Even if your BOV starts the journey in perfect running order, a disaster Bug Out presents a minefield of potential maintenance issues. The ability to make expedient field repairs for common vehicle break-down problems is a necessary component to any BOV Bug Out kit. From punctured tires and dead batteries to lost keys and broken belts, the most popular causes for breakdowns can be solved with a little preplanning and a few basic spare parts and tools. Below are some categories to consider when stocking vehicle maintenance preps.
Road rubble from building or industrial debris and off-road hazards, such as thorns (locust tree) or nails, can easily puncture a tire. The first line of defense is a spare, preferably full size. This is the quickest and easiest solution to getting back on the road. Spare tires, especially full size, can take up a lot of space. I’ve chosen to mount mine to the exterior using the Warrior Products Universal Spare Tire Mount for quick and easy access. Many cars come with smaller space-saving spares often referred to as “donuts.” If you don’t have room for a full-size spare, consider picking up an extra donut at a local junkyard. They are normally only a few bucks. Donuts aren’t meant for high speeds or long distances, so having a “spare donut” for your “spare donut” is recommended. This may seem obvious, but it’s important to routinely check your spare tire’s air pressure. I had a flat once on the expressway and went to put on my spare only to find out that it was also flat. Needless to say, I learned a big lesson.
A nice floor jack is a recommended upgrade to the stock scissor or piston jack that comes standard in most vehicles. Floor jacks are easier and faster to use. They are also much more stable, especially on uneven or off-road surfaces. They typically come with a much more durable tire iron as well. If not, consider buying one of those as well.
Vehicles with significant ground clearance will need what’s called a Hi-Lift Jack from www.hi-lift.com. Hi-Lift Jacks are designed specifically to bridge this high clearance gap and are used extensively by off-road enthusiasts in harsh environments all over the world. They are a rugged versatile tool that not only lift but also pull, push, winch, and clamp. I’ve even used my Hi-Lift Jack to pull fence posts.
I also suggest packing a square 24" × 24" (61cm × 61cm) of 3⁄4-inch (2cm) thick piece of plywood (also mentioned in chapter six). This can be used to place under a jack to prevent it from sinking into soft gravel, mud, or sand. Without this, you’ll be forced to improvise with what you can find at your location, which might not be much. Expect the unexpected.
Your last line of defense in fixing a flat tire should include some Fix-A-Flat, a tire repair kit, and a 12-volt electric air compressor. Fix-A-Flat is designed to seal small punctures and inflate a tire long enough to relocate and seek a more permanent fix. Flat tires seem to only happen at the worst possible time, and a quick shot of Fix-A-Flat or Slime Tire Sealant may be just what you need in order to find a safer spot to change or repair the tire. Learn more about these products at fixaflat.com and slime.com.
Tire punctures from nails, wire, thorns, and glass don’t necessarily destroy a tire. Repairing that puncture may be your best option. An inexpensive tire repair kit combined with a 12-volt mini air compressor allows you to quickly fix simple punctures in the field. Twelve-volt mini compressors simply plug into a cigarette lighter port and run using the power from a vehicle’s electrical system. They can be used to inflate tires, air mattresses, and even inflatable canoes and life rafts.
Flat tire
Unexpected screw in tire
Warrior Products Universal Spare Tire Mount from www.warriorproducts.com
Spare “donut” compared to full-size tire
Floor jack (left) and stock scissor and piston jacks (right)
Hi-Lift Jack lifting Creek’s BOV
Hi-Lift Off-Road Jack mounted to Creek’s BOV
Board base under vehicle jack
Jack sinking in sand
Fix-A-Flat aerosol tire inflator and Slime Tire Sealant
Fix-A-Flat Brand 12-volt mini air compressor
Car batteries rarely give an owner early warning signs for failure. One day they can start your car and the next day be dead as a doornail. Something as simple as leaving the lights on can drain a brand-new battery in just a few hours. Or, a battery can just go bad after years of use. Either way, preparing to deal with battery trouble is a good idea.
An Emergency Kit (detailed later in this chapter) with jumper cables is an absolute Bug Out necessity. Getting a jump from another evacuee or member of your Bug Out Convoy may be all you need to get back up and running. Sometimes, though, it’s not that easy. Batteries have a life and you never know when they will die. I keep a spare new battery in my BOV. It’s expensive (a hundred dollars) but worth it in peace of mind. I’ve hooked up a solar battery trickle charger from AutoZone to keep this spare topped off at all times. In a pinch, you can also use this spare battery with an inverter to run small electrical items such as lights, a laptop, or battery chargers. I also attached L-brackets to the floor to keep the battery from shifting around during travel.
Jump-start boost units are also available. These are often charged from your cigarette lighter during normal travel and can be used to jump a dead battery if you have no other options. This obviously isn’t necessary if you keep a spare battery, but they are still pretty cool products.
Solar battery trickle charger mounted to exterior of BOV
L-brackets to secure battery and inverter
Mobile jump-start boost unit
Though not technically a break-down, lost or locked-in keys is statistically one of the most common reasons for calling roadside assistance. Especially with older BOVs like mine, locking your keys inside is an easy mistake to make. I’ll admit to doing it on more than one occasion. Disasters manufacture very chaotic environments, and it’s not hard at all to imagine misplacing or losing a set of BOV keys in the hustle and bustle of getting out the door or even during a rushed stop midway through the journey. An easy solution is to keep a spare set of keys in a magnetic hide-a-key case under the bumper or frame of your vehicle.
