Bug out vehicle

[JoJo]

Here are some modifications we made on unmarked police cars that will work on your bugout vehicle.
We installed switches in the tail lights, brake lights, head lights parking lights and backup lights so the police could turn any or all off at will.
If your going to your BOL you don't want advertise to people where you are by putting on your brakes. With just headlights a vehicle is very hard to see from the back at night and probably won't be noticed in the day time either.
Think about it. 

[graynomad]

Switching the brake lights was an old racing trick in the 60s (think Aston Martins on Italian roads). The idea was to fool the person behind you to brake either too late or too early by disabling the lights when you braked or turning them on even though you aren't braking. In the first case he probably crashed, the second he lost time.

Apart from the visibility issues mentioned above, this could be useful if being chased while bugging out.

[JohnyMac]

Since we are chatting about this I would like to add some other thoughts in no particular order.

1) Loose your EZ-Pass transponder (Or what ever it is called in your state)
2) Loose your smart-type phone for obvious reasons. We have talked about this ad nauseam. Buy a burner if
     you have to have a cell phone
3)  Get a spare license plate. Learned from a past life, Temporary cardboard plates put in the rear window. Pick a
     state that you will not be traveling through. In the old days a sharpie, ruler and rub-on letters worked great.
     Today with a word.doc program and 32 weight paper you can make one in minutes and print it out.
4) Last, plan on a B and C route home or to your BOL. TRY to avoid state toll roads. 

Oh one last thing. A family member who is a big city police officer told me that LEO's are trained observers, e.g. If
you have pro cannabis bumper stickers, , I am NRA & I Vote, etc. they will approach your vehicle differently. Loose the IN YOUR FACE BUMPER STICKERS!
   

[gadget99]

Good points there Jm

[Kbop]

   I guess i'll go scrape off my Brony bumper sticker.

I wonder if you can use magnetic bumper stickers - like a 'spare' license plate - as camouflage?

[Erick]

So no more "SWATCrushers Inc." Bumper Sticker for me?

[JohnyMac]

   Yup! I have to get rid of my anti-Obama bumper stickers.  Although I get so many thumbs up as other folks pass me.

[brat]

Here you go JMac..........

http://www.gisurplus.co.uk/shop/product.php/1040/us-vehicle-registration-plates-wholesale

http://www.platedepot.com/

Guess I'll be having to get rid of my bumper sticker too...

"Please don't lie, cheat or steal. The government doesn't like the competition"

[Grudgie]

While we're on the subject of vehicles in SHTF, I'd like to toss out a few thoughts I had. Maby you car experts can shoot down some of these suggestions.

I have been theorizing on how to build a car that would be near maintenance free, or at least could be repaired with simple tools and could go for thousands of miles without maintenance. It would have to be an older car without power breaks, power steering, fuel injection, power windows, ac, etc.. pretty much the only thing electrical in the car would be the ignition system, headlights, and blinkers for legality. The idea is to remove anything unnecessary from the car that could break down. I was looking at the 55-59 chevy task force trucks as a base because they are freaking beautiful..

Replace the oil filter with a reusable oil filter such as these: http://gopurepower.com/filters/oil_filters/

Replace the old battery with a newer acid free battery that will last years. You could ofcourse jump it off with a solar powered jump starter. A battery like these: http://www.lithionicsbattery.com/auto.html

Replace the tires with airless tires. I can't find any airless tires being sold but I hear different companies are developing prototypes that will become available in the future. They look like this:



But to make it all work you would have to find a way to power the motor with wood gasification, which I do not have the know how to do (but my friend thinks he does). And if it was converted to wood the fuel tank would become a drinking water storage container.

Replace the transmission with a manual 5 speed. Put a winch on the front.

I'm not sure how 4wd works. I was leaning against it as it could be another thing that breaks down.

Being EMP proof is an afterthought.

[Reaver]

I use a giant hampster ball as my bug out vehicle

[graynomad]

Yes 4WD is one more thing to break, but OTOH a real 4x4 is generally built a lot tougher than standard 2WD vehicles in the first place so in that regard it's less likely to break.

But another thing, if you (for example) blow a diff in a 4x4 you can disconnect one tail shaft and drive on the remaining axle. In a 2WD you get out and walk.

Replace the transmission with a manual 5 speed.

Surely an old vehicle would already have a manual box.

Put a winch on the front.

And on the back.

Possibly even better get a Tirfor hand winch as that can be used from any direction, even to right a tipped vehicle. They are hard work but unlikey to break and will not drain your battery, batteries, you will have at least 2 eh?

[Nemo]

Do not drive any kind of a GM car with OnStar.  They can track you, listed in to your conversations and shut your vehicle down at any time.  They will not admit it but can.

Nemo

[special-k]

I use a giant hampster ball as my bug out vehicle

Where do you put the rear-view mirror?

[graynomad]

I use a giant hampster ball as my bug out vehicle

Where do you put the rear-view mirror?

There's a receptical at the back of the hampster.

[Reaver]

I use a giant hampster ball as my bug out vehicle

Where do you put the rear-view mirror?

There's a receptical at the back of the hampster.

Got two options the first option is in the base line hampster ball vehicle package. The rear view mirror is tucked under  your taint and depending on sex you may have to lift your gear shifter(s) to see and the view will be inverted.

The upgraded more expensive  package comes with a helmet and an Lcd screen. It's connected to a rear facing camera that's sits in a cool dark place. The camera lens is shapped like a starfish.

RvR


Edited typo(s) for clarity. ~ s-k

[graynomad]

Who mentioned hampsters, I can see this getting out of hand 

[Kbop]

Who mentioned hampsters, I can see this getting out of hand 

I thought that's what the PVC was for

[mountainredneck2051]

Most vehicles have a black box, if you drive like I do you are going to want to disable these or you can get fucked really bad in court

[JohnyMac]

Mntn, how do you disable these "black box's"?

I have a F150 (2009) would love to disable mine. 

[mountainredneck2051]

Mntn, how do you disable these "black box's"?

I have a F150 (2009) would love to disable mine. 

Ford is awesome in the sense that they don't throw onstar or black boxes in most of their vehicles, especially trucks and work vans. You can look up online if yours has one, and they should have the location on the same site. Basically you can unplug it. Once you find it.

[JohnyMac]

Thx Mtn, I will check.

[Nemo]

You find info on the 09, let me know.  Info on a 13 should not be far away. 

Nemo