Urban B.O.B.

[k_estela]

Gentlemen,

I've done what I said I had to do. Banning is next if forum rules are not followed but I want to be fair. He is entitled to a second chance. There were harsh words exchanged by many parties and I'm leaving them up for now to show what not to do and what happens when a moderator requests one thing and is given another. This thread is volatile and should either be left to die or become more educational than confrontational.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

This thread will return to the original topic or the infractions will continue and increase in severity. "The beatings will continue until morale improves."

Any objections to action taken by the modeators belong offline or in Service & Support. Continued whining in this thread will also garner infractions.

 

[dougo83]

Here's the deal:

Those who have been saying that pry bars and the like are verboten in a disaster scenario and are a surefire way to get you into trouble with local law have evidently never been in a disaster scenario. I am from the Houston area and have been in the area of the past four 'canes seen on the coast. I was there to provide aid for people in the area. I used my pry bars and such to open doors when needed, etc. Often, this was in the presence of local LEO, guard, or whomever. Wanna know what most all of them said? NOTHING. I was not with a recognized aid organization or any such thing, just a local resident trying to help out.

Also, adding such a bar to your pack does not add that much weight. If you cannot handle carrying a few extra pounds, you just might not be in shape to try to evac in the first place. Perhaps rolling over and dying is the best option. If my fatass can carry it, it can't be too bad. Sure, it isn't necessary in all situations, but it sure comes in handy when you need it.

Also, this nonsense that those of us who carry a little more gear are less skilled or whatever is pure bull. I am not going to improvise if it isn't necessary. Saves time to have the right tools.

Either way, carry what you will. I will carry what works and what I am fully capable of carrying. It works for me quite well.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

One more point.

We are not deleting posts or comments because they hurt your feelings. We delete spam, we remove but do not delete morally offensive material. Live with it.

 

[koyote]

So, let's talk about types of prybars- KG has a small gorilla bar in her trunk- one of the 14 inch slim models. This is also what I carry with my tools when I'm carrying a toolkit or working outdoors.

I keep a 48 inch one in the van, and an assortment of smaller ones in various kits- mostly the countycomm ones though my ARES go bag has a cat's paw as well.

For shovels in a vehicle I highly recommend a full on T handle trenching shovel. The folding E tools are nice for smaller kits, but there's no reason not to carry the full 48-50 inch shovel in a vehicle.

I also keep a regular collins axe in the van. I've been tempted to switch to me small 3 pound axe mattock, but it's just not a very good felling axe.

 

[dougo83]

So, let's talk about types of prybars- KG has a small gorilla bar in her trunk- one of the 14 inch slim models. This is also what I carry with my tools when I'm carrying a toolkit or working outdoors.

I keep a 48 inch one in the van, and an assortment of smaller ones in various kits- mostly the countycomm ones though my ARES go bag has a cat's paw as well.

For shovels in a vehicle I highly recommend a full on T handle trenching shovel. The folding E tools are nice for smaller kits, but there's no reason not to carry the full 48-50 inch shovel in a vehicle.

I also keep a regular collins axe in the van. I've been tempted to switch to me small 3 pound axe mattock, but it's just not a very good felling axe.

I have a standard 20" or so pry bar in the truck. I have a flat bar that I keep in there as well. I keep them next to my truck kit so I can grab the whole get-up if needed. I have an off-brand roofer's hatchet/hammer widget in there too along with a full array of hammers, axes, machetes, shovels, etc. (I freelance landscaping from time to time) I also have the halligan tool in the tool box.

I want to get the thinger that Jake has, it's by Stanley, but I forget the name.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

I'm guessing you mean their "fubar".
http://www.stanleytools.com/default.asp?TYPE=CATEGORY&CATEGORY=NEW_PROD_DEMOLITION

 

[powernoodle]

That Stanley Fubar is a monster. Big and heavy. Not the kind of thing I would want to be hauling around on my person - unless I had to - but it would work well with vehicle carry. I guess you do what you gotta do when the all Gehenna breaks loose.

 

[MrCoffee]

I don't understand a lot of the people in this thread. I understand being passionater about what you feel is neccessary equipment, but the rest....?? I carry a CountyComms prybar in my BOB, which doubles as my CERT and ARES kit. I have shown it to a lot of cops, who thought is way pretty handy, asked where I got it, etc. Never had an issue with them.

To sunshine: During an actually emergency, i.e. the flood of 2005 which wiped out Alstead NH, or getting caught outside during last years IceStorm. If I need to get to shelter FAST to save my life, I am GOING to break in. Period. If after the fact the police feel the need to charge me, so be it. I am more then willing to pay for any damages the own of said property after the fact as well. Yes it is against the law, but I find it hard to believe that ANYONE would fault someone for taking shelter to save ones life.

