Bug Out Vehicle Porn - pictures only please

[JeeperCreeper]

Just purchased the new BOV/work truck. 2018 F250 Shortbox Crew Cab XLT. This will be parked most the time unless it’ll be used to haul a trailer, 5th wheel, or taking us places we probably shouldn’t go.

[/quote]

Hey, Ccongrats Half!!!

I may convert to team Blue. I'm trying to shop for a 2nd Gen Escape for the Lady... Maybe she'll let me convert it to the I Am Legend Mobile

[teotwaki]

http://suntothenorth.blogspot.com/2018/ ... flats.html

[beno]

Iveco Daily 4x4. these beasts run 37s and have front, rear and centre diff and a 1:1.3 splitter. Up to 4.5 tonnes payload. I used one of these during our bushfires and this thing is a great vehicle.

[FraterLVX]

I've lived in the camper since 2018, and have been bookdocking on public lands since December. I carry 35gal of fresh water, make about 2kWh of solar power a day, and stay out in 14day increments then reprovision/relocate. This pic is from national forest outside Baker City, OR, a little over 5,000'.

I retired early and live on a $500/mo budget.

[MPMalloy]

I've lived in the camper since 2018, and have been bookdocking on public lands since December. I carry 35gal of fresh water, make about 2kWh of solar power a day, and stay out in 14day increments then reprovision/relocate. This pic is from national forest outside Baker City, OR, a little over 5,000'.

I retired early and live on a $500/mo budget.

Your living the dream of a lot of us!

Right On!

[tony d tiger]

I've lived in the camper since 2018, and have been bookdocking on public lands since December. I carry 35gal of fresh water, make about 2kWh of solar power a day, and stay out in 14day increments then reprovision/relocate. This pic is from national forest outside Baker City, OR, a little over 5,000'.

I retired early and live on a $500/mo budget.

Outstanding! What is your solar power system composed of?

[FraterLVX]

The power system is

* 570w (3x 24v 190w mono). They were wired in parallel, but I've been thinking about going serial since the controller Vmax will tolerate it.
* 40A Chinese mppt (epever)
* 220Ah (2x 6v flooded golf cart batts in series)

There's also a voltage sensing relay (isolator) installed, but since I camp in 14-day increments it doesn't see much use. I was patient so got the components for right at $800.

On normal days there is abundant power. On overcast days there is just enough to get the battery bank fully charged to mfg specs.

There are two 12v circuits in the van. One is on all the time (fridge and other necessities). The other one for everything else automagically comes online when there is excess power. This ensures I go into sundown with the batts at 100% state of charge.

[boskone]

I've lived in the camper since 2018, and have been bookdocking on public lands since December. I carry 35gal of fresh water, make about 2kWh of solar power a day, and stay out in 14day increments then reprovision/relocate. This pic is from national forest outside Baker City, OR, a little over 5,000'.

I retired early and live on a $500/mo budget.

If you don't mind, what camper do you have? Any regrets or changes you'd make?

I'm considering full-timing, at least for a while, and trying to gather information on the subject...preferably from people who don't live in a 19ft trailer with no popouts with their spouse, 2 kids, 2 dogs, a goat, and 3 chickens. (And I use that example for a reason...that person actually exists.)

[FraterLVX]

It's a 159" Ram Promaster. Pretty much everything works as planned.

> Any regrets

Not starting sooner.


> or changes you'd make?

I got tricky with the solar mount rails, using $$ custom-ordered aluminum pieces when cheap off-the-rack steel would have been fine.

I also undersized one of my circuits, assuming I wouldn't run anything of size on it. Now I do and get some voltage drop, so I bought some larger-gauge for that circuit and will install it at some point.


> I'm considering full-timing, at least for a while, and trying to gather information on the subject

Here's how I made the decision on the camper. My thoughts on a timeline/checklist for going full time.

Even with the van payment, going fulltime in the van made a huge difference in my life. It freed up $700/mo which I used to seed a "debt avalanche" get out of debt, build savings and pre-tax retirement accounts. I went from "massively in the hole" to living within my means with savings, emergency fund, and the ability to retire ~5 years earlier than expected. And I follow good weather, which is very nice.

> ...preferably from people who don't live in a 19ft trailer with no popouts with their spouse, 2 kids, 2 dogs,

Lol, I did that as a young man. It was a 20-odd ft trailer but the chickens, nubian goats, and hogs lived outdoors.

Now it's just me and one dog, Muffin. I'd been volunteering at the local humane society and took her with me when I retired.

