Here are the latest items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. We also cover hedges, derivatives, and obscura. And it bears mention that most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of JWR. (SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor.) Today’s focus is on off-road pickups and SUVs. (See the Tangibles Investing Section.)
Precious Metals:
Horwitz: Gold’s Groundhog Day
o o o
The Road To War: Buying Fear – Gold
Commodities and Currencies:
Commodities Recap For The Week Of June 29, 2018
o o o
Weekly Report Week 30 – Gold, Copper, CRB, Oil, Euro, Dollar
Cryptos and Stocks:
What Volatility? How Facebook’s Historic Loss Became Crypto’s Gain
o o o
An Illustrated Glossary of Cryptocurrency Slang
Economy & Finance:
Trumping the Fed: What Will It Mean?
o o o
Five key ways Wall Street and economists think about the yield curve
Tangibles Investing (Off-Road SUVs and Trucks):
Many survivalists and preppers have a longstanding yen for off-road vehicles. It is interesting to see that the mainstream market is belatedly joining us. There is always money to be made in buying low and selling high. Watch for divorce sales, layoff sales, and other liquidations that that could land you in-demand off-road SUVs and trucks, with low mileage. Whenever you can buy under market, on the seller’s weakness, there is room to make a profit.
Here is a an interesting article with accompanying video: The rise of burly high-performance and off-road SUVs and trucks
Provisos:
SurvivalBlog and its Editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. Please see our Provisos page for our detailed disclaimers.
News Tips:
Please send your economics and investing news tips to JWR. (Either via e-mail of via our Contact form.) These are often especially relevant, because they come from folks who particularly watch individual markets. And due to their diligence and focus, we benefit from fresh “on target” investing news. We often get the scoop on economic and investing news that is probably ignored (or reported late) by mainstream American news outlets. Thanks!
“Off-Road SUVs and Trucks”
The Raptor is a two-wheel drive road “safe” version of the dirt track racing truck. (Toyota Prerunner version of the Tacoma is another.) It’s not an off road vehicle except in suspension including clearances. It looks really cool. If they made it 4wd with front and rear lockers it would be worth having. Also the wishbone dual front axles sure do ride smooth and move lots of vehicles off the lot but the offroad limits can be frustrating. The term “truck” refers to frame type but has nothing at all to do ability. But mostly I’m just jealous ’cause I wants me one.
Sorry Fred, you do not know what you are talking about. The Ford F-150 Raptor is the most capable factory made off road vehicle ever built. A factory equipped Raptor placed third in the Baha 1000, with zero modifications, when it first came out. The new truck is even better. I know, I built those monsters before I retired, from Ford.
I guess I stand corrected, sort of. It apparently has some limited slip capability.
“Unlike most normal trucks, which feature a 4WD mode that locks both axles together, the Raptor’s “4 Auto” mode uses a wet multi-plate clutch to distribute power between the front and rear axles as traction demands, just like an all-wheel drive system. So it allows for slip, even on pavement, meaning you can drive it anywhere without the binding and strange behavior of a locked 4WD system.” – Road and Track
Because who needs ” binding and strange behavior” in Montana or in muddy conditions, or for an eastern woods truck, or rocky terrain, or up heavily foliaged hills?
But it is a dry (desert) track system and I didn’t say It couldn’t run on dirt track. Baha is not off-road, it’s dirt track which is what I said it was made for, exactly.
I hate to say it but driving that vehicle pictured on the lead to this article during a SHTF scenario has TARGET written all over it. You would be better off with a JWR recommended 1970s-80s 4WD with a dependable V8, carburetor aspired, points/condenser ignition, manual transmission, manual lockout hubs, and a live front axle. Oh, posi on the rear axle would also be nice.
Fred….. You stand fully corrected. The raptor is very capable. Driven a few off road over the last several years and they exceeded every expectation I had.
It’s way over built in every capacity.
Nothing at all like a prerunner….
Ok. I give up.
I’ll keep my ’65 Scout. Underpowered, cold in the winter, hot in the summer, no stereo, no payments and insurance is $10/month.