Any fellow survivalists utilize their truck?

That's a great idea with the magnets. I'm going to use that one.

 

I keep several of those magnets in the truck. I also have 2 tied with large lengths of braided fishing line in case I drop something like a lug nut in a hole. Playing around, I found that 2 hard drive magnets are strong enough to lift a crowbar out of a manhole, 1 is strong enough for a heavy hammer.

 

Those look like the Ziploc containers that walmart has, great containers but I wanted a taller container and I put a hole in one on the dunes... The cabelas container are more rugged... ..

 

I chuckled at first then remembered my G/F who works in health care had to go for Ebola training yesterday.

Calgary has already setup a treatment centre. Definitely a good time to stalk up on supplies.

 

Does anyone have an opinion on whether gas or propane generators are better? Seems like the propane would last a lot longer due to it's nature. I have no experience with either. Just wondering.

 

True, but if you are asking this from a survivalists point of view I would go with gas as it is more available and common.

If Diesel is the in the equation then game over...Diesel Owns All

 

The biggest advantage to propane over gas for a generator is how easy it is to store. It doesn't go bad after a year like a tank of gas will, and it starts just as easy after a year of sitting as it does when you're using it every day.

But I agree, if you can swing it, diesel's the way to go for a generator. It's a stable fuel for storage and isn't ridiculously more expensive than gas. Plus, #2 heating fuel is (typically) made to the same standards as Agricultural Diesel fuel, so if you've got oil heat, you've potentially got a 250 gallon storage tank full of generator fuel sitting right in your cellar. (Call your heating oil supplier and ask if their #2 heating fuel is also approved for use as Ag Diesel before you count on this for an emergency, though!) Or you can always switch your home heat fuel to #2 diesel. Your boiler/furnace won't care, and even though #2 diesel is usually more expensive per gallon, a lot of times it works out to be pretty close to home heating fuel in a cost-per-BTU scale.

 

I got a dual fuel conversion on my Honda 2000i, so it runs fine on gas or propane. Best of both worlds. And yes, these things are SUPER quiet. Pricey, but quiet.

 

This.

Otherwise, I prefer gas because that's what all my other engines use. Wife's car, 7 motorcycles, generator and can be used for my Coleman camping stove. I do have propane heaters and a propane grill. So the dual fuel would be optimum.

 

Which is why gasoline will be the first thing to run out. I work for the .gov and run several remote mountaintop sites, a doppler radar, and an office building with diesel generators. A couple are propane, but they are very small light use gen sets. We mix some Kerosene in with the diesel to prevent gelling, and it stores for years with no additives or maintenance. We store a lot of fuel, mostly because it may be years before the budget allows a refill. You can store gasoline, but it's difficult. The other thing to consider is that volume wise, diesel has more energy than any other fuel. I don't know about you, but around my place space is limited. You can run a generator longer on diesel than gas or propane. A diesel generator can also run on waste motor oil, canola oil, peanut oil, etc... and the diesel generators last for thousands of hours longer than the LPG or gasoline gen sets do... food for thought. My plan is to not use any more juice than I can produce with two 75W solar panels, but I understand that's not an option for most people.

 

My plans as well is to stay in my home till shit calms down.I have more than enough supplies for 6-8 months for 3 people 2 satillite phones and a ham radio.

I Have a close support group of well trained and expericened ex military Persoanl we will band together till all is exhausted here and make the appropiate move at that time.

 

I'm bugging in also, safest way to go plus living in the north takes tons of gear. Worst case I have back up locations to bug out to... I have a gas generator but even with 20 gallons that is not a lot of run time. I'm also going to get solar panels to run things during the day...

 

Honda doesn't make a diesel genny.

I agree with all your points. I have no diesel engines any more. Mine is a short term plan. If we need to go longer than things have gone way bad and I doubt many of us, even prepers, will be able to sustain any sort of normality. Solar is the best option for electricity for this type of situation. But my fear would be those that are unprepared trying to take our/your supplies by force. You would need to be in isolation in order to keep that from happening. Lay low and don't show your cards.

 

Bug in is the best option unless there's a real reason to leave.

 

Is that so? They are not cheap, but they do make them.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HONDA-EB12D...=100011&prg=11184&rk=1&rkt=10&sd=200845383902

 

Everyone seems worried about electricity for their homes and how they can bug in for months if they have a generator. If the SHTF and it's a long term power outage, you won't have running satire for more than a couple days. Not only will it not becoming out of your tap, but your toilets won't be working. More importantly for those of us on city sewage, the sewage collection systems that are run by electric pumps won't be running which means that sewage will eventually backup to everyone's house.

Lastly, if you are the only one on your street or block with a generator running, everyone is going to hear it as well as see your lights on and come to you because "it's your duty" to share what you saved for your family with everyone else, because that's the mindset of the general public.

If it's just bad weather, I'm good for two weeks at home, If it's anything else, it's bug out time with a few select folks. Water pumps, purification, first aid, fuel pumps, are just the beginning of the items to consider. You should have your emergency plans for bugging in, bugging out via vehicle, and finally a 3 day plan for on foot. After that, you need a new plan.

 

12KW, $9000, you can run 3-4 homes on that Plenty of power, quiet, but expensive. I guess you have to set your priorities. I have a 4KW gasser, more than enough to run my well and heat (pellet stove), a few lights, and charge some batteries No sewage worries I have a septic system

 

It's just proper planning to have a well and septic system. In the old days, many homes also had cisterns. I like that idea, but haven't really figured out where I would put the damn thing.

Everyone in this thread preps for a different scenario. That's ok. No matter what we anticipate, it's good wholesome fun.

 

I thought cisterns were illegal in OR, or was it ID? Some states have restrictions on harvesting water, CRAZY!

 

Yeah, western water rights are a mess. Someone once arrested a lady because she put a barrel under a downspout so that she could get rainwater to wash her hair.

http://boingboing.net/2009/03/18/people-who-use-barre.html

You can have a backup cistern though if it contains water you have paid for.

Make a pond and spend a month in jail:

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/329723