A lot of people like to talk about Bug Out Vehicles (BOVs) to get to some retreat or Bug Out Location (BOL) they have tucked away in some remote location. You don’t have to go very deep down this rabbit-hole to get into all of the “required” specs for a BOV; minimal electronic components in case of EMPs, 4-wheel drive (4WD) or not, etc. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to have a dedicated BOV that is set up for the “whatever” ahead. The reality though, is that most of the emergencies likely to befall the average person will be more like personal emergencies, i.e. home damage due to weather, family emergencies where we may need to get somewhere quickly, etc. In these cases, your everyday driver is your best resource. Besides, the vast majority of us are not in a position to have such locations to which we can flee the masses.
Before reading further, keep in mind that no matter what vehicle you have currently is the vehicle you will need to rely on. Whatever you drive, keep it in the best running condition you possibly can. Don’t let minor issues grow into major issues. Fix what can be fixed and make the most of it. Something is better than nothing, and that “something” will only serve you well if you take care of it.
Fortunately, I have, and hopefully will always have, a 4-wheel drive truck. The 4WD serves nicely when the need arises to go off-road for whatever reason. Sometimes this is for hunting. Other times it is used to pull other unlucky motorists out of an unfortunate circumstance. Either way, the additional cost of a 4WD is one that I consider to be a valuable expense with even higher value in preparedness. Keep in mind, having a 4WD vehicle with street, and even highway tires, is not as useful. I’m no tire expert. I have had a few different vehicles in my life, cars, trucks (2WD and 4WD), and SUVs. I can tell you from personal experience, street and highway tires offer very little assistance when trying to get a vehicle out of any terrain that requires the traction that even an All-Terrain tires offer. Rarely have I ever needed a true off-road/mud-grip tire on a vehicle. In my humble opinion, these are for ATVs and dedicated off-road vehicles.
Although there are cars that offer 4WD, I don’t find the storage space to be nearly adequate. This is especially apparent when factoring in having other passengers in the vehicle. Space for gear storage is quite limited. SUVs are on par with trucks. The only real downfall is that SUVs can’t carry many of the large-sized items that a truck can carry. However, SUVs do offer much more weather protection for the cargo inside. Trucks can be fitted with bed covers, toolboxes, camper shells, etc. but it’s just not the same as the weather protection offered by an SUV. If possible, if you are in a multi-vehicle family, you could have one truck and one SUV. Then, you’d have the best of both worlds. Also, you’d have two vehicles to use if the need arose.
Since I prefer trucks, my focus will remain on them. The toolbox on my truck serves very well and keeps a great deal of dust and debris out. If you choose to equip your truck with a toolbox, please get one that’s quality. They cost more, but you really do get what you pay for. My truck toolbox took mere minutes to install. It locks and two keys were included. Most of the supplies I keep in my truck fit nicely in the toolbox, with room to spare.
It is necessary to have a supply of items that will get you through most vehicle related issues. I keep a set of jumper-cables, several zip-ties, a roll of Gorilla tape (duct-tape only better), and a roll of shop towels tucked away in a storage bin inside the toolbox. If my truck needed the occasional oil top-off, I would keep a couple of quarts in there as well. Luckily, my truck is in seemingly perfect running condition so that’s not a current concern. Also in the toolbox, I keep a set of basic tools; i.e. flat- and Phillips-head screw driver, pliers, measuring tape, and a set of wrenches. Those few tools will tend to most of the issues that I can foresee, anything issues that need more than those tools are issues that I am not suited to fix myself anyway. After stowing the aforementioned tools and sundries, I had enough space for one large, heavy-duty ratchet strap and another heavy-duty tow-strap.
In the interior of the truck cab, I keep a large Coast flashlight, an umbrella, fixed-blade knife, and multi-tool. Basically, as I have had need of a tool when in my vehicle, I have added some form of that tool to my vehicle load-out. If I’ve needed it once, I’ll likely need it again.
As for vehicle maintenance, keep your vehicle serviced regularly. Tend to the things quickly that crop up from time-to-time and try not to let the little repairs go untended. Little issues with a vehicle turn into big issues. A little bit of money now can save a lot of money down the road.
If you find yourself in a situation that you need your vehicle to survive, you will want it in the best condition possible.
Don’t just prepare, prepare to thrive.
