Bug Out Vehicles: Lessons From These Badass Setups

Best Bug Out Vehicles To Learn From For Your Own Rig

So you want to bug out but are not keen on walking.

I get it…why walk with a heavy bug out bag when you can ride in a badass bug out vehicle?

You can carry more stuff and get to your location faster.

If you’re going to bug out via motor transportation, you better choose one ready for SHTF.

In my opinion, there are two kinds of bug out vehicles.

• The ones that 99.9% of us CAN’T afford
• The ones we CAN afford

So in this article, I want to cover both.

We’ll start off by checking a few of the insanely expensive bug out vehicles…you know, just for fun.

However, even tho we cannot afford these bug out trucks…they can still provide some good modification ideas and inspiration for our own garages.

Then, once we’re done wiping the drool off our faces, we’ll talk about the capabilities we should look for in a solid (affordable) bug out vehicle.

Finally, I’ll wrap things up by sharing with you what I think are the two best bug out options for most preppers.

So Let’s Suspend Reality For A Few Minutes, Shall We…

Obviously, 99.9% of us cannot afford the following ultimate bug out vehicles (including me).

However, it’s fun to see what is being designed, and for us regular joe’s, maybe they can provide some inspiration.

Plus, they’re just badass.

Top 10 Best Bug Out Vehicles | Best Survival Vehicle

The Arctic Tacoma

Who knew back in 2010 Toyota built a Polar Expedition truck for arctic conditions?

If your bug out location happens to be in Antarctica (hey…at least the population densities are low there), then this would be your dream bug out vehicle.

This bug out truck was designed and used to travel to the South Pole.

What’s even more impressive is that it successfully did just that in record time (under 40 hours).

If you got one, you’d have a 4.0-liter V6 supercharged engine that makes 341 HP. It also has an extended-range gas tank that holds up to 330 gallons (so at 15 MPG, you’re looking at 4950 miles until your next refill).

It’s outfitted with a set of Mickey T. Icepack tires, a beefy roll cage, and a custom suspension made with military-grade steel.

Making this cold-weather lover’s dream machine only took a mere $400,000 in mods.

The Tactical Armored Beast

Imagine this Tactical Armored Bug Out Vehicle parked in your garage. It’ll be perfect for when the roads are unpassable due to all-out chaos.

This survival bug out vehicle’s curb weight is shy of 20,000 lbs, so you can imagine that it needs something equally as hefty to move it.

It comes equipped with a 6.7 L V8 Diesel that delivers 300 HP and more than 600 lb-ft of torque.

It has a few nice bug out features, such as a 6-speed auto tranny, 4 by 4, and a 40-gallon diesel tank.

The fuel economy will be terrible with this one…my guess? Probably about 6 MPG.

The Rhino

Rhino…what an appropriate name for this massive bug out vehicle. As we all know, rhinos are tough SOBs and not animals to be messed with.

It lives up to its badass name by combining a Ford 450’s Super Duty frame (which is made using 18 gauge steel). A 362 HP engine powers it due to its 6.8 L V10 Single Overhead Cam design.

It has all the extras, including 38-inch mud tires, 20 by 10″ aluminum-alloy wheels, heavy-duty calipers, and vented disc brakes.

I think you’ll make it to your bug out location just fine in this beast.

The Defender

Looking for a bug out truck that includes camper conversion and side storage for your firearms? Then it makes sense that you’d enjoy bugging out in the Land Rover Defender.

The biggest limiting factor is that it only has room for 2. What it lacks in the number of people it can transport, it makes up for in camping qualities.

It has an outdoor kitchen system, a folding stove, outside lights, and camping gear storage.

Who needs a bug out location if you got this guy to survive in?

Now if only it didn’t run on gas…

The Military Combat Machine

How about this combat vehicle for your bug out transportation? It’s definitely in the running for my ultimate armored badass vehicle award.

The amount of protection you’d have is unprecedented, and it can handle even the most extreme terrains.

This 8-ton beast can plow through water levels up to 1.5 meters deep, thanks to its .7 meters of ground clearance. I suppose the 54-inch tires are responsible for that.

It’s designed with a 6.5-liter Cobra diesel power plant under the hood and can carry 1.5 tons of weight through mud, sand, or loose gravel. While its four-speed auto tranny allows it to do all that at up to 75 MPH.

