Photo courtesy of J. Kammerer
Choosing the perfect BOV for your lifestyle involves many different factors, including some that aren’t so exciting. Just as you would never choose a spouse based on looks alone, don’t fall in love with a BOV’s appearance. Oftentimes, “cool” isn’t practical. Is it possible? Absolutely. But it’s certainly not guaranteed and is actually so unimportant that it doesn’t even make my list of deciding factors. When it comes to a BOV, function always trumps the cool factor.
As a guy, I certainly struggle with this. I want a cool-looking BOV just as much as the next guy, but I’m smart enough to understand that “cool” means zilch when it comes to life-saving benefits. After you get past the initial disappointment that you can’t make a BOV decision based on looks alone, what follows are your core deciding factors.
Yes, this first section is all about the Benjamins. A handful of companies design and manufacture vehicles I consider to be “dream” BOVs. Some of these are tailored specifically to the military and security industries. Others are targeted to outdoor adventure and off-road enthusiasts. All of them are expensive. Because of the price tag, high-end BOVs have an exclusive clientele. Take the UNICAT for example. At over half a million dollars, it is one of the most expensive and feature-rich BOVs on the planet. Its list of capabilities is staggering. Would I like to have it? Heck yeah. Can I afford it? Heck no. But I really like looking at it. And, I think the average consumer can learn a lot from BOVs like these, which is why I’ll feature some dream BOVs, such as the UNICAT, throughout the book.
The reality is that for most of us, budget is the number-one deciding factor that affects our BOVs. It will control much of the decision-making process as you work within the confines of what you can afford. However, a little creativity can make a small budget go a long way. Throughout the book I will discuss several ways to add great features on a tight budget.
The good news is that if you can afford just one mode of transportation, you can afford a BOV. You don’t necessarily need to purchase a separate vehicle that is solely dedicated to Bugging Out. The term everyday driver refers to a vehicle that you drive every day. Yes, your everyday driver can also be your BOV.
Having a BOV that is also your everyday driver does have certain advantages. First, if you drive it every day, you know that vehicle more intimately than you know a vehicle you drive only on occasion. This means you already know how it handles in rain, snow, mud, ice, and other conditions that you experience on a regular basis. You’ve used the drive-thru at the bank enough times to know what kind of clearances you need without having to get out and check. You are familiar with the vehicle’s sounds and know its quirks and limitations. You have a working relationship with your everyday driver that will always be more intimate than with a vehicle you use much less frequently. You also know the vehicle is in good working order.
For a long time, I had a 1972 Ford Bronco dedicated as my BOV. I rarely drove it and I can’t tell you how many times the battery was dead when I tried to start it. This is a classic example of how an awesome dedicated BOV can end up being worthless in a time of immediate need. Dedicated BOVs absolutely require routine attention and maintenance.
If you can afford only one vehicle, I believe that using it as a BOV should be a major consideration when making that purchase. In a moment of crisis, no other purchasing criteria will matter.
Where you live weighs in heavily on your BOV decision. It’s not practical for someone in Manhattan who has limited space and no parking to buy a large SUV. If a large-scale disaster strikes Manhattan, do you really think everyone is going to be able to drive out anyway? They’d have better luck catching a seat on a flying pig. This is true for all large cities. An urbanite’s best BOV option may be a pedal-powered cargo bike. It can fit in an apartment, carry a Bug Out Bag and a few other necessities (like Fido), and weave in and out of jam-packed traffic lines that plug limited exit routes. On the other hand, someone living in a more rural area doesn’t have the same set of limitations and would definitely be better served with a four-wheel drive vehicle of his or her choice.
Similarly, weather in northern Minnesota poses an entirely different set of concerns than the weather in south Florida. This may seem like common sense, but one of the worst decisions I’ve ever made was when I bought a two-wheel drive truck in Indiana. That thing would get stuck on wet pavement. A new two-wheel drive was the same price as a used four-wheel drive, and I let form trump function. Rookie mistake.
Later chapters discuss a huge variety of BOVs and include the pros and cons of each along with who should consider them and why.
