Preper & Survivalist Vehicles

[Libertas7]

I feel kind of dumb for not thinking of that...

 

[CamoDeafie]

I feel kind of dumb for not thinking of that...

haha its alright. Its also why we don't yet have successful mono-track vehicles

 

[Ura-Ki]

Actually there are several very distinct advantages to the quad track set up, Articulation is a major one, simple automotive running gear as both axles are essentially 1 ton pick up axles, light weight, they don't have complex drive systems and or hydro's which add complexity and weight, and they can be set up with steering at both ends (mine has this) It's why Tucker Sno-Cats have been so popular for so long! They can go pretty much any where even if there isn't snow, and they are very simple to work on and repair. I can go to just about any parts house in North America and get parts for this, and Tucker still makes and sells parts direct! Bonus is they are still made in Medford Oregon!

 

[HuckleberryFun]

An M1 Abrams MBT with four tracks might handle like a sports car but look kinda silly, I think.

 

[Ura-Ki]

Another thing, These Tuckers do not skid steer, so they are less likely to chew stuff up including there tracks. Skid steer will turn much sharper, but requires a complex drive set up!

 

[notazombie]

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These are capable of over 100mpg (probably quite a bit less with a loaded trailer or 2-up) and can go pretty much anywhere. If the going gets tough, ditch the trailer and keep going. I'd bet you could get from Portland to Boise without a fuel stop and not get impeded by major traffic issues. In a Mad Max total apocalypse situation it would only be useful as long as there is fuel to feed it. Obviously they aren't immune to bridge issues that would be EVERYBODY'S problem in a major earthquake.

 

[Libertas7]

Actually there are several very distinct advantages to the quad track set up, Articulation is a major one, simple automotive running gear as both axles are essentially 1 ton pick up axles, light weight, they don't have complex drive systems and or hydro's which add complexity and weight, and they can be set up with steering at both ends (mine has this) It's why Tucker Sno-Cats have been so popular for so long! They can go pretty much any where even if there isn't snow, and they are very simple to work on and repair. I can go to just about any parts house in North America and get parts for this, and Tucker still makes and sells parts direct! Bonus is they are still made in Medford Oregon!

How does the steering work if it's on both ends? Does it turn the same way as the front, or the other way? Is it always engaged, or can you turn it on and off? I thought that if a track derailed it would be harder to work on then wheels, but I guess those sno-cats are easier to jack up then a bulldozer.

 

[Camelfilter]

View attachment 339663
These are capable of over 100mpg (probably quite a bit less with a loaded trailer or 2-up) and can go pretty much anywhere. If the going gets tough, ditch the trailer and keep going. I'd bet you could get from Portland to Boise without a fuel stop and not get impeded by major traffic issues. In a Mad Max total apocalypse situation it would only be useful as long as there is fuel to feed it. Obviously they aren't immune to bridge issues that would be EVERYBODY'S problem in a major earthquake.

This! Immediately "after". Before crazies & gangs setup there "crazylands".

For motos after WROL and you have fuel access, one of those Rokon Trailblazer 2WD trailbikes & a trailer. Trailbreak your own way, use hiking paths etc, but you won't need to use traditional roads to get to "town" if you need/want to. A crafty mechanic might be able to figure out a way to make it really quiet as well.

 

[Camelfilter]

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That'd actually be a great idea. Although expensive, it's reasonably priced. So it's probably a scam.

Would be handy for McMansion folk with a bug out location, if they could get moving before too long, and ROL law was sketchy but not yet WROL.

Would be super as a farm/homestead/co-op rapid response security truck though. You'd need a few spare engines and such, plus the means & skill to replace them though...a "skilled" "bad guy" would focus firepower on its engine.

 

[Libertas7]

A crafty mechanic might be able to figure out a way to make it really quiet as well.

That would probably be really important.

 

[Ura-Ki]

Here is a really good video of a Tucker showing off how the steering and suspension works!

 

[CamoDeafie]

Tracked civilian or light vehicles have had long history... these just Jeeps though but you could find similar ideas from every era or time period.

 

[CamoDeafie]

The Star Wars nerd in me want see someone build this like the Jawa Sandcrawler another quad track vehicle but larger...Canadian I think.

 

[Ura-Ki]

Given enough creativity and time, any thing is possible!

 

[CountryGent]

Seems nobody here has watched Mad Max...

Indeed. And on that note, who doesn't like a gyrocopter?

 

[Brutus57]

Ford F-100 4x4 1963-67 292 V-8, lotsa torque, easy to work on, lots of spares all over the country. Or the armored vehicle they had in Paradise Alley.....

Brutus Out

 

[AMProducts]

Ford F-100 4x4 1963-67 292 V-8, lotsa torque, easy to work on, lots of spares all over the country. Or the armored vehicle they had in Paradise Alley.....

Brutus Out

I think you mean "Damnation Alley" unless you consider being eaten by giant cockroaches and dodging radscorpions "Paradise". Besides, what's so rad about radscorpions?

Anyways, back to topic. In general, I consider the idea of getting ancient military tracked and specialist vehicles to be a lot of fiction, if you can find these, they're expensive, and usually come with a whole host of problems you never imagined, all of which require more money or more time than you have available. I've known a lot of people who are into military vehicle collecting, including a guy who has a number of tanks he rents out to the movies. All of them require a lot of maintenance, and are if nothing else, leave a lot to be desired in terms of fuel efficiency.

Military vehicles are largely designed to stay within the framework of a logistical train, that is, no need to carry all the gas, grass, and grub you'll need, a line of trucks is following you up with spare parts, mechanics, ammo, etc.

Depending on your environment, large wheeled expeditionary type vehicles may be a better choice. They probably come with a similar pricetag, but have a lighter footprint, are more reliable, and are way more fuel efficient, they're also designed to carry the food, water, and other things you actually need.

Over-all, I think this thread has done a pretty good job of pointing out the over-all fiction that a lot of BOV type threads have descended to over the years. Including people taking the time to do complex google sketchups of fantasy military vehicles. It's just shy of being furry porn with the level of fantasy involved.

Bikes definitely top out my list as a "must" in terms of SHTF, I bought a bike about a year ago, and while I don't ride as much as I should, I'm getting better about it, and I ride it often enough to know when/if the tires are going flat and need more air. I did just put on a rear pannier rack, it's just a cheap mountain bike from walmart, it does have a front suspension system, but non of the fancy rear-nonsense. I also have a rear-rack for my jeep I set up to hold the bike, so in an actual BO situation, the bike is the last resort, and it's right there ready to go.

As most have pointed out already, once you give up the car/truck for anything else, the amount of stuff you can move drops by a lot. I totally realize the limitations of the car, and try to work around that, however from a long term perspective, a mountain bike is a much surer long term bet. The big advantage to the bike, it's quiet, you could ride down a sleepy residential street and no one unless they were looking would be any the wiser.

However, as long as we're on the topic, one thing I've been seeing a lot of lately are videos from the riots in Paris, where police vehicles that are stuck in traffic will be mobbed, the windows broken/kicked in, and then roadflares dropped into the car burning it out. Sure soft-skinned vehicles are pretty vulnerable to small arms, but they're also super vulnerable to fire. Putting stretch-steel over the windows might protect them a bit, however the underlying glass will probably be smashed eventually, and it might keep roadflares out, but won't do a bunch for molotov cocktails.

There are tactical developments happening all the time.