I understand how passionate people can be about the gear they feel they need, and I have a heck of a lot of respect for a number of the people that posted here. Quite a few of these posted haven't actually NEEDED their preps/gear, but they are always considering thinking planning. This is a good thing. Some of us have actually had to use our equipment more then once, like myself, and my gear is based on what I needed, and what I wished I had at the time, experience.

Once last thing. I imagine that if a LEO thinks that you are overeacting to an event, something that is not truly life threatening, they are a lot more likely to give you a hard time, then in a true Bug out now or you are in a world of hurt scenario. Especially true if you are a problem, or threat to those who are trying to get away safely.

 

[C_Kyle]

I'm simply tickled that you have embraced "Catzilla." Big cat!

Oh, you're not the first to give him that moniker. I've been calling him Cat Kong, Catzilla, Sam Beastly, Samzilla, Obeastly, and Boy (said like the Tall Man from Phantasm) since he was born.

There's no way I could leave him behind.

 

[koyote]

That Stanley Fubar is a monster. Big and heavy. Not the kind of thing I would want to be hauling around on my person - unless I had to - but it would work well with vehicle carry. I guess you do what you gotta do when the all Gehenna breaks loose.

There seems to be three sizes. I'm considering the medium one for the van, but I'd like to get the smaller one and see how I like it.

 

[angle iron]

Just something to consider which I picked up from a trooper. Many LEOs carry various large pry bars in their vehicle, trunk or otherwise. Most consider it prudent to make some sort of velcro or other type secure mount as these will easily pierce the rear seat and become serious missiles should you be involved in a wreck. Heavy duty velcro screwed to the sheet metal has worked once for me but maybe something more sturdy is in order.

 

[jw2n]

The smallest Fubar weighs 2.5 lbs. If you move up to the 55-121 (smallest entry tool) the weight is double. The 121 is one hell of a tool, but I would'nt want to pack it. Then again, I look at weight in terms of ounces when selecting items for my kit.

 

[C_Kyle]

I carry a lot of construction/mechanic type tools in my Jeep, such as, a large crow bar, cat's paw, various hammers, wrenches, pliers, screw drivers, sockets, fence tool, line man's pliers, chalk lines, plumb bob, rope, tape measures, tool belt, etc. I'm not a construction worker. I picked all this stuff up to do Habitat for Humanity.

If my Jeep was ever searched, I'm almost 100% positive that all the authorities would see are construction/mechanic tools in a tool box. Plus, a lot of Jeeps around here are carrying a full set of pioneer tools, mechanic tools, portable welders and air compressors w/ air tools, and a chainsaw and fuel. I am in a suburban/semi-rural environment, though.

Back to E&E with my 26lbs cat. I think the only realistic solution would be a bicycle with a rack over the rear wheels so I can mount a sturdy cat carrier to it. I'll also need a good fitting harness for him, and a collapsible bowl for water. Food wise, he only eats dry. A small zip-loc bag full of dry food would last about a week, with some of whatever I'm eating too.

The E&E bicycle:

I'm trying to decide whether a 27 speed would be better than a 3 speed, or even single. Obviously, a single speed rigid would be the lightest and simplest. I do a lot of X-country mountain biking, and I hardly ever break anything. I've never broken a chain, or anything else that has ended a ride. I'm not the OCD maintenance type, either. When I'm done riding, I'll hose the mud off of the bike, dry it, run the chain through the chain cleaner, and I'm done.

Anyways, I think the bike needs to be a hardtail or rigid. I used to ride a steel rigid back in the early days of mtb, and now ride a full suspension Giant NRS. I've dropped the weight down to 26lbs, which isn't bad for a full suspension aluminum bike.

I think the E&E bike needs to be under 25lbs. It should be a XC bike with a rear rack, lighting on the front, and good sturdy components. Tires should be able to roll well on the street, something like Hutchinson Pythons would work well. It should have quick-release wheels and seat post. It should have a chain like the SRAM PG970, it's strong, and easy to replace dead links by hand. The Delta Mega Rack is rated at 60lbs, and weighs under 1lb. Lighting should be sturdy LED, which doesn't necessarily mean bicycle specific lighting.

 

[Tengu Joker]

I lose my internet connection for a couple of days and all hell breaks loose. To the people that have kept the thread civil and on topic, THANK YOU.

B.O.T. : When I said a multi-tool can be considered a burglary tool under the right conditions, I was referring to the the fact that if you are acting weird during a BOB situation and the LEOs notice they can detain you. I also was not talking about walking around with pry-bars, bolt-cutters and such in plain view, just a few small tools to get around if I need them in a bag(really like the FUBAR though).Besides isn't the point of a BOB to have things you might realistically need available to you at all times. One more thing, the reason I started the thread in the first place was to help build and refine my own bag and help others by pooling knowledge and sharing ideas not starting a you should carry this or else type thread, if that is what it was interpreted as maybe I should have named it something elsr.

