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Best Survival Vehicle?

I currently have:
1. '88 Acura Legend (not really survival)
2. Haro Escape A7.4 mountain bike
3. My feet (I like that one) with a compass/map

I'd like to have:
1. LandCrusier
2. 4Runner
 
Hi folks!

I'm new here. Mr. Brian Jones got me into this mess. This is a fun thread, so I thought I'd post here...

A couple of people in this thread have said good things about Willys jeeps. For a couple of years I have been thinking of trying to buy a friend's 1953 M38A1 (apparently the military predecessor to the CJ-5). What would be the advantages and disadvantages of having this particular jeep, you think?



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Jeff Sorbo
 
Jeff:
With any vehicle that old, to make it anything but a money-hole, you need to be able to do almost all the work on it yourself. It will take repair. And you need a supply of parts, be it a wrecked Willys of the same type, or a good store. Fun to tinker with, and more fun to drive, but I doubt it would be one I'd depend on for long distances.

Stryver
 
Hey, Jeff!

Glad to see you came aboard -- welcome to our wonderfully warped little club!
wink.gif


Brian.
 
Stryver,

Thanks for your reply. I think I've pretty much known all along, somewhere deep-down in my brain, that this vehicle would be more of a *fun* thing than a *practical* thing. The low gas mileage alone brings that notion to light. So basically, your money pit angle echoes what I've been in denial of...

In the jeep's defense however, I have heard that a great deal of its parts are available through the local NAPA store, not to mention the improving network of military vehicles folks across the country. So, I reckon that's a plus. I still want that jeep.

Brian,

Thanks for the welcome! I'm glad to be here. At least for now. Let's see how glad I am three months from now, after this forum has taught me how to cook a Worm Omelette and how to convert my Honda Civic to run off of manure...

jeff

[This message has been edited by Jeff Sorbo (edited 01-30-2000).]
 
Let me start out by saying I don't want to post this reply.I am not trying to start any flames or hurt anyone.This is only my opinion and we all know about opinions.However if I can keep someone from making an expensive mistake I feel I should try to do it.
I live in the midwesern U.S. and we have ice and snow and slush to drive in in the winter.We have all different kinds of mud to drive in off road a lot of the year.
I had a Jeep CJ7 with a Chevy V8 in it and large tires.It did not do well at all in the slick stuff.My brother-in-law's Dodge Omni did much better, even off road!The same short wheelbase and light weight that may make them great on dry stuff on tight trails or while rock hopping makes them terrible on the slick stuff and not able to carry much.I think the new Jeep Wranglers should stay on the road better than the old ones, I hope so.Don't believe the hype on any of these types of products.I have had many 4*4 trucks and blazer type vehicles also.They do not perform as advertised!All vehicles are far from indestructable and expensive to repair,and the older they get,the harder to find parts for,even some of the parts on the popular domestic pickups!And be very careful of modifications.Bigger tires and other modifications actually decrease perfomance in a lot of cases.If a person wants a serious use vehicle as opposed to a looker,he should ask other serious users in his area what works well for their uses and go from there.Some things you might have to learn from experience but learn as much as you can from others and it could save you lots of time and money.
Let the beatings begin.
m
 
I have a 99 Ford F150 and I would like an older model (not current front-well drive model)60's VW Bettle as my survival vehicle. I have seen them go places a 4X4 pickup can't go and they don't use much gas.
 
Well, I usually don't talk about this too much, but my first vehicle was a 1977 Subaru 4WD Station Wagon. Hands down, the ugliest vehicle ever created (bright red with wood-grained paneling and a lot of chrome). If anyone asks me I will just deny it. That little car however, was probably one of the most sure footed and reliable vehicles I had ever owned, used or driven. I had gotten in and out of some pretty weird places. We used to do a homegrown Camel Challenge and I used to really piss off some of the guys with hugh 4x4 pickups and similar vehicles.
 
M,

Don't know why you thought you'd be flamed -- I think you posted good info.
smile.gif


I think it's important for people to remember that 4WD vehcles will slide on ice and slick conditions just like other vehicles -- when you have that much weight travelling at speed, it'll slide when you try to slow down too qucikly, or take corners too quickly, etc. That's why you see so many Ford Explorers, or other Sport-Utility vehicles off the road in smow stoarms: overconfidence of the drivers, and crivers who are jsut plain misinformed about what 4WD can and can't do. They drive in bad conditions like it's a dry sunny day on the highway...

4WD often will get you out of a tight spot because of increased drive train contact with more surface, plus it pulls and pushes all at once. But take it too fasy in slick conditions, and any of 'em will bite you in the butt!

The Wrangler seems to hold the road (or path) better simply because it was designed with a wider wheel base and lower center of gravity. The 6 cyl engine gives you more torque than the four cyl...

Anyway, great post on your part, and thanks for putting it up!

Brian.
 
Thanks for the encouragement Brian.I didn't want anyone to think I was picking on their favorite vehicle,but a lot of people tend to think of our vehicles(knives,etc.) as more than just the tools they really are.
 
Land Rover Defender TDCi its my only 4 weel vehicle. Never stops nor ice, sand or mud. It always keep going.
 
13 years; hmmm let's see; I still have 3 vehicles from 13 years ago, how many do you have that survived from this time period? :D

Wayback+Machine+-+Peabody+only.jpg
 
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Doc Ron said:
I have an 86 Ford 1 Ton Van 4X4 conversion, Detroit soft locker in the rear, posi in the front, NP205 transfer case, US Gear overdrive system, 10 inch lift on 35 inch tires. She's driven by a Ford 460 with a type 2 RV cam and has a 12 ton Warn winch set on a double receiver winch so it operates front or back. Up here folks call me before they call a tow truck if they want to get unstuck or out of a hole.

50 gallons of fuel, full shielding underneath and Kevlar panels on the doors. Sleeping areas, cooking, porta potty and a pop top make it comfortable. Have a 45 watt solar panel on the roof to keep battery number two up to spec.

She's too big on small roads but can claw her way just about anywhere I have clearance. She takes less side to side clearance than a Humvee but more upstairs. I have a 12" bar chainsaw for that problem.

This is the 3rd one I've built and I gotta say that I love those 4X4 vans.

Ron

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Learn Life Extension at:

http://www.survival.com ]
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I'm gonna second those old Ford Quadravans, they are just as heavy duty as an F250 but have tons of room to haul and live in. I got a 1979 E350 Quadravan and love it!
 
I have a cargo van that will transport a lot of stuff, but not many people (2-seater). It is my go to vehicle if I had to live out of a vehicle or beside a vehicle for any period of time. It's main difficiency is gas mileage and it gets stuck easily.
 
Always a good topic :) Irregardless the year.

What I have: 2004 Trailblazer & tools. & ATV's for the trailer

What I used to have that would have done OK- 1979 Dodge Power Wagon 360cid; 2004 Jeep Wrangler

What I would like- 4 door Jeep Wrangler Rubicon.

Bill
 
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