What to use from a vehicle in a survival situation.

S

survivalholland

Joined
Oct 17, 2007
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After watching Les Stroud in a discovery TV show where he showed the viewer what to use from a car when you are in a survival situation. It got me thinking what you can use more when you are stranded In your car and you are going to rip your car for useful survival items. Some examples:

• Rear view mirror can be used as a signal mirror
• Tires can be used for a signal fire giving of a lot of black smoke
• Electric wire for setting snares and traps

I can think of many more uses but I wonder what other ideas you have.

Members ideas:
• Cushion from seats as insulation.

• The seat belts !

• the car battery has many purposes. It can be used to start fires.

• The car itself can be used as a shelter from rain. Lying across the back seat might be fairly comfortable.

• The gasonline (if you crack open the tank) could be used for firestarting.

• The radio could be used to listen to where rescue teams are searching for you (if people knew where you were going and if you can pick up a station).

• The car itself could provide heat or air conditioning as long as the gas doesn't run out.

• Metal from the car could be fashioned into tools.

• Some cars have removable cupholders, which could be used to collect drinking water.

• Any papers in your car could be used as tinder.

• You could tie the floor mats around your legs for help in waterproofing (if your just wearing jeans and need to walk through snow)

• CD's can be used as reflectors to signal. If broken, they can be used as edged tools for skinning, scaling fish, making gorges for fishing, etc.

• Airbags are made of a heavy nylon weave. It can be used for an extra layer of clothing if needed. The charge itself can be used a audible signal. They go off with an impressive "bang" and I've seen 'em sent 30 feet in the air if done right.
 
The car battery has many purposes. It can be used to start fires.

The car itself can be used as a shelter from rain. Lying across the back seat might be fairly comfortable.

The gasonline (if you crack open the tank) could be used for firestarting.

The radio could be used to listen to where rescue teams are searching for you (if people knew where you were going and if you can pick up a station).

The car itself could provide heat or air conditioning as long as the gas doesn't run out.

Metal from the car could be fashioned into tools.

Some cars have removable cupholders, which could be used to collect drinking water.

Any papers in your car could be used as tinder.



With these ideas, doing many of them may prevent you from doing another because of limited resources or destroying parts etc. Think wisely before you pick one and remember the more you destroy your car, the more chance you have of getting insurance money:)
 
Never use a piece of rubber hose from the coolant system as they had Whalberg do in "Shooter" for use in an improvised I.V. :D
 
You could tie the floor mats around your legs for help in waterproofing (if your just wearing jeans and need to walk through snow)
 
You could just go into your "goody box" in the back seat and start nibbling granola bars, cheese crackers, and hard candy, and then wash it all down with bottled water and Gatoraid if you have a stash in there at all times like I do. :D
 
CD's can be used as reflectors to signal. If broken, they can be used as edged tools for skinning, scaling fish, making gorges for fishing, etc.

Airbags are made of a heavy nylon weave. It can be used for an extra layer of clothing if needed. The charge itself can be used a audible signal. They go off with an impressive "bang" and I've seen 'em sent 30 feet in the air if done right.
 
Considering that a normal, undamaged car makes a waterproof, windproof, bugproof shelter that's easily spotted (as compared to debris shelters or the like) and very comfortable, the idea of "cracking open the gas tank" seems to me like a VERY BAD ONE.

Everything else seems okay, but trying to improvise a way to get into the tank to get gasoline just sounds like a horrible idea. You run a serious risk of burning yourself badly, and/or destroying a high-quality shelter.

Having said that, if you have the know-how to pull a gas line and let some dribble out to use in starting fires, or have some aquarium tubing that you can use as a syphon, go for it. (10 feet of aquarium tubing might not be a bad idea to go in my car kit....)
 
As long as the car has fuel and is still functioning, I'd think long and hard about using it for anything other than a vehicle.

Even when it stopped functioning, it is still a very useful shelter as Foxhole states, and I'd think long and hard before dismantling it for some other purpose.

As far as starting fires goes, if the car has a push-in cigarette lighter, I'd use that before I drained the gas tank and removed the battery.

Most of the uses stated by the OP could be achieved by just having a simple kit consisting of a knife, firesteel and tinder, paracord, signal mirror, and space blanket in the vehicle at all times, and thus wouldn't require destruction of the car.
 
Rich_S said:
As long as the car has fuel and is still functioning, I'd think long and hard about using it for anything other than a vehicle.

