The Bug Out Vehicle tactics thread is very good and contains a lot of useful information. Instead of making it even longer, I’d like to see a thread of pictures of your B.O.V. and how they are purpose fit, both interior and exterior.
I currently don’t have any pictures, but will start with a basic description of what I have and some of the modification that I have made so far.
My basic B.O.V. is my daily driver. A Dodge Ram 1500. V-6, A/T with the towing package, short bed and standard cab. I have added two sets of driving lights behind the grill which are tied into my hi-beams. I run Michelin All Terrain tires all the way around, including my full size spare. I have mounted a fire extingisher, 3 C cell LED Mag lite and rescue tool to the interior. I have a large area for behind the seat storage. A CB radio with weather channels is also mounted in the cab.
The bed has a heavy removalbe mat and I’ve added extra tie down points. I have a small,aluminum tool box mounted behind the cab which stores a surprisingly large amount of gear. It will also carry my secondary B.O.V., a Suzuki DR650 dual sport motorcycle and ramps, along with lots of fuel tanks.
What are you using?
This could be an interesting thread.
I just recently ditched my '95 Ford Ranger, that had survived two accidents, and once being rolled into a ditch. She definitely wasn’t pretty, but I’m pretty shocked on how well she held up. I got it in '03, and I swore if it made it to '04 I’d be happy. Seven years later, she was just too ugly and too beaten up for a daily driver. The only things I had to replace in seven years were brakes, a clutch, and an alternator (which it turned out I didn’t need). I was having intermittent starting problems and assumed the alternator was toast. Turned out to be a $10 relay…:rolleyes:
At any rate, about three weeks ago, I picked up an '03 Ranger EDGE with 60k for a song. It’s in good enough shape to where I could actually consider turning it into some sort of BOV.
The original Danger Ranger wasn’t a supercab, so I had very little hope to fulfill my aspirations.
Since mine is an ongoing project, I’ll post some stuff here of what I’ve done as it progresses.
Off the top of my head, here’s what I’d like to store and/or add in the vehicle.
- Some sort of combination booster-box/charger/air compressor.
- I would like to attach 2 5-gal Jerry Cans to the bed.
- Headache rack for the rear window.
- BFG Mud Terrains
- CB Radio
- A “bug-out-box” full of the standard items that have become cliche at this point.
- A fire-extinguisher.
- A vehicle-mounted first aid kit. I’m trying to find some sort of hard plastic case I could mount to the rear panel of the cab.
- 2 CRKT ExiTools.
- A torque wrench.
- A siphon.
- Possibly two spares. I had a driver’s side double-blowout going 80MPH back in '98 that could have ended a lot uglier than it did…
I’m sure there’s more that I’m forgetting, but I’ll add as I remember some of the things as they come to me.
I can’t remember where I saw it, but a dude had rigged up a dashboard/console mounted holster; I want to say it was for a Springfield XD, and if memory serves me, he installed it in such a way that the pistol was accessible whilst driving, not too far from the Climate Controls/Radio. It was a pretty amazing little setup. I’ve tried to find it, but I can’t for the life of me remember where I saw it.
The ANA’s Ford Rangers are my kind of bugout ride, but I’m pretty sure the belt-fed wouldn’t be looked upon highly by fellow motorists.
I’d like to rig together something like a cross between a Technical and an Ambulance, if the stars all magically aligned for me somehow.
One thing that I desperately need to add, that is not currently on the list, is a Big Sky Shotgun Rack. I’ve been eyeballin’ the LE ones, but I’m not sure how exactly the electronic release works.
Currently the only mod I’ve done is add a MagLite to the A-pillar:
I’ll update with some non-cameraphone pics later.
FWIW I highly recommend the mounts I’m using to the standard MagLite Mounts; especially if you’re going to mount the light to the interior cab. The MagLite mounts are cheap, but they have a propensity for breaking at the worst possible time. As well, they aren’t nearly as secure.
