One thing that I have not seen properly addressed anywhere online is an appropriate kit for the bug out vehicle.
You folks in snow country can reply to this with some recommendations for that scenario. Please do.
I survived five hurricanes , one of them in the Virgin Islands, over the years so I consider myself an advanced student of the Bug Out Vehicle.
First and foremost.
Cars are useless without fuel. They make a decent shelter but they’re tough to carry with you. I haven’t seen a backpack that would hold one.
Get yourself as many large cans as you can fit reasonably in (or on) the vehicle and keep them full at all times. [Because of fire hazard in the event of a collision, if your car has a gas engine, these cans should normally kept at home, in an outbuilding. Consult your local fire code.] Rotate your fuel. Fill the car and cans one week and the next time you need gas, then empty some of the cans (say 2 out of 4 six gallon cans) and refill them immediately. My kit includes 5, six-gallon cans of diesel and one full of water in case of radiator problems and to provide drinking water. I have a roof rack so they’re a non-issue.
Cars are very hard to drive on flat tires. I recall after Hurricane Andrew in 1992 the chaos at any store that had anything in stock. There was no electricity for weeks so no gas available, for the most part…or much else.Oh, and remember that no electricity = no credit cards. Got your cash stashed ?
Having all of my supplies already (always have-always will) only saw a need for one very important thing that I had overlooked.
Nobody else saw it since they were focusing on food, water, plywood,Coleman goodies etc. They looked at me like I was nuts when I got to the checkout.
What was the one thing ? Tire repair equipment ! Yep. I bought two cases of Fix-a-Flat, a radial plug kit and about 50 plugs.
Glass, metal, roofing nails, wood, you name it was everywhere on the roadways. I used that all up and more over the following month. Get some!
Cars with automatic transmissions can not be push-started. Even if your battery is fairly new, go buy yourself a top notch, deep cycle battery and install it. The other one will make a good spare.You can also carry it with you and use the deep cycle battery [at home] at night, running an inverter, to watch a television, use a computer or whatever. One of my cabins runs all night (8-10 hours) with television, VCR, and 3-to-4 Compact fluorescent bulbs on a deep cycle battery that is solar-charged.
Belts. Repeat the above scenario and make sure you have tools in the car at all times to change belts. If you don’t know how and what tools you need , then hire a mechanic to teach you. Don’t forget the jumper cables .
These are the basics. My kit is more extensive but I live in the middle of nowhere in Central America (I’ve already bugged out) so I cant raid a junkyard in case of an “event”. Oh, and don’t forget the guns. Pura Vida! – Mr. Tico in Costa Rica