Thoughts on 'Survival trucks'

[Almtnman]

Maybe that's why I keep holding onto a 1994 Ford Ranger with 4cyl and stick shift and a camper shell on back. I think it may be my best bet for a survival truck. 

[Badnews Bob]

I have to ask why anybody would get some sort of exotic off the wall vehicle to use in a 'survival' situation?  Common sense tells us there will be no repairs, no dealer parts, and no source of used parts.  Wouldn't a simple no frills stick shift used small truck, with a shell or cap, or small SUV be much more practical?  In a true survival situation something like a bicycle, small off road motorcycle or ATV , with tent, sleeping bags, and backpacking sort of equipment, be much more affordable and practical and low profile?

Let's define what we mean by 'survival', and we will be able to better define how to achieve it.

That is what I am going to build, Nothing exotic about it, going with a tractor eng is much simpler than a factory eng and will run on poor fuels that a gas eng won't. Not all survival senarios involve total melt down and I am not looking to build one for such a meltdown. I expect if something happens during my lifetime it will be more of a cival war type thing.  And to us as a toy/hunting truck before the world falls apart

[pourboy]

The neatest "survival" truck I ever heard of was an older (70s) f-150 4X4 that was converted to gun on alcohol. The trucks owner ran a couple of stills in the boonies, down south & ran it off corn squeezin's.

[2zuks]

Toyota's are great. They are bulletproof. They get reasonable gas mileage. They are easy to work on, and parts are everywhere. Toyota overbuilt the axles and transfer case for the power that the 4 cylinder puts out. They will actually hold up pretty well to a mild 350 with big tires. I have done that too. LOL. They are simple to work on, and the early 79-83 trucks don't have much for electronics. With 35's, lockers, and 5.29 gears, they will go pretty much anywhere without any problems at all. Super Swamper tsl/sx bias ply tires give excellent grip in pretty much any conditions and they are tough enough that you can't hardly get a flat.

A friend of mine built a pretty cool rig. He took a suzuki samurai and built an adapter for a vw diesel motor. He then adapted a turbo off of a Mitsubishi Eclipse onto it. The thing has good power, it is very reliable, and get's great gas mileage!

[WD45]

After thinking some more on this mostly on truck size. Advantages and disadvantages between full size trucks and smaller stuff. Whats more important. Fuel mileage or cargo capacity. Larger, more rugged components or manuverability ? SUV with trailer or extended cab truck with or without a trailer? You get the picture

[Almtnman]

My thoughts if I had to build a survival truck would be at least a diesel 3/4 ton size, maybe with double cab and replace the diesel engine with a Kubota industrial diesel engine with no electronics. The reason for using a diesel engine is that diesel fuel will be stable for at least 10 years without going bad and gas will only be stable for about 2 years. I would also make sure that I had a few drums of diesel fuel stored in case fuel was hard to obtain later. I would think that cargo capacity would be better served than fuel mileage. If you towed a trailer, there might be areas that you couldn't traverse with it whereas with just a single vehicle it might get around roadblocks easier. In case the SHTF, what are some thoughts pertaining to roadblocks if you were trying to get to your safe place? Roadblocks wouldn't necessarily be government operated, but attempts by people that had not prepared sufficiently at stopping you to get your stuff or damages to infrastructure. One other thing to keep in mind would be if you had family members traveling with another vehicle with you. You might want to equip both vehicles with a SB CB radio for communication. That way you would be able to use the upper or lower sidebands and not have any regular CB radio traffic cutting into your communication. A good set of maps with all through side roads marked would also be good to keep handy in case you had to travel the backroads to get to your new location. And as ShadowMover mentioned, you might want to stay away from an automatic transmission in case the battery went out and you had to start it by pushing it downhill or with another vehicle.

Take for instance, I was once way back in the boondocks hunting. I came back to my truck very late in the day and the battery had died on me. Fortunately for me, I was parked on a small grade and was able to push my truck just enough to get it rolling, jumped in, put it in gear, released the clutch and I was headed home then. Next day I bought a new battery and was thankful that I didn't have to spend a cold night way back there.

