How would you design a...

[MrRiplEy[H]]

Fuel will quickly become very scarce. What good is extra hauling power and protection if you're forced to leave the vehicle half-way to your destination?

You fool! Haven't you watched Mad Max? Everyones going to speed in gas guzzling V8s, burning 10 gallons for every 5 gallons obtained by highway murder.

[rpm]

[GScholz]

Has it got a cranking handle? 

Electronics =/= electrics.

[GScholz]

You fool! Haven't you watched Mad Max? Everyones going to speed in gas guzzling V8s, burning 10 gallons for every 5 gallons obtained by highway murder.

 

[smoe]

Instead of a car everyone wants to have, better to have a car no one would want in a survival type situation:

[Tank-Ace]

Honestly, a light aircraft with a door gunner would be invaluable. Nobody really has the wherewithal and equipment to bring down an aircraft, and its so useful. Something Storch-like would be ideal.


However fuel is the issue. Realistically, you're only going to be able to stockpile and keep secure enough fuel for a few months of operation. Large stockpiles are just too vulnerable to theft/explosives.

Thus my thinking; I'll just steal what I need.

[GScholz]

So often overlooked is the fact that most fuels have a limited shelf life; it's perishable. The cheap crap we put in our cars will turn into vaseline in a matter of weeks. After a few months all fuel stockpiles will be useless for anything other than making candles. Aviation fuel is more stable, but that too will perish eventually. Alcohol will be the best fuel in the long run I think.

[rpm]

Bio-diesel. FTW

[Widewing]

Our Jeeps should suffice.....

[jeep00]

Our Jeeps should suffice.....

(Image removed from quote.)

As a TJ owner I can say the vehicle is more than up to the task but you won't be able to pack much more than a box of Chiclets if (like me) you have a famy of four. And the fuel mileage ispoor at best, lift tires armor and recovery gear put me around 15 mpg when I ddon't go offroad.

Nice pic though, where is that? We don't have that kind of open space wheeling here, just tivht pinstripe trails. Natural bugout features though. For those that get into that thought process. I just like getting out where others can't\don't.

[eagl]

Lots of pictures of huge vehicles...  I think my first priority would be reliability and maintainability.  If the tire can't be changed by one person using hand-operated tools easily carried in the vehicle itself, then it's not a good choice for a personal survival vehicle IMHO.

I think I'd probably start along the lines of a heavy duty chebby Tahoe, upgraded suspension, 4wd, with whatever motor runs on the largest selection of fuels.  A flex fuel motor might be able to be run on a mix of gasoline and home-brewed alcohol, but post-apocalypse America might have a good supply of kerosene and diesel so it might be a good idea to have a diesel motor that could be swapped in.  So your survival vehicle would need a simple enough electrical system to allow a motor swap.  Better yet, gut the entire electrical system of the car and install dual hard-wired wiring harnesses to the motor so you completely eliminate all control modules and computers for the car.  Basically you take your SUV and gut it no different than you would a purpose-built race car, and re-do a very simple electrical system that can be repaired with wire and tape instead of expensive computer modules.

A basic utility truck chassis might be a great place to start.  Anything you can't fix yourself, and anything electrical that will disable the vehicle if it fails, needs to be removed and replaced with something simpler.  And you'll need a big bin full of any spare parts you can't make yourself, like fuel/oil/water pumps, injectors, spark plugs, etc.

[eagl]

Something to consider - if you expect it to run after an EMP, it better not have a single computer needed to run the motor and transmission.  Any decent sized EMP will pretty much melt anything with a coil in it, and burn out any electronics.  So you'll need to be able to repair/replace every electrical component from very basic parts.

[nrshida]

Electronics =/= electrics.

Thanks for your input Mr Witless. 

[ozrocker]

Maybe you could just sing your way outta trouble there, Rich





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[icepac]

Simple...........the toyota 4runner with diesel.

Depending on the year, you can probably find one that will still run after huge EMP but earlier is better in that case.

If you're really worried about EMP, you could get an earlier engine like the old mercedes 5 cylinder or nissan LD28 which requires no electronics but have to remember that EMP can take out even an alternator.

Maybe an international or rover with nissan LD28 conversion.