Seats have straps and harnesses, with room for up to 8.

As far as protection goes, it’s designed to be able to deflect ammunition and even land mines.

Even if you did have the money to blow on something as awesome as this…you still couldn’t buy one. Since it’s military designed, a civilian cannot purchase it (I know!  Bummer.)

Oh, and you see that, right…it’s a turret poking out the top of this beast.

COMBAT GUARD

The Traffic Un-Jammer

Ok, here’s what you need when all the roads out of the city are clogged. Just line them up and clear your own path.

MythBusters Epic Car Split

Enough Dreaming…Let’s Get Real

While ogling at those Ultimate Bug Out Vehicle images was admittedly fun, it’s also not realistic.

Maybe we can use a few of the broader concepts for some inspiration, but very few of us can afford the 600k + price tags such machines cost.

What I want to accomplish in the remaining part of this article is to show you some bug out vehicle options that the everyday survivalist might be able to 1) afford or 2) assemble.

Before we jump into a few examples of realistic bug out vehicle examples, let’s go over the aspects that make something worthy of being called a bug out vehicle.

How Will Your Bug Out Vehicle Be Used?

The answer to this question will help you make a wise bug out vehicle choice.

• Will you be transporting several people or just yourself?
• How many supplies and gear do you plan to take with you (food, water, guns, emergency blankets, ammo, etc.)?
• What sort of terrain will you encounter on your way to your bug out location?
• How far is your bug out location?
• Will you need to refuel due to gas mileage issues?
• Do you want to be able to offroad around potential roadblocks?

Plus, you might prefer to have a big enough, beefy enough vehicle to drive through a fence…

How Important Are Off-Road Capabilities?

Personally, I think this is a must for any respectable bug out vehicle. However, I also agree that you don’t need the best of the best here either.

All you really need for survival is good clearance and 4 by 4; then, you’ll be able to transverse 99% of what you’ll most likely run into.

Without these 2 basic offroad capabilities, you may end up like this.

Car got stuck in the mud

A good bug out location will be in a remote area, so the odds of encountering muddy hills or deep ruts offroading are much higher.

While 4×4’s vehicles can also get stuck…if you’re not constantly putting it to the maximum test, then the odds are significantly reduced you’ll get stuck.

However, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing.

If you’re thinking about getting this sort of clearance (see image on the right), then sure, you’ll be able to clear anything, but your vehicle’s center of gravity is too high, and rollovers are more likely.

If you look back at all the unaffordable bug out truck examples at the start of this article…you’ll see that none of them have extreme clearances.

They all have good clearances, but not at the sacrifice of good balance.

Or You Could Always Add A Set Of These…

I literally just found these the other day, and they look amazing.

They can be used in all terrain but excel in softer terrain like snow.

Dominator Track System American Track Truck

The Dominator Track System can turn just about any ordinary 4 by 4 truck into an off-road terrain-taming beast.

It’s hard to believe, but the company making these claims they’re easy to install and can be done in less than an hour.

They also suggest that they come off as easy as they are installed, taking your bug out truck (or all-wheel car!) from a super-powered terrain destroyer back to a daily driver in under an hour.

Old Vs. New

There’s an ongoing debate over which makes for a better bug out vehicle…old models or newer models. I don’t intend to break down every single angle of this topic today, but let’s hit on some of the highlights.

One major concern for newer model vehicles is how dependent on electronics these vehicles are. In an EMP attack, they may be rendered useless.

However, there are some significant concerns related to older vehicles too.

With really old vehicles, finding replacement parts might be challenging when SHTF.

They also might require more frequent maintenance than a new vehicle. Sure, the design is much simpler, so it tends to be more straightforward to work on, but you’ll probably be doing so more often.

Another aspect of this debate is vehicle abuse.

So which survival vehicle can take more abuse? Older or newer?

You might want to look at this crash test video if you choose older.

1959 Chevrolet Bel Air vs. 2009 Chevrolet Malibu crash test

The saying, “they just don’t make ’em the way they used to,” might be right in some respects, but newer vehicles are made with better materials and better designed for safety reasons.

Aftermarket Accessories Options

Ideally, you want a vehicle decked out with bolt-on accessories to improve your stock setup.

Full Spare Tire

Having a full spare tire is essential. If you blow a tire mid-bug out, will you really put confidence in a donut spare? Enough said.