[teamnelson]

Revisiting biodiesel/cooking oil ... buddy of mine runs his truck on both, which makes sense to me for the long haul. If you've got access to a store of diesel for a bit, you've got time to get the crops going, and get your still set up to make your own biodiesel. Around here there are plenty of asian restaraunts that you could scavenge used cooking oil from, strain it through a cloth and keep some spare fuel filters handy ... which raises another thought.

I had a 64 pontiac that the original owner had put a secondary oil filter on that used a TP roll. Wondering if you could do something similar on a fuel line to improve the life of your fuel filter when running bio through?

[WD45]

If memory serves me right then I believe there are a couple of add on type filters for the veggy oil conversions / BIO diesel. I believe most people rely on filtration prior to putting it in the vehicle though, espesially for WVO

[Badnews Bob]

I have had a lot of offroad vehicals over the years and this is my personal take on them.

Rail Buggies, PROs Go like hell super fun to drive very comfortable ride will almost go anywhere Lotsa places a truck can't go easy to work on.
                 CONs getting harder to find parts for and price is going up, limited storage spaces, no weather protection, don't go well in deep mud.


Small trucks  Pros- toyotas are damn near bullit proof, go almost anywhere, better storage than a buggie, closed cab for foul weather, lotsa parts and can be made into a diesel easy, don't attract much attention. decent fuel mileage.
                  Cons- Ride like a jolt wagon, kinda pricey unless your a scrounger, not much power unless you modify them(not always a bad thing)

Full size or SUV- Pros- Plenty of storage more so in the cab plenty of power, can be had very cheap. easy to find most parts, can be used as a shelter also, diesels are abundant.
                       Cons- To big to get back into some of the ruff country I am going into, no fuel mileage, newer one are way to complicated older one are wearing out, More prone to breaking on trails because of size and power.( there two best assets)

My choice is gonna be the Toy because of the size mostly they will fit places a fullsize won't and will carry all I 'll need them to, getting rid of the gas motor should increase mileage and low end power and fuel should be easier to come by which is what I feel I'll need where I plan on running to if that time comes.  Just MHO.

[WD45]

I don't know about the fuel mileage issue. From my experience with the gas engines and smaller 4x4 trucks is they don't generally get much better than my full size truck expecially when you load them down. I wore out 3 clutches in an S10 trying to use it like a full size truck and was only getting about 17 MPG empty. I got rid of that and bought a F150 4X4 5 speed V8 and got about 17 MPG. The toys are a lot tougher but I know 2 people right now that are not getting any more than about 18 MPG and one person that is using one as a work truck with a pretty good load on it most of the time is not getting but about 14. That one is a 4 banger and with a load has a hard time doing 55 up a hill without a good tail wind   

[Badnews Bob]

Just driving it around not working it my 85 Toy 4x4, 4banger, 5 speed gets 26 MPG. The best my Ford 150 ever got was maybe 15 or 16 the last Bronco I had did good to knock down 12 or 14 mpg.It would pull like crazy thou.
But that is unloaded with a working load on it the Ford didn't change much but the Toy dropped a lot, However, That's in a normal world.
In a SHTF type of situation I won't be carrying that type of load and I will be off the road much more, That is where the Toy will show its value,  I have a Chevy 3/4 ton right now also, very stout hard working truck (10 or 11 mpg ) but if things get bad it is staying parked and I am getting out of town in my Toyota.

BTW if I get the diesel motor worked out mileage will go up in the Toy as will low end power but top end speed will prolly suffer which isn't a problem in the woods.

[WD45]

Glad you are getting that good with your toy Bob. If I had to bug out I would be takeing as much as I could possibly take with me for survival so why wouldn't you have a pretty good load on your truck. I understand if there is litteraly no time and its drop what you are doing and head for the hills but to me we are talking about something that will carry you and enough survival gear, food, clothing and weapons to actually live for a period of time more like the chuck wagon on a cattle drive. I have a small boxwood stove that could easily be bolted into the back of a truck and only weighs about 90 lbs. That and a 55 gal drum of fresh water in the back of your truck would put you in a far better position than most people. I think if I had to bug out at the drop of a hat as in run or die it would be on the back of a horse and have the ability to go places not even your toy truck could go and not give a hoot about gas mileage. Thinking about the stove. They do make small light sheetmetal camp / tent stoves and some I believe break down for transport. Might be worth checking into. Maybe I am totally off base ... maybe not .. good conversation though what ever you think

