SHTF Rides
 

What kind of truck or car would you have in a SHTF scenerio. I'm talking about something everyday driver, good on fuel, easy to work on yourself(a big one), and something you can easily find parts for.

My Mitsubishi is one SOB to work on, so being able to fix stuff myself is very important.

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good on gas usually means fuel injected, which puts the easy-to-work-on factor out the door.

youre left with carbed 4 cylinders. Probably a 4wheel drive toyota pickup or a 83-87 ford ranger (pre fuel injected) with a camper shell. I have two 89 ford rangers, 4 wheel drive v6 and get 22 mpg. fuel injected though. the 4 cylinders are unbreakable. same with the 22r 4 cylinder in the 80's toyotas. I had an 83 carbed toyota with the 22r 4 cylinder and i tried to blow it up. it was too rock solid.

I like the ford rangers, they are really fun to drive and decent off-road.

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Awww man.
I thought this was gonna be a thread about some themepark ride with a survivalist motif!

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It's a very general question, but good mileage is always a good choice. If you'll have access to the grease, a diesel is a good choice too.

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Easy to work on, runs like a raped ape! Good for shittin and gittin!

http://www.post-ers.com/69chevelle396blacklarge.jpg

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No slouch either.

http://roadrebel.dk/plymouth-cuda-aar-1970c.jpg

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http://www.gjsentinel.com/shared-gen...amp-9-29-6.jpg

Unless you got a serious reserve of fuel, a car is going to be worthless if TSHTF.

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I got mine. She creeps over rocks and trails like a champ, and it out accelerates any of the 4cyl 4x4s. you got yours?

http://www.chircoestore.com/catalog/...?articles_id=2

http://img.myyearbook.com/zenhex/ima...19766/res1.jpg

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Danner Boots. spare pair of wool socks.
transport situation all covered.

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this might work...

http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data/50...icture-058.jpg

And you can bring your friends too...


http://www.sarich.com/translator/Afg...dune_buggy.JPG

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sedan chair borne by bare breasted nubian maidens. all terrain capable.

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Gonna need a pic on that one, brother.:wink:

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job service has the position posted, picture coming as soon as the interviews are complete.

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Horses have a pretty serious learning curve--not just the riding of, but the feeding and care too. A mule is a better choice, but still requires care.

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Then lay up fuel, the same as you do food. I'm laying up another 400 gallons of stabilised petrol at my BO place this weekend, in addition to the diesel there and the diesel at home - and I don't see myself driving too far too often once I get to my BO place. And I don't see any of you without a BO place driving too far too often if things REALLY go bad. Oh, don't forget 2-cycle oil if you have an outboard, etc. that needs it - it's a hell of a lot cheaper by the 5-gallon drum than those stupid little bottles.

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My ride can go completely off road and runs off water and 3000 calories a day. My range however is about 30-50 miles a day at 9-11 MPH depending on terrain. :D

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Tell us what you think TSHTF means and then we can talk about it. If it's a flood you want a boat. If it's an interruption of oil, it won't matter what you have 'cause you can't drive it. If it's a nation-wide riot, your car will get demolished, but maybe you can rebuild one from parts scattered in the streets. If TSHTF turns out to be a dust bowl, well, you figure it out.

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parts are cheap and readably available online, easy to work on,
the engines are bullet proof, and the body styling is timeless.
I have 3 Z's, you have to look for one with low rust
The fuel injected 280z will get about 27 mpg
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TQKhP4rqAK0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&fs=1"> </param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TQKhP4rqAK0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

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Best worst case scenario would mean plenty of fuel, but people can't afford it. Food would be scarce, so might want something I can haul stuff in- maybe stuff to bring for trade once in a blue moon. Of course I would be in BFE, so might have to stick with the 4x4 concept, but then again a car-especially with a bullet proof engine- would be decent too. Didn't know that about the Z.

VWs are supposed to be good too right? Like the bug a few posts back, but heard that the engines are throw aways. Is it difficult to get a new one? Don't really know much about them- before my time. :D

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Anything that can be operated on bio-diesel. You would learn to brew your own from weeds like switch grass or whatever is available in the area.

