Best SHTF Vehicle (consumer-grade, within reason)?

[ArcadiaGP]

Let's say you're ready to buy a new vehicle... what's the ideal consumer-level car/truck/etc for a SHTF-minded person? A big truck, some jeep, something else?

Asking for something within reason... a humvee isn't "consumer grade" in my mind. Something you'd pay no mind to if you saw it on the highway every day.

What do you consider a good SHTF vehicle, INGO?

 

[cbhausen]

Can I change the premise of the question? Lots of good used SUVs out there that have never been truly off-road. Let someone else take the depreciation hit. Hummer? Why not?

Also, GM Savana/Astro AWD vans always come up on this discussion. As for brand-new vehicles I have no idea. Maybe an AWD minivan?

 

[Bfish]

Let me twist things a bit...

I think having something with good fuel economy is a real plus. Then if you have some fuel on hand you can go wayyy further than with a Jeep or Truck. Think of the VW cars that do 600 and some odd miles a tank. Then if you had some fuel at home in cans... That would take you a long way in a time where you may not have access to fuel otherwise...
I am just trying to offer you a different way of thinking. If things go south for us as a country for a little while (short term, or even if not. I'd envision issues such as no fuel/power rather than something like a "apocalypse." However I feel I am just being somewhat realistic here. Everyone thinks different. I think even more important than the kind of vehicle you have is what you have in it. Such as medical supplies and many other things other things you are way more likely to need at anytime in life more than just when something "big" happens. It may be for someone else not you, but a daily preparedness and the ability to travel to and from home a lot as needed in a time without access to fuel for a bit. Or in the event you need to leave you could go a long way in such a vehicle tinkling this way with little "prep."

Just what I would think about when buying a new vehicle as it would be most likely much more practical now and could be of way more value in such a situation especially if you already have a truck or jeep. I understand there could be a need to go off road at some point in time, but it all depends on what issues have arose, 4x4 may not always be the solution to a problem that's risen.

 

[natdscott]

Given your requirement for being virtually unnoticeable, I'd go with a Subaru, lifted just a touch for more snow/ice clearance, with a winch and enough cable to pull it out if, indeed, you do ever manage to get it stuck. It would be good to have the 6-cylinder, as it has almost none of the head gasket issues the 4-cyl has had. Subaru keeps saying they have fixed it, but the reality with any horizontal boxer is, unlike with V-type motors, that you are CONSTANTLY going to have fluids sitting on those gaskets, and that's not 'best', by some expert's estimation.

That being said, they are still extremely reliable vehicles. If you could get a timing CHAIN 6-cylinder, with the 5-speed manual, and in an Outback or Forester, you are there. They are a simple drive train, and they are easily maintained, though most of the factory parts are good for 200,000 miles or more as-is. I'd know.

They have the best AWD in the business, and you'd expect that from a company that has been doing it on every vehicle they make for about 4 decades. Their AWS may not be as good in getting OUT of the crap as 4WD lockers, but it's a FAR sight better at keeping you out of it in the first place.

Mileage is going to be very good for an AWD vehicle, nearing 30 in almost all vehicles after about 2009, and the new ones are well over that, with the addition of the CVT tranny (though I might still want the manual for, uh, "shtf" or whatever we're calling it).


That's my opinion as a non-"car guy" and a non- SHTF guy, but one who has worked on a fair amount of stuff, and knows a little about what is easy to work on, and what isn't, and what doesn't NEED it very often.

-Nate

 

[ArcadiaGP]

I'm just presenting the stage as an open question. I didn't even consider "fuel efficiency" as a point. That's definitely a big consideration if the situation involves getting long distances without gas availability. So a good mix of that, with "defensive" or "off-road" capabilities perhaps?

 

[17 squirrel]

My F350 with a 7.3 will do 475 + miles on a tankfull, add the extra fuel tank/ toolbox in the back that holds 90 more gallons I can get to anyone in my family I need to get to.