If your vehicle doesn’t have a full-stock spare, you must purchase one and find a way to store it.

Here’s an example of a full spare added to the roof of a jeep.

You’ll Need Storage

You’ll want some storage for your survival gear and supplies.

You won’t need as much vehicle storage if you have a badass survival trailer or camper. If you are not pulling a trailer or camper, you’ll need some storage space as part of the vehicle itself.

I like the bed of a pickup truck.

Get a topper to keep your supplies and gear from adverse weather conditions.

So what are the main things you’ll probably be storing?

Light Rack

Running offroad at night takes good lighting. You must avoid rocks, cliffs, and wildlife to make it from point A to point B safely.

So get a high-powered light rack onto your bug out vehicle.

Fuel

If you are going further than one tank of gas can take you, then you’ll have to have some extra fuel. You shouldn’t rely on any gas stations when SHTF.

Even if you are only traveling less than 1 tank of gas…are you sure your tank will be full when SHTF?

Plus, you’ll want to have some fuel when you get to your bug out location.

Emergency Jump Starter

Having a bug out vehicle that won’t start isn’t going to do you any good.

It’s worth carrying around a small (but insanely powerful) emergency jump starter that can get your bug out vehicle running again if the battery dies.

This badass device will pay off today and help you be prepared for the future; win-win.

Guns and Ammo

Take as many survival guns, rifles, and ammo as you have room to spare.

Plus, you should get Keeper Gun Magnet to have your survival pistol close by while traveling down the road.

Food

You’ll want to take a bunch of food you’ve stockpiled with you unless your bug out location is fully stocked ahead of time.

Water

It’s always a good idea to have some extra water on hand.

You’ll want your final bug out location to have a natural water source, but if something happens on your way there, you’ll want some water with you.

Just remember, when you’ve found your source of drinking water, you’ll definitely want to be able to purify the water before drinking it.

Survival Gear

Don’t forget all the rest of your survival gear.

From fire starters to survival bows; survival knives; solar lanterns; jerry can water filters, and maybe even some survival playing cards to help pass the time.

It will add up to a decent amount of stuff and take up room in your vehicle.

Of course, a lot of your gear should already be ready to go in your bug out bag.

Even if you have a bug out vehicle, you should also have a ready-to-go bug out bag. Never know when you have to ditch your vehicle…

Hauling Capacity

Will you be hauling a camper or a trailer to your bug out location? If so, you’ll need enough towing capacity to pull it.

Find out what your hauling capacity needs are, and then make certain your bug out vehicle meets the minimum requirement.

Protection

When the SHTF, how much civil unrest will there be? Probably best to plan for the worst.

So you’ll want to think of some ways to protect your vehicle from objects being thrown, such as bricks.

Ideally, your vehicle would be bulletproof, but I know of no affordable way to add this to your bug out vehicle.

A Couple Of Realistic Bug Out Vehicles

Here are a couple of videos of realistic bug out vehicles that have most of the capabilities we just covered above:

Survival Skills 101: Time To Bug Out! The Perfect Bug Out Vehicle?

ULTIMATE BugOut Jeep – Black Scout Survival

If I Had To Choose Just One For Survival…

So if I were forced to choose just one realistic but best bug out vehicle option, it would be a toss-up between an off-road equipped pickup truck (with a topper) or a jeep wrangler unlimited (with a trailer). Something along these lines…

Both options meet all the previously discussed bug out vehicle criteria points and are reasonably affordable for many survivalists.

To recap

• It should have basic offroad capabilities with clearance and  4×4.
• Ideally, it has some aftermarket accessories to add extra capabilities and protection to your bug out vehicle.
• It needs to have a full spare tire, no donuts allowed!
• You’ll want something with a good amount of storage or the ability to haul a camper or survival trailer so you can store stuff.

After you’ve met these basic criteria, you can add as many “extra” accessories as you want. You can add some SHTF communications devices (like a cell phone booster) and navigation devices.

It’s up to you, but getting a solid bug out vehicle doesn’t have to be an impossible task. Just stick to the basic criteria and build from there.

What’s your bug out vehicle of choice? What do you believe are the most critical vehicle features when SHTF? Let me know in the comments below.

Prepare, Adapt and Overcome,

“Just In Case” Jack

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