Even when it stopped functioning, it is still a very useful shelter as Foxhole states, and I'd think long and hard before dismantling it for some other purpose.

As far as starting fires goes, if the car has a push-in cigarette lighter, I'd use that before I drained the gas tank and removed the battery.

Most of the uses stated by the OP could be achieved by just having a simple kit consisting of a knife, firesteel and tinder, paracord, signal mirror, and space blanket in the vehicle at all times, and thus wouldn't require destruction of the car.
Click to expand...

That's true, a good car kit wouldn't make you destroy the vehicle. But what if you're travelling in someone else's car and get stranded? (Carpooling or travelling with a friend)
 
Varg Lobos said:
That's true, a good car kit wouldn't make you destroy the vehicle. But what if you're travelling in someone else's car and get stranded? (Carpooling or travelling with a friend)
Click to expand...

Good point. I travel for business and end up in a dozen or so rental cars every year.
 
Wires everywhere. Lotsa cordage if you need it.

Cutting the fuel line or just unclamping the fuel filter to get gas isn't hard at all or dangerous. Changing the fuel filter should be a skill everyone has (unless it is one of the fuel pumps that are in the gas tank).

Windshield glass, could make an edged weapon.

Carpet- insulation or sleeping pad.

It would be hard to list all the possible uses and hard to carry all the goodies out of a car. It would also be hard to imagine a better shelter or any reason I'd leave the car. The car is going to be easily seen by searchers.
 
if you stuck for a long time and you DO decide to wreck the car:

- heavy capes can be made using the trunk liners (some cars only)
- trunk rubber seals are excellent 'slings" for carrying stuff. Also can be used for firestarting
- If you can disconnect your fuel filter, and have a container, do so and crank over the car to pump out fuel into the container.
- pull out the windshield washer reservoir and tubing. rinse out the tank and fill with a piece of seat cloth ont he bottom, then top with clean sand. use as a rough water filter.
- Both the washer pump and the wiper pump have thin epoxy coated copper wire windings inside them. Perfect for rabbit snares.
- Drain the crankcase oil while the engine is warm and collect in a container. save for a signal fire.
- pull out the battery and use some of the heavy gauge wires for fire starting. (touch together for spark. A battery will last a long time even if used for a brief spark everyday.

-If your near running water , pull the alternator battery cables and set up a water driven "charger" connected to the battery. manual hand cranked charging can be set up too.

- use the tire sidewalls (easy to cut) to make footwear. use sharp rock or knife or ?? save the rest of the tires for burning in signal fire.

- all the side mirrors and rear view should be used for signaling.

- metal fan blades can be made into tools (shovel, knife, etc.) use flat rock to grind edge, use rock and car bolts for making holes

- save the headlights + tailights and wire to the battery for night signaling.

- all plastic dashboard part can be smashed and burned. Avoid breathing the smoke.

- use the ashtray as scooping tool (the thin metal tab on it is an excellent knife)

- if you drain the fuel tank (there is ALWAYS 1 - 3 liters left even after you run out of gas -the fuel pickup is 3" above the bottom) , use a sharpened tool or fixed blade adn punch a hole on the bottom only. The liquid gas will cool the blade point as it penetrates the metal (friction) and pierces thru into the liquid. Try to pierce the lowest point. after you put a container under the tank, open the gas cap.

- pull/sever/cut all the rubber hoses (rad, fuel, brake, etc) off the vehicle and add to the fire pile.

- pull off the door liners and add tot he fire. Save the foam for clothing insulation.

- unstich the seats and make clothing.

- break the air filter and remove all the paper. put in dry location for fire starting.

- pull all wiring out, there is approx 1 miles of wiring in every vehicle. Save the longer lengths to make braided "rope"

- pull out the metal fuel lines that run the length of the vehicle. These can be used for making tools, or as poles for signal flags, torches etc.

- pull the horn and wire up for audible signals . place beside battery and mirrors.

- save antifreeze to splash onto snow to signal your location to aircrews. , the color will stand out brightly for several or so before fading

- windshield can used for UV shielding on the sun side of your shelter, to prevent burning if your in hot climes.


there is a point where you can start stripping down the entire vehicle and engine if you have tools. Use your imagination! Con rods make great hammers! valves make fine piercing tools (sharpen end (but not on sodium filled valves). Oilpans make fine cook pots (after the oil is burned out), containers, digging tool etc.

90% of a vehicle can be burned. the rest can be made into shelter, tools, etc.

:cool:

Bushy, may have wrecked a vehicle once to live!
 
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