In the SHTF scenario I am thinking of, oil, will still be available but very expensive.

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Wouldn't you need a very large grow to produce enough?

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I'll stick with my '72 for now but I really need to do something about my fuel efficiency. Let's see, 15 runs of a 1/4 mile on about 10 gallons of gas... hrmmm... I think that's less than half a mile per gallon. I might be running it a bit rich.

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You can buy a "brand new" rebuilt engine for $700 over here (UK).
Of course it only has 34hp, but it runs on the road and sips the juice if you tune it right.
I have loads of fuel, petrol and diesel, so I don't care - in fact my main battery charger at the minute is a Mercedes 250D parked in a forest (an island, so it can't be stolen!), with welding cables leading to the battery bank.
I can leave it a year, and it starts up within 5 seconds. And runs on anything - old engine oil, used veggie oil, turps, whatever. I just keep a supply of fuel filters on hand. 90 Amp output should be enough to keep you charged up.
There is actually a tree growing through th back seat - but hey, it's the back seat, I'm not going to drive it anywhere - I had it brought here on a cattle barge!

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Z's for me. I got two viable cars running nissan vg engines. They are bullet proof, plenty of junkstocks around, and they transplant into many other cars. I have a spare of basically everything in my garage (and hi-po) and I can cannibalize my own cars to keep one running if necessary. I wish I had kept the 280, but it was rusting away.

Depending on the situation, a bugout will be impossible to begin with. If it's not to the point that it is impossible, there is no point doing it unless you have advanced warning and you have a spot. I know I am not that prepared by far.

A decent 4* truck, some tools, fuel tank or two, extra parts, and all your must have stuff, plus guns and ammo, just to get stuck in traffic or robbed at a military checkpoint? Not sure.

Add a couple enduro motorbikes on a trailer with some mods and you might get around the traffic, but probably not the checkpoints. If you avoid the checkpoints and go over peoples private property you will eventualy get to meet them. They might not be happy about you clipping up their fence and running your bike through their farm.

I would still say, if you must bug out, bring the bikes or the horses. You will need them and more. And you are probably still screwed. Depends on the "disaster"

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Oh and carby vehicles are far preferred, which shuts out all my cars. If there is a nuke or an emp attack (or solar wind), you won't be able to get anything that's fuel inj or has a computer to run anyway. It's a real good plus for the folks running classic cars on points ignitions with fully manual carbies. That HEI ignition upgrade you did to your 68 camaro, just fried your car and you can't use it anymore.

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Looks similar to a Ferret.

I've sat inside one of these as a kid:

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I see your 72 Nova is in the mid 12's. Watch out for the little white mini creeping about.

I've got it into the low 13's and have big plans this winter. 11's are possible. :O

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...cture163-1.jpg

Like my Mickey Thompsons? --made for a JR. Dragster. LOL. :D

PS: ain't no A-series under my hood. :D :D

Sleeeeeeeper...

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What a great motor the LT1 350 is/was! A hot solid cam and you could run her at 10,000 rpm's. Sweet sounding too!
I'm still a big block fan though.

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"Best case" or "worst case" does not apply. You can only prepare for a specific case.

The good news is that a cultural collapse usually drags on for many years or decades so you will have plenty of time to figure out what you need and go find one. If you are thinking in terms of natural disasters, riots, or invasions, well, you are on your own. Those things are rather unpredictable.

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http://www.funnycoolstuff.com/images/cute-balloons.jpg


Quiet... at night, you would be hard to spot. This just might be a good SHTF vehicle.

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Give me a break... everyone knows what the #1 SHTF ride is:


http://www.madmaxmovies.com/cars/int...ceptorSide.jpg


http://www.madmaxmovies.com/cars/int...ceptorSide.jpg

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can't believe nobody posted this yet

http://www.autocult.com.au/img/gallery/RNEM734J.jpg

EDIT: Holy crap, good timing techguy. I had already started my post

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motorcycles.

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Nice.
I run a 383 small block low compression. I can run regular pump gas on the street and typically mix 106 and 93 for the track. This season has been a bust. My "home" track has been flooded up until the end of July and money has been to tight since then. I may be moving into a different car and motor and race in the pro class. The Nova has stayed in the sportsman class and may retire to street use.

