. it allows me to personalize it to my taste and needs. the fact thats its a Toyota to me is great. I prefer to buy American and support the country that I love so much but you cant argue with how well the toys are built and how long they last. well worth the money.

Quote:I really want this old Jeep 4WD that is camouflage painted, real nice but they want a pretty penny due to the paint job.
But I could only get what my credit card would allow me to pull cash advance out on.

My family and I are Jeep people all the way. But they are a little on the expensive side. sounds to me like you got the next best thing.

Quote:I'm happy, I'm 30 miles from the hills, it's a gas efficent truck with a built on camper that I can stand up in, cook, and have water. Plenty of room for my dehydrated foods and cases of water best of all a place I can lay my head to sleep.

Kinda a mobile safe house

Quote:Thank you for having a great site, it's good to know I'm not alone in planning.
CTK

Its for people like you that this site is here for and why we work so hard to keep it going. thanks for joining. please make sure to introduce yourself in the introduction forums so every body can say hi.