 

[Kutnupe14]

For "A" person? Motorcycle/moped/bicycle. For a family, 4 door jeep.

 

[Kutnupe14]

My F350 with a 7.3 will do 475 + miles on a tankfull, add the extra fuel tank/ toolbox in the back that holds 90 more gallons I can get to anyone in my family I need to get to.

I'd prefer something that wasn't going to give away my location half a mile away.

 

[17 squirrel]

I'd prefer something that wasn't going to give away my location half a mile away.

Ahhhh.. Crew cab, a 8' bed and a obscenely loud Diesel engine, luckily it's painted stealthy black, I just hit the silent mode switch on the dash and cruise along. Plus if something gets in the way, I just push it out of the way.
Plus the payload is incredible, 6 adults and a crapton in the bed.

 

[Bfish]

I am thinking if things were to get super bad such as another country invades or who knows what else, then it wouldn't matter what you drove. Short of an armored vehicle and gas wound't be an issue in such a society or with abandoned vehicles. However, if something happened where we lost infrastructure for awhile and society was still in order then things change a lot. Being prepared for both is even more difficult almost.

However, I am saying this without much of any extra fuel on hand... But I do have access to many modes of transportation to fit all criteria. I am not too much of a "prepper guy"

 

[Bfish]

Ahhhh.. Crew cab, a 8' bed and a obscenely loud Diesel engine, luckily it's painted stealthy black, I just hit the silent mode switch on the dash and cruise along. Plus if something gets in the way, I just push it out of the way.
Plus the payload is incredible, 6 adults and a crapton in the bed.

I hope to afford such a nice truck one day

 

[jbombelli]

I'm getting one of these.


https://youtu.be/cOiK6HR7BEk

 

[BehindBlueI's]

 

[17 squirrel]

I hope to afford such a nice truck one day

It's a 2000 .. I wish it was a new King Ranch myself..
The problem is when you drive big, when it breaks, you also pay big.

 

[Bfish]

It's a 2000 .. I wish it was a new King Ranch myself..
The problem is when you drive big, when it breaks, you also pay big.

That's the number 1 reason I've seen to stay away from diesel trucks honestly...

 

[jd4320t]

4x4 and true off road ability. Something that's is somewhat popular so parts can be found. Ability to carry a small group of people and their stuff.

Of course, In my opinion, all of that only applies if you and the vehicle are already away from cities. If you aren't...

Until this summer I'd lived in the city for over seven years. I had a little bit of a plan of what I'd do and it always involved my two feet. I work downtown and spend a lot of time down here so if something were to happen whatever vehicle I'm driving won't even make it off company property.

Now I live close to the edge of the city but still work downtown. I'm still in the same boat on work nights.

My plan is a bag in my car and my two feet.


Just think about snow storms, summer storms and situations like that. Think about all the vehicles that slide off the road or vehicles that get stuck in wet grass that turns quickly into a mud pit. I just saw it this summer at the county fair. Even 4x4 trucks had to be pulled out of grass they parked in. You could put a small fortune into a vehicle and have it put out of commission with a minor event.

Unfortunately we can't get what we'll really need and have it be very economical. A true 4x4 with power, off road ability and payload capacity.

 

[jake blue]

As I think we've already seen, there is no single 'ideal' vehicle but rather there's a most suitable vehicle for the particular situation... and since none of us can predict when the SHTF or what exactly the nature of that scenario will be, it seems like the best bet is to identify the most flexible and suitable vehicle for your particular situation. For example, as a single person if I think that the crisis can strike without warning and I will have to get out of town fast but am likely to face gridlock like JD4320T illustrated, then a bug out backpack and a dirt bike are in order. Alternatively, if I think the crisis is more likely to be on par with a mass migration like the EU refugee crisis, then I had better have enough supplies and a large enough vehicle to tote them - so I like JBOMBELLI's idea although I would gravitate towards a school bus because it is going to provide better ground clearance and is much more commonly available parts. I like the idea of a 4-door Jeep or SUV that's really off-road capable and not just 4wd but worthless off of pavement. And of course self-defense needs to be a factor so that's also a scaled factor which each person needs to weigh for themselves. Cost not being a factor, all you have to do is look at what the Secret Service and security firms use which is the biggest, strongest but discreet SUVs that can carry the VIPs and enough armor to protect them as well as a reasonable amount of all-terrain capability. Of course those scenarios are mostly presented as immediate threat and response... long-term survivability is a whole other animal and calls for its own evaluation.

