bug-out vehicles

I think I'd do belly before I do knees... I guess that might be from laying on concrete for long hours... Belly takes it better then the knees do! :D
 
For me right now it would be my Impreza. The AWD can get me out of some pretty tall water(from experience) or any around any other obsticles in the city and out to the trail or country. Eventhough it does not have all the ralley gear the race cars do, it does pretty well off road until I encounter logs or downed trees. I get pretty far on a tank of gas too, and at 15 gal, it wont break you fillin up. Anyone else have a sube here?


Cerberus
 
A friend owned one of the older wagons in sub blue and we took that log jumper all over the Sierra's hunting and scouting. So.......if the newer ones are anywhere near as good a vehicle off road, I think we'd be an owner of one.
 
my beast... 1990 Ford F-150 4X4 long wheel base with camer shell 302 v8 32" tires,9500lb winch,duel gas tanks,extra parts and oil, huge tool kit
 
Considering where I live, Orange County, CA. My options are the local mountains which might be real cold or lots of people heading there, or both. the other is desert, not a lot of water or food. Either way an old style Baja Bug. For those not familiar its a VW Bug, modified fenders to clear larger off road tires, replace the nose cap and engine cover, better shocks, skidplate, nerf bars, roof rack, and a dead on reliable 1835 or there abouts engine. Larger fuel tank, extra fuel cans, and a gas siphon rig. In high school our auto shop teacher took us all over the mountains and deserts in these vehicles. Absolutely amazing where they will go. No radiators, no power steering, a heater, easy to maintain. And for the price you could have two, plus engines and parts stashed in a cabin or where ever. I have a wife and three kids that are going where I go. I have a dual sport bike but that just won't cut it. the bike will be on a light weight trailer behind the Baja's though, with extra gear.
There is a mountain bike shop in Big Bear City, CA that makes a bike for adventure riding, specifically built for the rough stuff, also to have luggage or a trailer attached, worth a look if thats your vehicle of choice. Green Tire Company makes airless tires for bicycles, definitely worth a look.
Not a bad idea to have friends of like mind, plan together, and find places to go together. chances are you won't get as far as you think the first few days, always good to have numbers with you.
This thread has me thinking. Might be time for a project vehicle. Good thread.

Adios
 
I like the Montauge folding bikes. They can be used as a backup vehicle to store in the back of a pickup. Truck breaks, time to pedal. Bike breaks, time to hoof it.
 
1965, I'm not the horsepower king (single port 1600) but I've got a good foot of daylight under the pan (235s out back, 205s up front). I rebuilt the front end last year, everything from the steering box down to the wheel bearings. This year it was the motor and all the attending hardware. And so long as I don't jump it or go rolling through Death Valley she should last for a long time. I'm thinking the external oil filter and remote cooler should extend her life by a bit. Fun little car.

Frank
 
Yep, the more oil you can pump through that baby the better off you'll be. I had a 69 Westfalia with the 1600 doghouse in it. Added the external oil cooler and a deep well pan and it worked out great. Big white slug, but it ran for a lot of years with just the basic maintenance being done.
 
'69 monte carlo with full interior filtered ventilation, honey combed body armor, and enough horsepower to get you to the moon.

its really a better urban bug out vehicle then it is an environmental one... its a car that wont have you thinking "now that car has muscle. man, that thing could blow my car away". and likewise isnt the sturdiest looking car out there (ala the new yorkers and some of the late 70-early 80's caddilacs). but it has a lot of room for add on and improvements.

the basic idea being that of a getaway car. (taken from andrew vachss' getaway driver book)
"what if they make a blockade?"
"i'll drive you out."
"what if they have snipers?"
"i'll drive you out."
"what if we're out numbered?"
"i'll drive you out."

try to find a car that can acheive that, and you have an excellent urban bug out vehicle...
must be able to take bullets to the windows without a)spidering beyond visibility - or, have an internal camera mount for driving when there is no visibility - or, your have to have enough skill with your car to be able to drive in near 0 visibility.
must be able to drive through road blocks, including cars and other boudaries, such as road islands islands or road debris.
must be able to accelerate with a lot of torch, incase you are boxed in.
must be able to ventilate out tear gas and smoke.
must have a fire retardant outer shell and passanger compartment
must have crash reinforcments on side panels, front and rear to protect main driving components.
must be able to withstand multiple crashes without major driving impediments
must have a large enough fuel cell to do all of the above for a semi prolonged period of time (3-4 hours, over several days time, enough to get you out of the city when the entire city is against you)

road warrior style :D
the monte carlo is a decent option for all of the above, because of its ability to be modified while having a huge engine, and large trunk compartment, and good manueverablity...


given all the requirements above, it would actually make an okay vehicle for the hills, as long as you could raise the suspention enough.certainly wouldnt be ideal for that application though.
 
and a second vote for the baja bug :D you can pack every replacement part that liable to break on you, and still have enough room for 7-10 days supplies. especially if you dont have a passanger. one of the few vehicles where you can change the engine by yourself, on the side of the road...


edited to add - about the deep inpact scene, definitely a small personal hover craft... a personal versoin of the hariet jet fighter. i know it doesnt exsist, but then niether does my bulked out monte carlo... yet :cool:
 
That Jeep Rescue looks sweet. The new Jeep Wrangler Unlimited with more room for passangers and cargo would make a great stock vehicle for this job, but modified, you just need to find a good base to start off with and build upon it and reinforce it like Seth said.
 
The Chrysler Imperial was the only car banned from the demolition derby. The body panels were MUCH thicker than anything else out there. They would pulverize Caddies and Lincolns. Bad daily driver, unequalled escape vehicle. All she has to do is smash a path for your baja/jeep/truck then you can hit the high road.

Maybe the best way out IS two vehicles. A big old car (Town Car, Coupe De Ville, Electra) to clear a path for your off road rig (a truck & dirt bikes). Let the Mrs. or your son drive the truck while you use the old Detroit like a snow plow. Food for thought.

Frank
 
i always heard it was new yorkers that got banned... definitely going to look into the imperial now that i know that. what years were banned?
 
It's going to be what we own, Honda Accord wagon or Civic hatchback. The Civic is has no power anything and does 45mpg hwy (Accord only gets in the 30s). Throw the bikes in the roof racks and we have backup transport.
 
For you guys running baha's... And anyone else looking for an off road vehicle...

Please install a roll bar. 200-300 bucks if you can weld or if you have a pal that can do it for ya...

I'm looking into picking up a mexican made bug... (newer :D ) and installing a roll bar/down tubes in front of the drivers compartment. I had an uncle that got killed in one. NOTHING up in front of the driver. Think about that before speeding through the treelines :D

The other I've been pondering... is that you want a silent car, not a screamer. If no one hears you coming, you've got suprize on your side... :cool:
 
What kind of miles can you get out of a bugs drive train? I'm a Muscle Car nut... so a boxer 4 is something new for me :D
 
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