[Almtnman]

My way of thinking is that any truck I bugged out with would have a hefty load, guns, ammo, water, gas or diesel fuel and plenty of it because there might not be any place to get it. During the hurricanes, people were stranded on the Interstates when they run out of fuel and there wasn't any place to buy any. Camping gear, sleeping bags, tent, food, family members etc. The load could get pretty heavy to carry what you needed to keep a family going for a good while.

[WD45]

Well thats kinda what I was thinking too

[Badnews Bob]

Most of what I'll be taking really won't be all that heavy. fuel will be the heaviest by far. guns and ammo makeing supplies next. I live right on the edge of the KY mountains and that is where I'll be holed up. Freash water is readily available as is food. I also have some stashes already in place and I won't be alone, I have several family members who think this way. I know a place near here you prolly won't want to show at if you don't have good intentions.

Light stuff works well also, I have a mid size alice pack and I can get enuff gear in it to live for about a month with just a little forageing. The stuff I can get on my truck will prolly last a year with out having to restock much. At least I hope I am that well prepared. I certainly don't know it all And can only hope I am right. I'll be betting my life on it so the stakes are high. Also fellas this is just my plan and what I've come up with watching and talking with others That I feel is worth sharing. Iread everyones take on this with an open mind.

I think that changeing your thoughts on how you will be traveling is a key. I will not be driving down the inerstates in this truck. I will be useing old logging roads or makeing my own at 5 or 10 mph in back hill country, a smaller truck can get in between and around things better than a big one.  Just my take on it fellas not carved in stone.

Remember to in Dons start of this his buddy uses a small jury rigged truck and spends months at a time in the bush with very little support.

[WD45]

Bob, your situation is different than most. You have a specific place with a known fresh water source which is a priorty to me. Most people will not have this advantage and unfortunately way to many people assume creeks and streams are safe to drink from and end up sick as a dog. What will easily work for some people could be someone elses nightmare. I think we have to look at it in the way that if we really do have to bug out then there very well may be no coming back or the ability to restock anything. You must have quit a stash to feed your family for an entire year.
On the note of Dons buddy. He may have spent extended periods in the bush ( it never snows in the congo or gets below zero ) in a small vehicle But he also drug a 3 ton trailer along with him with supplies with the ability to eventually get to a place he could restock.

[Badnews Bob]

You are absolutly right, Situation your in is a key phrase here, I consider myself to be in a good one. South east Kentucky is a mecca for survival types, I guess you could say Its user friendly.  My stashes aren't really that big and are mainly just for me,(I don't have a wife or children) However if I do hole up with my cousins and there kin I will share with them. They have about 150 acre farm off a river that is hard to approach without being seen. They have cattle there and vegtable garden with a few fruit trees, fish in the river and deer, rabbits, squirrel ,turkeys, lots of other birds, Almost all of have prior military service, and know how to use our weapons.

If ya show up and approach us openly ya might just be welcome to join us. I think anyone who pulls there own wieght would be welcome. It will require work.

That trailer was kinda my point he  was able to move over three tons of stuff around with that small truck.  I'll have a trailer behind mine but it won't be hualing three tons.

[SHOOTALL]

look at what they do in Cuba .

[reno2507]