 

[dougo83]

I'm guessing you mean their "fubar".
http://www.stanleytools.com/default.asp?TYPE=CATEGORY&CATEGORY=NEW_PROD_DEMOLITION

Yep..that's the one :thumbup:

That Stanley Fubar is a monster. Big and heavy. Not the kind of thing I would want to be hauling around on my person - unless I had to - but it would work well with vehicle carry. I guess you do what you gotta do when the all Gehenna breaks loose.

Exactly. I would put it in the truck to replace multiple other bars that reside there and won't pack it until absolutely necessary.

Just something to consider which I picked up from a trooper. Many LEOs carry various large pry bars in their vehicle, trunk or otherwise. Most consider it prudent to make some sort of velcro or other type secure mount as these will easily pierce the rear seat and become serious missiles should you be involved in a wreck. Heavy duty velcro screwed to the sheet metal has worked once for me but maybe something more sturdy is in order.

I used the steel "plumber's tape" and secured mine to the underside of the back seat. It works well. I just need to find some different screws so I can detach faster.

The smallest Fubar weighs 2.5 lbs. If you move up to the 55-121 (smallest entry tool) the weight is double. The 121 is one hell of a tool, but I would'nt want to pack it. Then again, I look at weight in terms of ounces when selecting items for my kit.

Eh...I can handle an extra few pounds. Because I would only currently have to worry about my well-being in a disaster scenario, I can scrape weight in other areas like food/water.

 

[dougo83]

I lose my internet connection for a couple of days and all hell breaks loose. To the people that have kept the thread civil and on topic, THANK YOU.

B.O.T. : When I said a multi-tool can be considered a burglary tool under the right conditions, I was referring to the the fact that if you are acting weird during a BOB situation and the LEOs notice they can detain you. I also was not talking about walking around with pry-bars, bolt-cutters and such in plain view, just a few small tools to get around if I need them in a bag(really like the FUBAR though).Besides isn't the point of a BOB to have things you might realistically need available to you at all times. One more thing, the reason I started the thread in the first place was to help build and refine my own bag and help others by pooling knowledge and sharing ideas not starting a you should carry this or else type thread, if that is what it was interpreted as maybe I should have named it something elsr.

TJ,

I think a LEO is gonna have a real hard time calling a multi-tool ( I assume you mean like a Leatherman) as a 'burglary tool.' The situation would have to be much more than 'acting weird.' I dunno, I guess it depends on where you live.

 

[candlelight001]

Just went out and started snipping at my chain link fence with the leatherman blast. Took some force, but it did cut it. And the wire cutters didn't appear damaged or worn by the effort. Seems like it would work in a pinch, wouldn't want to have to do too much of it.

 

[Tengu Joker]

Dougo: Trust me, you don't know the LEOs around here. I once was pulled over for not signaling to make a right turn while in the right turning lane. It's not likely but it is possible.

 

[halromberg]

Most people are probably a bit like this.

Situation: Evacuation
Location: city with less than normal rule of law
Objective: Get home (<50 miles)

I need: a few bottles of water, some munchies, a knife, flashlight, lighter, some cord and a poncho. Good shoes and a basic first aid kit with Moleskin. A bike would totally kick butt. CCW (.45). Carry it all in a 511 vest, or a day pack. Find a buddy or two and make an adventure hike out of it. Keep an eye out for folks that need help along the way.

My most likely scenario
Situation: Evacuation
Location: On my boat, tied up in my slip in Baltimore
Objective: Be elsewhere.

Simple: Load swivel gun and Mossberg with buckshot. Stow power cables hose etc from dock. Start engine. Untie dock lines. Engage Transmission. Hoist sails. Turn off engine. Engage wind generator and deploy solar panels. Send whoever is with me below to make coffee. Turn left at Hampton Roads, right at 65degrees west, and keep going until something interesting shows up on the bow.

My boat is both my home and my BOB. Now if they don't let me out of the harbor for some reason I'm screwed. I'm hoping I get moving before anything clamps down, but the main thing that would interfere would be an outbreak or a terrorist thing. In either one it's pretty bad.

Then I'm back to option 1 and heading for the farm. Need more moleskin though, cause it's a bit more than 50 miles and I don't get to hike as much as I want.

Question: Why do most of the survival scenarios seem to get folks thinking like they have to be alone? Even Forrest Gump knew it was "a bad thing" to be alone in a dangerous place. A small group makes surviving a LOT easier.

Throw the item "battle buddies" into my list of high priority items.