They’re called QuickFists:
http://www.endroad.com/page/page/711712.htm
A buddy of mine took this course:
http://www.gryphonsecurity.com/mfpc.htm
I’m not .mil, so I’m SOL, but that’s my idea of some bugout vehicle preparation…
I’ll play :p. This is my '01 Tundra, it’s been my daily driver since I bought it new almost 10 yrs ago. It’s equipped with everything one would want for extended travel over just about any terrain it’s pointed at. If an EMP event were to occur…my mountain bike would be my back-up :D. It has been kept simple with all parts readily available anywhere in the states, leaf springs on all 4 corners, low center of gravity, high-clearance under carriage (25"), Military full-float Corporate 14-bolt 1-ton rear axle, Dana 60 1-ton front axle, Atlas manual 4-speed transfer case, F&R air locking differentials, factory Toyota 4.7L V-8 and trans, upgraded cooling system, extended air intake and breather vents, on-board welder, on-board refrigerator/freezer, on-board water, dual batteries, Line-X’d floor pan, dual on-board air sources, 40" tires, bead lock wheels, 9,500# winch, tools, critical spare parts, and on and on and on…and it still averages around 15 MPG at 70 MPH on the interstate with 5.13 gears.
Exterior -
Interior -
Very nice!
Sick!
indeed!!!
im sure many are envious of that rig!!
good goin 01tundra!
01Tundra: Give me some dirt on your CB install/config.
That is a battlewagon, for sure.
Impressive truck no doubt… for RECREATION. But a true BOV needs to HAUL GEAR and that spare takes up almost your whole bed… You won’t be able to BUG OUT with much, or with that many people, as it is right now…
Rmpl
I admit, this part made me chuckle a little bit
but sweetride, I hope to get my jeep close to that level sometime after I move
got that right. might be fun on the trails, but i doubt the fridge would do much good if you dont have enough room for food.
That thing is just awesome. I think you scared off everyone else.
Yeah… I could see myself bug’n out in that thing…I wish I hadn’t traded off my 06 DC Tundra.
Nice ride
We have done several 2-week cross country events in this truck and lived out of it…what gear would I need to bring along if I was going anywhere anyways…we travel light ;). If I decide to move the entire contents of our house…I’ll rent a moving van ;).
The fridge can be removed in less than one minute because it’s mounted on a quick-release mount, but there’s plenty of space on top of it to pack items also. The cab has more space in it now than it did new, with most of the interior removed, including the rear seat.
Our bug out bag, supplies, and gear fit behind the drivers seat easily. If I was told to pack up and never come back right this minute, I could easily put everything I’d want to take inside the cab and also have plenty of space to stack things on top of the spare if I decide to.
We also have a large Thule weather-proof roof bag that can be either strapped down to the spare or put on top of the bed cage that would allow us to carry along any spare items we wanted to…even though it’s been sitting in my garage for 2 yrs now and has never been needed on any of our trips.
There’s only 3 people in our house, so my truck fits our needs very well, maybe not yours, but to say it’s not the ideal rig for us is a false statement. While I appreciate your comments and understand that it may not be the ideal vehicle for everyone out there, it is the perfect rig for us and I would not change a thing or pick any other vehicle to be my #1. Throw your bug-out rig up here and I’m sure I could come up with some things that would fit my taste…but if it works for you, then that’s all that counts - right?
As far as keeping it simple, it is in deed built simple. I have the exact same GM 1/2-ton calipers and 3/4-ton rotors on all 4 corners, including the exact same brake hose length out to each caliper so I only have to carry one spare hose. Same 1350 1-ton u-joints & CV’s on each drive shaft so I only need to carry one spare of each. I can find 99% of repair parts for this truck at any auto parts store in the states (on the shelf) and damn near any junk yard as well. Most all the electronics have been stripped out over the years and changed over to manual control (ie. transfer case, front hubs, 4WD computer removed, etc.).
Here’s our truck fully packed on our last 2-week trip with our double tent cot in the back, this trip we drove from TN to SD, ND, MT, WY, CO, etc. We ran a mix of some of the hardest trails in the country, as well as 4,800 miles on the road -
Out of curiosity, what is your current BOV? Care to share pictures?
I’m currently running a Cobra 75 WX CB with a tuned 60" Wilson antenna. I could definitely use a little more power on the radio end, but it works pretty good as it is.
Who did the cage ?
By the way nice ride.
Thanks. Me and a friend who owns a 4WD shop in Gallatin, TN. It’s 120 ft of 1.75" O.D. x .120" wall DOM w/ 6-point frame tie-in for the interior.
Cab still on factory body mounts?
Yes sir, only some of the bolts have been upgraded to larger Grade 8.
So no problem with cage and body rub?
I ask because most of my background is in drag racing,different requirements than 4 wheeling but studying on the subject I see were it is recommended tie the cab to the cage.