Bug out vehicles

Man, there is some really good material in this thread added with the hilarious....

A diesel vehicle is the better fuel option for many reasons. Several have been mentioned, but I would like to add/ recount to that list.

Diesel can be stored for a relatively infinite amount of time. In storage, it has only two flaws: water and sludge (caused by water) Keeping the storage tank full to the brim, in an environment that has the least possible temperature range, and possibly including a water sucking additive (or algae eating additive for the sludge) can cancel all this out while only adding a few pennies to the cost. Storage containers can be had for relatively cheap, as well.

As discussed, an EMP will probably have no effect on an older, mechanically injected vehicle. I know several of the companies that make civilian protection vehicles simply wrap their serious components in a Faraday type shield. It's not rocket science and, as others have pointed out, is sometimes accidentally made. (door locks, etc)

Diesel engines can run on nearly anything, barring alcohol and gasoline. Cold weather is your enemy, but there are ways around this, too. (including a gasoline mixture of less than 10%) Some of these options will incur a temporary loss of power, but you'll still be able to get around, if no other factor affects your vehicle.

Their are several makers of diesel bikes and many retrofitters around. A dual sport diesel would make great sense.

A bicycle would be the quietest solution, a horse would be the second. Both have their advantages/ disadvantages regarding maneuverability as well as other factors.

To me, a 4wd diesel van with an elevated rack for a dual sport diesel bike complete with a couple bicycles on a roof rack would seem supreme - keep a bed in the back so you're always ready to go and not directly exposed to the elements. You can store extra fuel up top or within the vehicle. (if it gets apocalyptic bad, theft of fuel will be of supreme importance) You can maintain relative privacy with no windows/ dark windows or curtains. Some of the newer engine alternatives through GM and others will feature the ability to cut down on cylinders to lessen fuel consumption.

ok power lock and windows on some older cars are just controlled by a basic switch and power by a dc motor, later cars will likely have "modules" that has electronic components in them that could be damaged unlike a regualr electric switch

My choice is a full sized cargo van and a trailer. If necessary you can haul a lot of stuff if it is packed carefully and you don't have to waste space with any more than two passengers. Might have to do a quick camo job on it.

Since the whole scenario is full of unknowns, I think a two prong approach to transportation is in order; bike and van. Barring nuclear accident or exchange, the best place to to stay at home until the dust settles. Get fuel. Buy as much food as possible and wait for a week to see what happens. If you are inclined to prepare for such things, a good sized generator would be quite useful. Nothing like some electricity to brighten the dark times. Make it small enough to haul however as it would be a much desired item.

Originally Posted by 22-rimfire

My choice is a full sized cargo van

You roll like this:

IF you need to bug out, there are some basic principles to keep in mind.
1) You won't be alone. Many others will thinking the same thing. Major roads will be clogged, fuel will be hard to come by.
2) Keep a low profile. With large groups of panicky people, it's best to look like you don't have anything they want.
3) Have a plan. Know where you want to go, what routes to follow, and alternate plans if roads are impassable.
4) The less you carry, the less you could lose. Remember the 'panicky people'? Expect to be robbed. Pre-positioning your supplies will allow you to be more agile and give you a lot more options, including hoofing it if necessary.

All told, our old Nissan pickup is our BOV. It's ugly, not a 4WD, and won't be loaded down, so it won't attract attention. The dogs in the bed will keep potential hitch-hikers away. But it has relatively high ground clearance and pretty good off-road performance for getting around roadblocks. A come-along and rope behind the seats is a whole lot less obvious than a powered winch, and almost as effective.

My partner is sellin his BOV you can see it at halfmilliondollarhummer.com the site needs some work