If it is a MAJOR scenario you are way better off on that 150 acre farm, stocking and securing it (recruit additional security if need be), then trying to move anywhere. Many people fantasize about hitting the hills, shooting/ snaring game, and living off the land (some delusionally thinking with just an altoid can of supplies ...). If there is a major catastrophe food will get scarce QUICK. Most sheeple will think they are starving if they don't eat for half a day. First the stores, then the homes and domestic animals, then you will have potentially 1000's of outdoors people and wannabe Rambos hitting the hills..AR-15 variations have sold in record numbers (tens or even hundreds of thousands). Do you believe all the new owners have the best of intentions, and prepared themselves in the other necessary ways? Here is the scenario I see as more likely, if you decide to bug-out with a vehicle, camp trailer etc.....
You exit your survival camper carrying the survival weapon of your choice , walk around your trick bio-diesel ride, and you get a couple .223 (or pick any rifle caliber) in your chest at 300 yards. A few scumbags got together and figured out where to get supplies a lot easier than snaring...From you. They watched your site for a couple days, monitored you and your families movements, and take you out...How could they possible find you? Did you shoot at any game? Burn any fire in that cool folding tent stove? Drive with a combustion engine? A true survivor must think how the masses will try to survive, to form your survival strategy.
Not trying to ruin this thread, but if you think you can peacefully drive anywhere after a major catastrophe (especially after a few days), you better be bullet-proof
After the altoids can, I get the biggest chuckle at the people with the military looking backpacks. Again, think like a bad guy. I see a military looking pack, and I see a pack that is probably stocked with top notch supplies and weapons. Snipe the carrier, take the supplies I want/ need, and wait for my next supplier of food and supplies...Stop thinking with your morals and values, and start thinking with the lack of somebody elses...

[Rex in OTZ]

The survival threads useally go like this. guy's posting some million dollar piece of military hardware nobody will ever be able to afford, the second is the show off's with ther weekend boonie ride all tricked out with big tire's ,winches, lights and all sorts of bolt on stuff all very neat and time consumeing and not to mention expensive, the other crowd is the guy's with motorbikes & ATV's

I look at these vehicles as a potential source of supplies, like a walmart on wheels.
a shot to the radiator will render most un-useable.
Ive studied the Balkan conflict,.................. guess what happened to all the neat-o vehicles?
 they were either blasted or ended up being sold off on the black market by the guy's running the road blocks/check points/ambush sights,

[45-70.gov]

my  ford f-350   

holds lots of deisel  .....2 tanks

dually  so  back spare  is ready mounted

lots  of room  to  camp  in

will hold all  my guns  and ammo  and  water

walk-in utility bed

[reno2507]

Rex in OTZ- I honestly think you spend more time surviving than just in an armchair...However, you are being more generous than the average starving person, by just shooting the radiator...Yeah, a "Walmart on wheels" is a good way to look at it, but may wind up with a nicer rig than sold at Walmart (AR, AK, M14...whatever the now dead guy thought was "the ideal survival rifle")...

[SHOOTALL]

On a 150 ac farm a couple mules and a wagon and couple saddles might be best .

[Badnews Bob]

On a 150 ac farm a couple mules and a wagon and couple saddles might be best .

That's already there too,  I also don't believe there will be a total collapse like several people have mentioned, Harsh time's yep, Cival discord, yep. But not total shutdown.

If you are a christian and have studied the book and prepared yourself..... You won't be here when it gets that bad.

So I am preparing for bad times not the worse ones because I've already prepared for that. And won't have to carry a single thing with me.

[SHOOTALL]

BNB , great point

[Rex in OTZ]

Reno2507 that is all part and parcil of the process
less fuss and muss thata way ya know?

Kinda reminds me of the Japanese saying...............The nail that sticks out gets pounded.



 

[Yankee1]

Hi All
    After reading all the posts I will comment on the four cylinder Toyota engines front crankshaft seal.  Dusty roads eat that seal up like sandpaper. When that happens you lose your engine oil very fast.
It is not too bad to change but they won't last long in dusty conditions.
Great vehicle but that is its weak point.
                                            Yankee1

[SHOOTALL]

Maybe something built to ( old jeep ) or converted to run on a contintenal red seal motor might be best . Welding machines still have them as do other gas powered equipment . I once saw a 1/4 inch nut ( for the air filter housing ) dropped in the carb while one was running . It came out the exhust and the engine never missed a beat .

[45-70.gov]

will  electro magnetic  pulse  from  a nuclear  attack

stop  you trucks  cumputer???

you  need a truck  wit  points........and  old  truck

[just  a word  of warning  to  the extreemly paranoid]

[Graybeard]

When the nukes start exploding that close to you then you've got a hell of a lot more problems to worry about than the points on your truck.