 

[BigBoxaJunk]

For me, a big consideration for a prepping vehicle is using it for prepping as much as for surviving after the SHTF. I've been looking awhile for a decent pickup and I finally found a 1999 GMC 4X4 with only 67k miles on it.

Now, with my utility trailer, I can get serious about getting in a several year supply of firewood for the stove. I can finish my plan to build several more big long raised beds. I also plan to stock up on plywood and some 2x4's.

 

[dusty88]

Lots of good thoughts here.

Like any prepping, prep for what's likely and not for the unlikely severe situation that you won't survive anyway.

I also like the idea of older vehicles that some people can still work on. I have no mechanical skills myself, but I know a lot of people that can fix pre-computer cars. Still that only comes in to play if you are worried about lack of parts for an extended period of time. Even that is offset by you or another family member having an extra car. Or maybe the most important repair issue is reliability plus the prevalence of the vehicle. My husband had a Toyota and now a Volkswagen. Those vehicles are always more expensive to repair and tougher to get parts for (in our experience). If things were really in a bad way, you might be able to barter for spare parts from other vehicles, so maybe not having the purple elephant is also a good choice.

What has helped us get through minor difficulties without a major disaster? A reliable 4WD that can carry a lot of stuff. Even in a long traffic jam, the 4WD with good clearance can turn around in a ditch or jump a curb that other cars can't handle. You can carry enough fuel with you to make up for the fact the fuel economy isn't good. You can sit fairly comfortably through a snowstorm/interstate blockage and have your emergency gear close at hand. Meanwhile, leave the thing at home when you are taking a long local drive on a nice day.

I guess ultimately is what do you envision as a problem? If we are working in Indy and some local disaster clogs the roads, it probably doesn't matter much what we drive. It's going to take hours. Or it's going to be impassible and at some point we decide to hoof it. Or the 4WD allows us to take a route around other problems.

At home, I definitely want the large 4WD vehicle. If there is a long "bug in" due to these very real possibilities: fuel shortages or expense, epidemics, job loss, then I want to be able to use the truck on the property. I also want the option of a 1-time move to a relative's house, where we can take the family, our stuff, and the pets.


Don't forget a bicycle along with spare tubes and basic repair knowledge. In my lifetime, there have been several time periods where fuel was very difficult to get either nationally or in certain localities. It's also darn useful in that personal SHTF of "job loss". With a backpack and a bike trailer, I can get groceries, pick up medicine, or go help a neighbor without using fuel. Part of the plan might be to put your bicycle in the back of the truck or on a bike rack.

 

[MCgrease08]

I've been considering a couple of options in this area myself, based on the following criteria.

Must be big enough for my family of four, with enough cargo room for some basic equipment.
4x4 and at least moderately off-road capable
Must accept a bike-rack and roof rack for canoes or kayaks (zombies can't swim)
Tow hooks and ability to mount a winch
Full sized spare tire
Decent gas mileage would be a plus but I'd likely be carrying Jerry cans too
a tow package (2,000 lbs or more)
Lifted enough to ford through a foot of standing water or more
Something I could buy off the lot with minimal or no aftermarket mods needed

For me, I've been looking at:

Toyota FJ cruiser
Jeep Renegade (trailhawk model)
Subaru Outback
An older model Jeep Cherokee (not the new ugly ones)
Toyota Tundra

Now paying for it is a different story.