Bug Out Cargo Bike by Yuba Bicycles (detailed later). (Photo courtesy of Yuba Bicycles)
Vehicle Model: UNICAT TerraCross 52 Comfort
Manufacturer: UnicatAmericas, Inc., www.unicat.com
Price: $700,000 with all options
The Unicat TerraCross 52 Comfort is designed, engineered, and built to sustain a family of four for two to three months in virtually any climate or terrain conditions. This vehicle is a classic example of a mobile Bug Out Location and its list of features is almost unbelievable. It is totally self-sufficient and meets the highest standards of safety, reliability, durability, capability, range, and comfort. It’s fully winterized and can go from the heat of the Sahara to the cold of the North Pole, to the humidity of a rain forest. It’s built on a 33,000 pound (15,000 kg) rated 4×4 chassis with a two-speed transfer case, six-speed automatic transmission, supplemental alternator, three-point kinematic stress-free body attachment, cab and seat air-ride suspension, cab-to-body passage, ultra light, highly insulated rigid composite body panels, burglar proof, scratch proof, double paned, thermally insulated windows with mosquito netting and black-out blinds, fully equipped kitchen and bathroom, systems-wide redundancy, plenty of outside and inside storage, 200 gallons fuel (1,600 mi range), 110 gallons water and on-board desalination/decontamination unit, diesel hot water and space heating, electrical - 3 ×123w solar panels, 3,000w inverter/charger, 6 × 210ah AGM batteries, 8Kw genset, electronics - 2 × TV/DVD, 2 × AM/FM CD/iPod, CB radio, BGAN global communications, 2 × GPS, propane - 2 × 30 pound (13 kg) cylinders, military-grade first aid kit, full complement of tools and spare parts, two folding bicycles, two-person scooter, 15' inflatable Zodiac w/15hp outboard, two-person kayak, fishing gear, hunting and protection gear, four folding chairs, two tables, and two hammocks. Aside from being a phenomenal adventure travel vehicle, it also makes the list as a dream BOV. Even though most can’t afford a vehicle like this, we can still learn a great deal by studying its list of features.
UNICAT TerraCross 52 Comfort Bug Out Vehicle
(Photo courtesy of Avi Meyers, CEO Unicat Americas, Inc.)
Who you live with affects your BOV options. Not only must your BOV safely fit the people and animals you intend to save, but it must also accommodate their Bug Out Bags and any additional supplies you intend to pack, such as strollers, wagons, fuel, water, wheelchair(s), etc. Yes, a large SUV will fit six people. But will it fit six people, a child seat, a golden retriever, five Bug Out Bags, a stroller, and a cooler of food? I don’t know. Even if the answer is no, the vehicle might still work. Additional exterior storage might be necessary. We will discuss exterior storage options later in the book. Sometimes it’s the simple oversights that have the worst consequences. Preplanning is critical.
I believe that no Bug Out Plan is complete without a predetermined survival destination—your Bug Out Location (BOL). The details of this location may affect the type of BOV you should choose. I know a guy whose BOL is on an island in the ocean. He actually has two BOVs. One is a truck to get him to the dock. The other is a sailboat to get him to the island. Obviously, his BOL dictates his BOV. I also have a friend whose BOL is at the end of a fourteen-mile road (road is an exaggeration) near the top of a mountain that is only passable with a four-wheel drive vehicle. His vehicle must have four-wheel drive. A BOL that’s one thousand miles away (not recommended) may require a more fuel-efficient vehicle than one that is two hundred miles away. Does your BOL limit the kind of BOV you can choose?
We will soon begin to discuss and consider a variety of products, tools and supplies that one should consider when packing a BOV. Before we do, you need to start defining what kind of BOV packer you are. There are three strategies to consider and none of them are wrong. It will help if you decide early on in the process which one you are most comfortable with.
This category is for those of you who feel you have pretty much everything you need for a 72-hour Bug Out packed in your Bug Out Bag. You do not see a need to pack more survival tools, food, water, or supplies in your BOV. After all, that’s what a Bug Out Bag is for, right? A BOV is simply a mode of transportation from point A to point B, nothing more and nothing less.
This category is for those of you who see a BOV as another layer of security and choose to pack redundant survival tools, food, water, and supplies inside even though you already have those items packed into your Bug Out Bag. You have decided to reserve your Bug Out Bag as a last-ditch effort and don’t want to break into it until you are officially on foot. In essence, you look at your BOV as another really big Bug Out Bag. You plan on using the resources in your BOV first before you open your Bug Out Bag. Note: This is the category I fall into.
Most people will find themselves most comfortable with this strategy. For some reason or other (maybe time or budget) you don’t want to pack a bunch of redundant items in your BOV that you already have in your Bug Out Bag. You may decide to pack some redundant items but certainly not everything. Your BOV isn’t an entirely independent second layer, but rather a great spot to pack extra stuff that you couldn’t fit into your Bug Out Bag, like more water, a bigger shelter, and some extra clothes. You have no problem with using items out of your Bug Out Bag while traveling in your BOV.
Too much gear for this BOV
Your lifestyle will help you choose a general type of vehicle to use for Bugging Out. You need a vehicle you can afford, works with your environment, accommodates your full load (of people and supplies), and gets you where you need to go.
But lifestyle details aren’t the only factors to consider when choosing a BOV. The attributes of the BOV itself are equally important. Two people can choose the same type of BOV but outfit them to perform very differently. The devil is in the details. The next chapter covers the attributes I believe every BOV must have.