Any fellow survivalists utilize their truck?

I keep mine folded up right beside my troll detector....
Speaking of which, the light just started blinking....

 

Shrug. I did that for a while, but it kept getting blown onto the floor when the black helicopters would fly over. So now I keep it better secured.

 

Hahaha , boooom !! X3

 

Ive actually started my process of having a good setup in my truck. Essential it's mostly for camping, but camping gear and survival gear kinda go hand in hand.

Inside the cab:
Installed a power inverter under the shifter area with a switch on the side of the console




Smitty Seat covers:

In the pouches- Baofeng UHF Radio, Knife, gloves, comprehensive first aid kit, snack bars, MRE's, multi-tool, extra ammo, eating utensils.

In the Bed:
This is just the beginning of how I plan on having the bed setup. So far I have an auxiliary battery wired to a panel. Inside the panel is the controller for my solar panel, and a fuse block for accessories such as the flood light and cigarette lighter outlets. I plan on putting a power inverter inside the panel at some point as well. I'd like to figure out a better solution for a battery tray, maybe make a shelf in the corner of the bed to set it on. Maybe even go to a smaller panel so it's not as bulky as well as doing some more wire management. Also have an air mattress and a little 12v fan.

 

Nice sunglasses.

 

I can safely say those arent mine lol Car pool buddy

 

Yeah, the universal ones. Not a big fan of them but they work for now

 

http://sport.woot.com/offers/yukon-tactical-alpha-backpack-3-colors-3

Nice deal on this bag!

 

I'm probably going to take some crap, but here goes....

I think the idea of a BOB, or BOV, or get home bag, in the traditional sense is pretty much a waste of time and money.

There are certain things I carry with me every day because I pretty much use them every day or in a specific instance it's need is reasonably conceivable. Beyond that, there is nothing I carry in case of the oft talked about but rarely defined SHTF scenario.


With all that said, not succumbing to that mentality is a struggle. I like "stuff", I have an almost unhealthy fascination with back packs, and I'm a gadget nerd. A complete recIpe for a SHTF nut. . Because of this I'd love to be able to justify joining the ranks, but as of yet I've heard no reasonable or logical arguement that works for any except the tiniest percentage of the population.

Youtube is full of folks telling you all the things they have, or you need to have, in a BOB or get home bag. There will be 10 different ways to start a fire, a half doz different ways to find/kill your own food, comm gear, defense gear, blah blah blah, all in support of the 3 days (min) of hard travel its going to take you to get from the office to home, and I cant take any of them seriuosly and you know why? Because out of all the crap they list for successfully surviving your SHTF situation and completely that hard journy home, none of them that I have listened to have EVER mentioned one of the most basic things you need to have for long walk home. At least 3 days worth right? And thats a spare pair of clean dry freakin socks.

You can go weeks without food. I've done 3 days + without batting an eye, but you start blistering up those unused to traveling feet and your march home is done.

Anyway, that's just an example.

Let 'er rip...

 

My only comment would be: If you're truly out in the middle of nowhere and your truck breaks down, do you have a suitable way to carry all of the things in your truck with you that you want to bring? Food aside, wouldn't it be good to at least keep a compact backpack in your truck just in case you had things you wanted to bring with? You say you can go without food for a while. That's true. But how about an empty or full water bottle? Can't go long without water. Shelter? Maybe you make your own because you're good at fieldcraft. Knife, clothing layers in cold weather, rain jacket, etc? Stuff you don't want to carry in your hands for miles.

As far as the traditional BOB, there's no need to jump on that bandwagon. I have BOBs and gear up the wazoo at home (I'm also a pack fiend and a gearhead when it comes to outdoor stuff) but I do carry a very lightweight black backpack (it rolls up into one of its own pouches so it stores in my rear door side pocket) just in case I do get in a bind and I want to grab the loose items out of my truck that I either want to have with me as utility items, or that I don't want stolen when some asshole breaks into it after I leave and nobody's around to witness.

 

I agree with you on the socks.

In my truck (not in the BOB) I carry a pair of boots, 2 pair of socks, a change of clothes (the season dictates the exact clothes), hat and gloves (again, seasonally dependent.)