Many modern vehicles have a key fob instead of a traditional key. Oftentimes, these fobs are battery dependent. It is a well-known fact that batteries fail only when you need them most, so be sure to keep a spare key fob battery on hand if your vehicle uses this technology. I’ve heard stories of people with these fobs not even being able to open their car door due to a dead fob battery.
Magnetic hide-a-key case
Fancy key fob that does not use a traditional key
Everything man-made will eventually break and oftentimes will do so without warning or good reason. Routine maintenance, as discussed previously, will keep most of the catastrophic malfunctions at bay, but you still must prepare for the worst. Keeping a selection of spare parts and fluids in your BOV can turn a life-threatening breakdown into just an annoying hiccup. Below is a list of the most common spare parts and fluids to consider:
Most common spare parts:
Most common extra fluids:
A few extra fluids
Spare BOV parts
Extra box of fuses
A small toolbox with commonly used tools will be necessary for almost any impromptu field repair. And, you just never know when a good tool will come in handy. Below is a minimum list. You can supplement this list as you feel necessary.
Screwdrivers
Pliers
Socket set that includes both standard and metric sizes
Wrench set that includes both standard and metric sizes
BOV toolbox
Besides tools, the below assortment of miscellaneous supplies can certainly come in handy for improvised field repairs that might require creative solutions.
Duct Tape: Do I really need an explanation for why to pack one roll (or twelve) of duct tape? Entire books have been written about the multifunctional uses for duct tape. Trust me, pack a few rolls.
Plastic Zip Ties: Zip ties are perfect for gear repairs or organizing rope, wire, and cables. Keep a variety of sizes on hand.
Thick-Gauge Bailing Wire: You never know when you might have to secure a loose or broken exhaust pipe. Thick-gauge wire has a variety of uses.
Metal Strapping: This has a similar purpose as thick-gauge wire so only one or the other is necessary. This is typically found in the plumbing section of hardware stores.
Hand-Pump Siphon: Did you know that some gas can spouts won’t fit into the hole of your car’s tank? A siphon can help you fill your tank but also scavenge fuel from other sources if necessary.
Hose Clamps: When you need a hose clamp, nothing else will quite work.
Repair Manual: Very detailed and extensive repair manuals are available for many vehicles. These are typically much more helpful than the service manual that comes with the vehicle. Consider packing one of these just in case. A popular manual supplier is Haynes.com.
Work Gloves: Ever tried changing a flat tire in the middle of winter or clearing brush with a hand saw while winching a truck through harsh terrain? If you ever have to, you’ll wish you had a nice pair of all-purpose gloves. Gloves not only keep your hands clean, but can also protect them from cuts, scratches, and inclement weather. I prefer an all-purpose tactical- style glove that works well for a variety of tasks including handling tools, driving, shooting, reloading magazines, and sifting through Bug Out Gear. I’ve chosen the Reactor Hard Knuckle from Hatch. Hatch specializes in the military and law enforcement sectors. The Reactor gloves have built-in hard PVC knuckles and foam padding, but are still flexible enough to use with more detailed tasks.
Duct tape, plastic zip ties, metal strapping, and hose clamps
Selection of hand-pump siphons
Reactor Hard Knuckle Gloves from www.hatch-corp.com
It’s a good idea to keep a standard emergency kit in every vehicle, whether it’s your BOV or not. This kit should include a variety of basic emergency items. You can assemble these à la cart on your own, but sometimes they can be cheaper (and certainly easier) to buy in a prepackaged kit. This 110-piece kit is available at bellautomotive.com for only around thirty dollars and includes all the basics. Notice it contains some duplicate items previously mentioned, but it doesn’t hurt to have extras, and it’s nice to have all of these items located in one easy-to-find bag or tote. The following list identifies the emergency kit item followed by the recommended quantity for your kit:
No vehicle emergency kit would be complete without a fire extinguisher. I’ve added a dry chemical MaxOut fire extinguisher available from h3rperformance.com. This particular extinguisher is very effective against automotive fires because it smothers liquid fires without conducting electricity back to the operator. It is also rated effective against wood, paper, rubber, and plastics, which makes it ideal for a BOL once you arrive as well. Their quick-release billet aluminum mounting brackets provide a rock-solid attachment to virtually any surface to keep it in place during bumpy evacuation conditions.
The last tool I’ve added to this emergency kit is on my key ring. The ResQMe tool is designed as a quick access dual-purpose emergency tool. It has a hook blade for cutting through seatbelts and also a striking function designed for shattering windows. You may need this to escape if the earthquake you’re running from flips your BOV in a watery ditch, trapping everyone inside.
H3R Performance MaxOut Automotive Fire Extinguisher with billet aluminum mounting bracket
Bellautomotive.com 110-piece emergency kit
H3R Performance MaxOut Automotive Fire Extinguisher mounted in BOV
ResQMe 2-in-1 Key Chain Rescue Tool from www.resqme.com
Add fire starter to the long list of duct tape’s multifunctional uses. Tear it into thin strips and make an “urban bird’s nest.” When exposed to an open flame, such as a disposable lighter, a bird’s nest of duct tape can be excellent tinder to get a fire going in adverse conditions.
Duct tape bird’s nest on fire
I know, there’s a lot of items mentioned in this chapter. It can feel a bit overwhelming to someone just starting out. Don’t expect to assemble these items in one weekend or even one month. Piece together the vehicle maintenance portion of your BOV over time as your budget allows. You may already have many of these items and it’s just a matter of organizing them in your vehicle. This is the first place to start. Then, prioritize other items that you need to acquire.