I miss the track...

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I actually run the Chevy zz383 crate motor in this car. High torque, low rpm (shifting at 6100rpm). It's been a great motor and will run forever with the shift points. I hope to be in a big block by the end of the season. My dad is retiring and we can hardly let his car sit.

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I have a vintage 1985 Toyota 4x4 eXtra Cab with relatively low miles I'm the original owner. I've been having E10 fuel issue with it and have been forced to pay a premium on 100% gas at over $0.30 extra per gallon so it runs properly.

Anyhow . . . I think we are missing the point here . . . unless you have huge fuel stores in your hideout deep in the boonies you are toast much past 4-8 weeks of post SHTF scenario.

I'm planning on looking into a recumbent bike or trike due to the energy calorie efficiency of energy spent. I have a regular bicycle and kids trailer that can haul quite bit of cargo however I expect any decent serviceable recumbent trike or bike will be great candidate for being hi-jacked post SHTF.

Have gun will travel :wink:

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As noted--only carb vehicles are really easy to work on, and there's not a lot of them left in the US these days.

Also--common sense says that a big engine is a no-go. Not only because of fuel economy, but also the theft risk.

My vote would be the VW microbus or beetle, just because of the carb/air-cooled engines. I don't know how easy it is to get parts these days however.

I have seen that carburetor vehicles that aren't totally rusted out are still very much in demand in Mexico.

-----

I know that diesel engines are typically built pretty durable, but they can be bothersome to work on and I also doubt that things will ever get to the point that making your own bio-diesel will be practical.

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Outer limits: the motorized bicycle I have is pretty simple mechanically, and gets 200 mpg to boot. Only carries one and goes 27 mph tho'.

Even further: a non-motorized bicycle is even more mechanically sound--none of my bicycles has ever broke and cost me $1000 to fix. The most common breakdown is.... flat tires. Upright bikes hurt to ride, but a recumbent bike makes ~20 mile commutes easily possible for most people and places.

If you live close enough to your job that you can ride a bicycle, you can make some major financial savings. I live <2 miles from my job and frequently do (if the weather's nice). Back when gas was around $4/gal, there were people where I work spending $50+ a week for gas, to drive to a job that paid less than $300/week in some cases.

-end-

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I am going to mention this as a point of interest next time I go to a meeting of the Nova Scotia Jeep Club.Though, luckily, I am not nubian, nor a maiden, nor most certainly, am I volunteering! Not MY idea of off road!:D

What a great thread! Only on GIM!!!

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This one just HAS to win. Over the Landie, the Jeep,the Baja bugs, the GTO, the Batmobile, the Mini, and even the nubian sedan chair.

The light sports tank. Vehicle of the future.

Or if not that one, the horse!

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.................................................. .

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Well, that would hardly be bothering those nubian maidens, would it?

They would still be rock crawling. So long as they had their knee pads on.:wink:

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Love your car. My mini gets 32 mpg, has a fifth gear (minis usually don't), goes 0-60 in a hair under five seconds and will currently pull low-mid 13's much to the horror of local teenagers (Dude, you got beat by a mini...). Weighs 1400 lbs. Ladies ooh and ahhh and sometimes ovulate. Powered by a healthy honda vtec but I tell people it's powered by hamsters. Runs on premium pump gas and I hope to forcefeed it this winter. Fwiw.

Nice article on vtec minis: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...specialty_file

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Think I may have found something worth while- like that the body comes off completely. Would make repairs easy I would think.

An enduro is also a possible need. If all goes as planned riding a bicycle anywhere would be a long travel- not to keen on being near anyone at all when things get messy.

http://rqriley.com/xr3.htm

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Their empires' coin will cease to bring them their childish desires ...

Soon, the fools will forget their play things.

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Yes. You will only drive with whatever resources you've got.

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If TS ever HTF in a very bad way, I think the only long distances I'll be driving will be to my BO place, which is 120 miles away. Get there, get safe, get prepared, get set up, and you are ready. You don't need to do the morning commute anymore.