[Zed Hunter]

What, no plows, no spinning blades, no armor? What kind of ZA bug out vehicles are these?

[Phil]

http://gallery.leica-users.org/d/375104 ... ires_E.jpg
I have driven this car from north Jersey to Philadelphia to New Mexico, back to New Jersey, back to Philly, back to New Mexico, to Portland, Oregon, back to Philly. With most of what I owned and cared about in it during those trips. It isn't fast but it can take some pretty bad dirt roads, incredible snow (zee Germans know how to build cars for snow), drive in the hottest heat and the coldest cold, and burn most any hydrocarbon heavier than gasoline (but no gasoline itself). It will outlive us all, as long as it gets oil changes.
Phil Forrest

[Brekar]

If I'm with my family this'll be my BOV. The only issue with it is that it has the 6.2 liter V8 in it, and it only get 11.8 miles to the gallon, so my route better have a lot of gas stations, or I finally remembered to fill my Jerry cans...

[Rustystud]

Can someone tell me how you post a picture here ? I would love to show my three bug-out trucks.
Rustystud.

[majorhavoc]

Can someone tell me how you post a picture here ? I would love to show my three bug-out trucks.
Rustystud.

Check your PMs, Rusty. I sent you some instructions.

[airballrad]

Shoot, I forgot all about this thread.

Current Bug Out Rig:

[NT2C]

Shoot, I forgot all about this thread.

Current Bug Out Rig:

Kinda what I'm looking for when we sell this house, but... grander.

[boskone]

Shoot, I forgot all about this thread.

Current Bug Out Rig:

Kinda what I'm looking for when we sell this house, but... grander.

"Grander"? If I don't miss my guess, that's a 36' 2/1.5 that can sleep at least 9.

I hope you're making a joke about the manufacturer's name...

[NT2C]

Shoot, I forgot all about this thread.

Current Bug Out Rig:

Kinda what I'm looking for when we sell this house, but... grander.

"Grander"? If I don't miss my guess, that's a 36' 2/1.5 that can sleep at least 9.

I hope you're making a joke about the manufacturer's name...

You're right, I misspoke. Should have said "gooderer".

[airballrad]

It's really been a boon this past year; we bought it in 2019 but in COVID times it has been great to get the family out of the house while remaining in our own "bubble". We have travelled a good bit of Florida and not had to be around other people very much.

Kinda what I'm looking for when we sell this house, but... grander.

36'10", 2/1.5 and probably could sleep 9, but we only sleep 5 in it. We discovered early that giving the kids their own room ensured their survival.

"Grander"? If I don't miss my guess, that's a 36' 2/1.5 that can sleep at least 9.

I hope you're making a joke about the manufacturer's name...

[Rustystud]

OK. Here's my first attempt at sharing pictures of my three survival vehicles. Hope this works!
ETA: Fixed it for you, Rusty If you want to see how I did it, hit quote/reply to this post and you can see the syntax I used. It involves that 'insert image' button above the text box when composing a forum post - majorhavoc.
https://www.amazon.com/photos/shared/JQ ... A1scQJaJxS

[Rustystud]

I think it worked !
I'll describe the vehicles then. The first is my ex-military 1984 Chevrolet dually 4X4 . I replaced the engine with a crate 383 Hi-Torque . I installed a gear to gear front drive assembly and a few other "accessories" . I rebuilt the TH400 transmission to handle 1000 HP all day long. I also rebuilt the NP205 transfer-case. It now has all the "special" gears like the 32 spline front and rear output shafts along with the large bearings. The parts alone cost me over $1200.00 . New front and rear drivelines too, along with new springs front and rear and HD axle supports. The next project on this truck is to replace the front King-Pin assembly with the HD Bronze bushing kit. Then install the HD front axles.
The second truck is my 2019 Chevrolet 3500 HD Dually 4X4 . I special ordered this truck so I got all the options I wanted like bed and bumper mounted trailer connectors along with the frame mounted fifth wheel/goose neck mounts. I have a 30,000Ibs fifth wheel that snaps in place and a 30,000Ibs Goose neck adapter I carry in the bed box.
The next truck is my M35A2 "Deuce" 2-1/2 ton Military truck. It is so modified it's crazy. The Trailer is my support vehicle system. It can be towed by any of the three, but is best towed by the Deuce of course. It has tools and fuel (100 gallons of diesel) and other supplies. Since I'm retired with two pensions and Social Security and the house is long paid for. My wife is also retired from teaching, so she has her own money. That leaves me with the ability to indulge my "crazy" survival ideas.

[Rustystud]

Thanks Majorhavoc ! I'll try that next time.