My idea is, if I have to abandon the truck, I change out of my office clothes into clothes more suitable to being outdoors in.

 

Just to clarify my stance a bit. I'm not talking the situation whrpere you're headed into the back country for what ever reason. In that instance carrying some extra gear is just good sense. There are any number of folks that might fit that description on a daily basis, like park rangers etc.

No, I'm talking about the folks carrying all this stuff on a daily basis on their backs to the office, or to the job site building the next local mega-mall, etc.

The vast majority of us live in, near, or just a long stones throw from the city. I really cannot imagine any reasonable scenario where society and all its services are going to break down, somewhere bteween 9:00-5:00 while we're all at work, that would require someone to hoof it back home completely unsupported and living off the land the whole way. That scenario defies reason.

For me thats where it all breaks down. Ask someone to define SHTF or Survival Situation (peoples favorite buzz words) and you get everything from hurricane to nuclear attack.

If you find you have to "bug out" due to a hurricane you must be a fool because you just dont wake up in the morning and go "holy crap! Theres a hurricane outside"! And thats a regional disaster anyway, just like a tornado. Regional services may break down, like in Katrina, but thats hardly a SHTF head for the hills scenario, which is waht most preppers are all about.

Economic collapse: Somebody describe to me the scenario where the economy collapses to the point everyone has to run for the hills, live off the land, and defend their log cabin. The greatest economic collapse in history already happened, and it didnt even come close to that scenario.

The Walking Dead? Yeahhh. Thats kind of fun to play with, but hardly anything worth reasonable consideration.

Anyway, I'd love to debate the subject if it can be done without anybody getting too awful butt-hurt.

 

Figured the pack options people posted were, well, lacking.

Here is one of my all time favs and should have some of you AR guys interested too.

Khard Pack by Arc'Teryx L.E.A.F. all different sizes for those that think size is to big or small.

http://leaf.arcteryx.com/Home.aspx?language=EN

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3-B6WJoTaIhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omeRp6GLZTY

 

I personally have had my eyes on this one for a long time. Fits a specific need but wow. Nice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13wI_aO36hE

 

I just picked up the Eberlestock HalfTrack a couple weeks back and I love the size. Makes me pack much more efficiently, and it wears really well. Tough bag, well made. Got a smoking deal on one and couldn't pass it up.

 

Nice looking pack with a function. You hunt at all?

 

I think folks that carry a backpack around in their business suit are a bit over the top. However, I'm not opposed to keeping a small pack of gear under your desk or in your office discretely "just in case". I think that kind of thing is best left in the trunk of your car or in your back seat out of view, but that's me. I just want it handy for when I need it. I work from home now, so it's easy for me, and I rarely go around town with a BOB in my truck. Just the essentials stored in my console and under my back seat, and a small pack to gather it all up with and hit the road if I had to.

The old line "it's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it" applies. Some people obsess over always having gear with them. Some are just careful, and the rest are complacent. Mistakes are always made by the best of us when we get complacent.

So go ahead and don't worry about being prepared in the way that some people do. In a time of true emergency, it's the unprepared stranger that won't get my assistance.

 

Business suits and backpacks. I will say this. It depends on your location. Local to me, it is the norm. Most people take public transportation and are in big city areas. Backpacks of all shapes and sizes are everywhere. Lawyers and business men are not exempt from this either.

 

I saw an episode of Doomsday Preppers where this little Asian gal who weighed 90 lbs soaking wet was in her business attire in NYC and was sporting a full backpacking pack full of her preps. That's pretty much the extreme of that situation.

 

It is a rare occasion that I don't have my "bag of sunshine" within arms reach. Several times it has saved me from uncomfortable situations that had the potential to quickly become life threatening. In particular, the medical kit has been very useful to stop hydraulic leaks on myself and others. Just like everyone on here, I tailor the contents to me and my scenarios. If you don't see the need, don't pack one, but don't cry about it when you roll up on an accident and some dude has the lid of a glovebox stuck in his gut and lacerations on his dome so deep you can see his melon.

If nothing else, keep something like this handy (and know how to use it)
http://www.adventuremedicalkits.com/medical-kits/mountain-series-comprehensive.html