Let's just say, for the sake of not having to write a novel to explain, that my home location is not my ideal stronghold for long term security and/or survival. So if possible, a move early on would be the better choice if it were deemed safer at that time than remaining where I am. Sure, lot's of variables play a role in the decision to stay or bug out. But let's just say I needed to, and that decision was made in the infant hours of a SHTF event (where you just know things are going to go south in a hurry).
Me:
Currently at my home, we have
an '04 Nissan Xterra 2wd (wife's),
my '71 Chevy C10 p/u (restored),
an '05 F150 (my company truck),
an '85 3/4ton 4x4 suburban (being restored and customized now).
Assuming all of these are in great operating condition, and stay that way.
I am going off the deep end, so my wife says, with the suburban project. I am building it to be my hunting and fishing vehicle. It's not comletely finished at this time, but will be in very short order. While any one of these will get me and my family to a safe point within a range of around 250miles on one tank of fuel (some obviously much farther), they all, IMO, are not all well suited to the task. Well, some better than others. The Xterra is an obvious good choice. But experience vacationing with it tells me it's cargo room is fairly limited when coupled with passengers. not that I'm looking to make a wholesale "move" to the BOL, but likely needing to transport a good amount of gear and my family (3 of us total). It would get the most consideration of the newer vehicles. The '71 is only a single cab, as is my work truck, so while either of these would suffice for carrying lots of gear and supplies, neither are my primary choices due to said gear being exposed and passenger room being extremely limited. This leads back to my burb.
Sure, it's a much larger vehicle, giving it a huge potential for being a target, but the upside is gobs of interior room for any combination of people and goods. Much stronger/tougher vehicle than any other I own, with the possible exception of my '71. The best off-road capability of anything I presently have. With the exception of the 4wd drive components, the mechanical aspects of this vehicle are very basic and I am intimately familiar with them all, as opposed to the newer vehicles which are a complete freakin mystery under the hood. And even if familiarity is there, the overall practicality of working on a newer vehicle in a hurried situation is a nightmare. . Then there's the fact that my '71 has the same basic motor and trans package as my burb. So a quick strip of a few key parts (carb, distributor, etc) would yield me the ability to make some minor to major repairs in short order, should the need arise. I also keep a good stock of repair parts in my shop (emp scenario covered here), of which most are adaptable for either vehicle.
So, after writing y'all a novel, my choice is my "war wagon" (as we have affectionately named it), the Burb. It has everything that would make me comfortable in choosing a vehicle for such a task. Long(ish) range with it's 41 gallon fuel tank. Basic and reliable mechanical/electrical systems. More than adequate room for passengers and/or gear storage. The best off road capability. Hands down it is the most intimidating looking vehicle rolling down the road. And all that in a package that's physically no larger than any other full size pick-up, excepting the fact that it's lifted with oversize tires. And you bet, if i felt extremely confident or knew there would be no security risk involved in traveling, the wife's Xterra would be along as well. But it would get left in the dust in favor of the burb if such a decision had to be made.
